At age 16 he was a volunteer on the home front in the 1939-40 "Winter War" against the Soviets. He also fought in the Continuation War against the Soviet Union from 1941-44. After the war he taught school, was a vocational guidance counselor and received a doctorate in sociology from the University of Turku. Before becoming president he held several government posts, including prime minister, and was governor of the Bank of Finland.