[[Image:Windhorstdenkmal Meppen.jpg|thumb|upright|Memoriale alla scuola di [[Meppen]].]]
AfterAlla themorte death ofdi [[Hermann von Mallinckrodt]] (1821–1874) in 1874, Windthorst becamedivenne leader ofdel thepartito, partycarica andche maintainedricoprì thatfino positionalla until his deathmorte. ItSotto wasla chieflysua owing to his skill and courage asguida, a parliamentarydispetto debaterdei anddissidi hiscol tactgoverno as a leaderprussiano, that the party held its own and constantly increased in numbers during the great struggle withil thepartito Prussiancrebbe governmentconsiderevolmente. He was especially exposed to the attacks of Bismarck, who attempted, personally, to discredit him and to separate him from the rest of the party. And, he was by far the ablest and most dangerous critic of Bismarck's policy. The change of policy in 1879 led to a great alteration in his position: he was reconciled to Bismarck and even sometimes attended receptions at Bismarck's house. Never, however, was his position so difficult as during the negotiations which led to a repeal of the [[Kulturkampf|May laws]].
On the background of rising [[anti-Semitism]], he stood up for the [[Jew]]s and enforced the expulsion of anti-Semitic members from the Center Party.
