Appointed Vice president of the Higher War Council in 1920 and Inspector-general in 1922, Marshal Pétain devotes himself to the reorganization of the French Army. In 1925, at the time of the Rif war, Philippe Pétain is sent to Morocco by the Painlevé government to repress the revolt led by Abd el-Krim who will be captured and exiled. In 1930, Pétain is a candidate for the French Academy. On January 22, 1931 he is received officially under the cupola of the Academy where, as is the custom, he praises his predecessor Marshal Foch, subsequent to Paul Valéry’s welcoming speech. Following the events of February 6, 1934, the President of the Council of State, Gaston Doumergue, names Marshal Pétain War Minister. The ministry folds in November 1934. On March 2, 1939, he is sent to Spain as special ambassador to Franco. In May 1940, he is urgently recalled to France by the president of the Council of State, Paul Reynaud, to occupy the post of Vice-president of the Council. On June 16, Paul Reynaud having resigned, Marshall Pétain, chosen by the president of the Republic Albert Lebrun, becomes Head of the government.