Career
Since 1919 he represented the National Progressive Party (see, for example, Sakari Virkkunen, "The Presidents of Finland", volume I, Helsinki: Otava Publications Limited, 1994). Holsti represented Finland in the League of Nations. He was also a republican (opposing the then ongoing movement for monarchy in Finland).
A firm supporter of democracy, he openly criticized Adolf Hitler at the outbreak of war.
Holsti was also Ambassador to Estonia from 1923 to 1927. He maintained a healthy correspondence with president Herbert Hoover, and the prime minister and president of Finland.
He died on August 3, 1945 at Palo Alto Hospital while undergoing surgery to repair a hernia. Bibliography
Pietiäinen, Jukka-Pekka.
Rudolf Holsti, Lehtimies, tiedemies, poliitikko 1881- 1919, Weilin+Göös 1986.