On December 9, 1990, Lech Walesa won the Polish presidential election, defeating Prime Minister Mazowiecki and other candidates to become Poland’s first freely elected head of state in 63 years, and the first non-Communist head of state in 45 years. From early in his career, Walesa was interested in workers’ concerns and in 1983 he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

Although it was late in Mr. Karsh’s career, 1989 was still very prolific. See who else was photographed.