Juan Domingo Peron (1895-1974) was an Argentine nationalist political leader and Head of State. He was elected President of Argentina for three presidential terms, first ruling the country from 1946 to 1955, and from 1973 to 1974. He did not finish his second term because he was overthrown by a military coup d'Etat orchestrated by the Argentine oligarchy, a group of Argentine high-ranking officers and the CIA. During his third term he died of a heart attack on July 1, 1974. He passed legislation that considerably improved the workers standard of living, putting an end to a feudal system of peasants and workers exploitation by the wealthy oligarchy.
A professional military man, Juan D. Perón served as military attaché in Chile in 1936 and 1937. He spent the years 1937–40 in Europe, observing military training methods. From 1941 to 1943, he was a leader of an organization of army officers, known as 'United Army Officers Group', whose main goal was to keep Argentina independent from external imperialistic influence. Between 1943 and 1945, Perón was head secretary of the ministry of war, secretary of labor, and vice-president. In 1944, he met and married Eva Duarte, who would become known as 'Evita'. As secretary of labor, he introduced a series of measures that increased the workers salary and reduced the day working hours from 14 to 8 hours, to equal the length of work day to European and American standards. As a result, he and his wife became extremely popular.
Feeling that their power was being threatened, the oligarchy had him arrested on charges of political subversion and lack of morals. Thus, on October 17, 1945, more than a million people rose up in fury and crowded Plaza de Mayo Square and surrounded the presidential house, demanding the immediate release of General Peron from prison. When he was released he decided to run for president, winning the 1946's presidential election by landslide. In 1947, he founded the Peronist Party, which in 1955 was renamed the Justicialist Party. In 1947, he signed a congress-approved bill into law which granted women the right to vote. During his administration, he also introduced legislation that kick-started the development of the Argentine automobile, aviation, and steel industry. This is how Argentina became the most advanced Latin American country.
Taking advantage of the favorable economic situation that developed during and after World War II, Perón was able to satisfy some of the demands of the national bourgeoisie, especially in regard to foreign trade. Although he took a series of anti-imperialist and nationalist measures, Perón gradually gave in to pressure exerted by the imperialistic US government. The most reactionary high-society circles in the country conspired with conservative army Generals and the CIA. Therefore, Juan Domingo Peron was ousted from Office in September 1955 by a violent military coup that killed more than 400 people.
Perón was an émigré in Spain from 1955 until June 1973. In September 1973 he once again became president of Argentina. On July 1, 1974, he died of heart failure. Isabel Martinez Peron, his second wife and vice-President, took Office to complete his term, but she would be overthrown on March 24, 1976, by another military coup orchestrated by the CIA and Henry Kissinger during Gerald Ford Administration.
 |
| Above, Juan D. Peron, delivering a speech to the Argentine people. |