Conversation so far:
How did Erich Honecker get back into politics?
Honecker befriended Walter Ulbricht, who had not been aware of him at that point.
What did Walter Ulbricht have to  do with it?
Honecker sided with First Secretary Walter Ulbricht, despite the majority of the Politburo attempting to dispose Ulbricht in favour of Rudolf Herrnstadt.

Question: Did his return go smoothly?
Self-contained rewrite: Did Erich Honecker's return to politics go smoothly?