The President of the Soviet Union, officially called President of the USSR or President of the Union of the Soviet Socialist Republics was the head of state of the Soviet Union from 15 March 1990 to 25 December 1991. Mikhail Gorbachev was only person to hold the office. Gorbachev was also General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union between March 1985 and August 1991. He was the first and last President of the Soviet Union.