 De Valera's Minister for Foreign Affairs and lifelong political confidant Frank Aiken dismissed Haughey's political motives as being entirely selfish, and believed he was motivated to hold power for its own sake and not duty.In 1966, the Taoiseach Seán Lemass retired.Haughey declared his candidature to succeed Lemass in the consequent leadership election, and George Colley and Neil Blaney did likewise.