Simplify the following text for a Grade 4 native English-speaking person.
Original: Nikos Sampson ( Nicos Sampson ; ; December 16 , 1935 -- May 9 , 2001 ) was the de facto president of Cyprus that succeeded Archbishop Makarios , President of Cyprus , in 1974 .
Simplified: Nikos Sampson was the leader of Cyprus for eight days in 1974 .