Upon the death of his father-in-law, he was considered to be a possible candidate to succeed him, but he ceded his rights to Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson in 1950 and became the latter's follower.
Upon the death of his father-in-law in 1950, he was considered to be a possible candidate to succeed him. Indeed, he vied to be Rebbe for a full 3 years, but finally he but he ceded his position to Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson in 1953 and even became the latter's follower.