Juan Domingo Perón

1895-1974

Juan Domingo Perón was born on October 8, 1895 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. At the age of 16 he  entered the Military College and graduated as a Second Lieutenant of Infantry. He then continued his studies in the War Military School graduating in 1929. In 1930 he took part in a military coup that overthrew current president Hipólito Yrigoyen and he was appointed private secretary of the Minister of War (1930-1935).

Later he lectured in the War Military High School, spent one year in the Argentine Embassy in Chile, and was sent to Italy and Germany as an observer to analyze the success of the fascists and Nazis. He was very much interested in history and in political philosophy and he published five books on military history.

Upon his return to Argentina in 1941, as an admirer of Italian fascist dictator Benito Mussolini, he founded the Group of United Officials (GOU), and in 1943 he joined a military conspiracy that overthrew the government of Ramon Castillo. The military regime that rose to power for the following three years has highly influenced by Perón, who discreetly requested a minor position as a Secretary of Work and Social Well-Fare. In 1945 he became Vice President and War Minister and little by little he gained respect and reputation, especially from the under privileged workers called "descamisados" as well as popular and army support.

On October 9, 1945, Perón was fired from his position by a civil and military coup that jailed him causing a crisis in the government. His lover, Eva Duarte, and the union leaders assembled the a large number of workers of the area surrounding Buenos Aires, and demanded his liberation. On October 17, 1945 and due to a disturbed and upset large crowd of demonstrators that demanded Peron's freedom, the military forces had no choice but to free him and took him to a military hospital to simulate he was sick.  That night, from the balcony of the Pink House (House of Government), Perón spoke before 300,000 people and his words were re-transmitted by radio to the whole country. In his speech he promised to lead the people to the victory in the presidential election and to build a strong and prosperous nation. A few days later he married Evita (formerly Eva, but nicknamed Evita by the workers), who helped him organize the country in the years to come.

After a violent and repressive electoral campaign, the formula Perón-Quijano won the elections in February, 1946 with 56 % of the votes. Perón was in the government for 6 years with a highly authoritarian position  that deepened hatreds and divisions. At the same time, he took decisions of vast importance: nationalized railroads, telephones, gas and some electricity companies; as well as the Central Bank; there was a strong development of the industry; imports were regulated, employment and wages grew thanks to an important consumption increase. On the other hand, workers were granted with numerous benefits such as retirement, paid vacations, healthcare and insurance; and the female vote and presidential reelection was established. He also adopted a strong anti-United States and anti-British policy, preaching the virtues of a Third Position, one between communism and capitalism.

In the social area of his government, Evita played an important role and stood out for it.

Perón was reelected president in 1951 and modified some of his political ideas. The death of Evita in 1952 added to  the economic difficulties, the workers complaints and his excommunication by the Roman Catholic Church, weakened his position and in 1955, he was overthrown by the military for a  second time and he exiled into Paraguay.

Neither the civil regime nor the military who governed the Argentina after 1955 was able to solve the problems of the country.

Perón finally settled down in Madrid where, in 1961, he married an Argentine ex-dancer called Maria Estela Martínez. Throughout his 18 years of exile Perón remained a big influence in Argentine politics.

The military regime of the General Alejandro Lanusse, who was in power in March, 1971, proclaimed the restoration of a constitutional democracy at the end of 1973 allowing the participation of political parties, including the Peronist Party (founded by Peron); and after receiving an invitation from the Military Government, Perón returned to Argentina in 1973, and in October he was elected president again, being his wife, Isabel de Perón, the vice-president.

His third period was brief and couldn't cope neither with the political violence nor with the economic difficulties. After his death, on July 1, 1974, Maria Estela Martínez de Perón, became the President of Argentina, and she was brought down by the military in 1976.
 

Peron's remains rest in the Chacarita cemetery.