Answer
On August 4, 1979, Saddam Hussein was officially proclaimed president of Iraq by the Revolutionary Command Council (RCC) and the Ba'ath Party, solidifying his ascent to power after the resignation of his predecessor, Ahmed Hassan al-Bakr. This marked a significant moment in Iraqi history as Hussein assumed the highest office in the country, paving the way for his authoritarian rule that would shape Iraq's political landscape for decades to come.