Saddam Hussein was an Iraqi Socialist politician who served as the fifth president of Iraq from 16 July 1979 until 9 April 2003. As leading member of the revolutionary Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party, and later, the Ba'ath Party. Saddam Hussein was an Iraqi Socialist politician who served as the fifth president of Iraq from 16 July 1979 until 9 April 2003. As leading member of the revolutionary Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party, and later, the Ba'ath Party.