He fought for the abolition of capital punishment and was responsible for the creation of the Ombudsman. He also did much to help women and protect their rights in the home.

Afterwards, he became Chancellor of the Open University. While occupying this post he also took a degree in the Social Sciences. Later biographers assessed him as a man of immense humanity, generosity and humility, also having been motivated above all by hatred of injustice and those who devoted their lives and gifts to better the lot of mankind.