 As a member of the Cortes, Ortega experienced the practical difficulties inherent in the nature of political leadership. Manuel Azaña y Díaz (1880–1940), a dominant figure in government at the time, and his political following continually opposed the ideas and leadership of Ortega and his associates of La Agrupación. In the fall of 1932, Ortega left active politics when communication became virtually impossible due to incessant arguments and conflicts between the followers of Ortega and Azaña. Daunted but not distressed, Ortega returned to his chair of metaphysics at the Central University of Madrid. Between the time of his return to the university and the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War, Ortega continued writing political articles in El Sol, identifying and criticizing politicians he thought were primarily responsible for veering the Republic in the wrong direction.