Lech Wałęsa (born 1943) - trade union leader, politician, Nobel Peace Prize winner in 1983, President of the Republic of Poland (1990-1995). He holds honorary degrees from several universities, including Harvard, Columbia and Gdańsk. Lech Wałęsa is also a honorary citizen of many cities in Poalnd. In 1980 he was the leader of the strike at the Gdańsk Shipyard, and later became head of the Inter-Factory Strike Committee. From 1980 to 1981 he was head of the Solidarity National Committee. He took part in negotiations with the Communist authorities, the outcome of which was the agreement reached at the Round Table talks in 1989. In 1990 he was elected leader of the Solidarity trade union. He is the author of several autobiographical books, 'Droga nadziei' (A Path of Hope, 1987), and 'Droga do wolności' (The Path to Freedom, 1991). The International Airport in Gdańsk has been named after Lech Wałęsa. Lech Wałęsa appears in many clips of world-known performers like Michael Jackson, The Scorpions, and served as an inspiration for U2's "New Year's Day" song.
