He was elected to the House of Representatives in 1947. Nakasone succeeded Suzuki as Prime Minister and President of the Liberal Democratic Party in October 1982 and held power until his resignation in 1987, despite the damage done to his party by the involvement of Kakuei Tanaka in the Lockheed corruption scandal. His domestic policies were based on a package of administrative, fiscal, and educational reforms, while internationally he was committed to close ties with the USA and greater involvement in world affairs. He rejoined the party in 1991.