Juan PerJuan Perónón

An Argentine IconAn Argentine Icon

Early CareerEarly Career

Entered military at 16Entered military at 16 Served as military observer in Europe in 1938Served as military observer in Europe in 1938 Became familiar with Fascist Italy and Benito Became familiar with Fascist Italy and Benito

MussoliniMussolini Colonel PerColonel Perón a ón a participant in a military coup participant in a military coup

d’d’état in 1943état in 1943 Becomes Sec. of Labor where he develops alliances Becomes Sec. of Labor where he develops alliances

with socialists and labor unionswith socialists and labor unions Promotes labor laws to strengthen unions – popular Promotes labor laws to strengthen unions – popular

with workerswith workers

Rising PopularityRising Popularity

Fund raising efforts after major earthquake Fund raising efforts after major earthquake led to public approval and introduction to led to public approval and introduction to second wife, Eva Duartesecond wife, Eva Duarte

Rivalry among military officers and PerRivalry among military officers and Perón ón (Vice Pres. at the time) led to arrest and (Vice Pres. at the time) led to arrest and brief imprisonmentbrief imprisonment

Mass protests led by Eva won his freedomMass protests led by Eva won his freedomThey were married days after releaseThey were married days after release

Wedding to Evita in 1945

Peron on cover of Labor Union newsletter - 1945

11stst Term – 1946-1952 Term – 1946-1952

Won with huge support of organized laborWon with huge support of organized laborWould have permanent opposition of big Would have permanent opposition of big

businessbusiness2 main goals2 main goals

Social justiceSocial justiceEconomic independenceEconomic independence

Carefully avoided aligning with U.S. or Carefully avoided aligning with U.S. or U.S.S.R. in early Cold WarU.S.S.R. in early Cold War

EconomicEconomicNationalized banks, railroads, shipping, etc. Nationalized banks, railroads, shipping, etc.

owned by foreign nationsowned by foreign nationsPaid off foreign debtsPaid off foreign debtsNational control of universities, public utilities, National control of universities, public utilities,

transportation, major agricultural export sectorstransportation, major agricultural export sectorsSaw some major advances before inflation Saw some major advances before inflation

struck in 1950s.struck in 1950s. Ironically, Marshall Plan that helped Europe Ironically, Marshall Plan that helped Europe

undermined Argentine markets that had opened undermined Argentine markets that had opened after the warafter the war

Second Term 1952-1955 Second Term 1952-1955

Faced economic troubles including high Faced economic troubles including high trade deficits with foreign investorstrade deficits with foreign investors

Highest standard of living in Latin America Highest standard of living in Latin America led foreign manufacturers, especially auto led foreign manufacturers, especially auto makers, to build plants in Argentinamakers, to build plants in Argentina

Many saw PerMany saw Perón as unpatriotic for ón as unpatriotic for allowing so much foreign investmentallowing so much foreign investment

Controversial ReformsControversial ReformsLegalized divorce and prostitutionLegalized divorce and prostitutionDrew anger of conservative elementsDrew anger of conservative elementsPope Pius XII excommunicated PerPope Pius XII excommunicated Perón from ón from

Catholic ChurchCatholic ChurchAfter death of Evita, he reportedly had relationship After death of Evita, he reportedly had relationship

with 13-year-old girl – did not deny itwith 13-year-old girl – did not deny itRegime’s control of media suppressed criticsRegime’s control of media suppressed criticsCharges that he was a dictator grewCharges that he was a dictator grewA coup attempt drove him to exile in Spain and A coup attempt drove him to exile in Spain and

resulted in the death of over 800 civiliansresulted in the death of over 800 civilians

Scene in the Plaza de Mayo following a failed coup attempt against Perón, June 16, 1955. He was deposed three months later.

Repression of OppositionRepression of OppositionUpper class students vocal in opposition to Upper class students vocal in opposition to

Peronists – resulted in mass firing of university Peronists – resulted in mass firing of university professorsprofessors ““Long Live Cancer” – student chant – referring to Long Live Cancer” – student chant – referring to

Eva’s battle with cervical cancerEva’s battle with cervical cancerMeat Packer Union leader Cipriano Reyes Meat Packer Union leader Cipriano Reyes

tortured in prison after organizing an anti-Pertortured in prison after organizing an anti-Perón ón strikestrikeWas implicated in plot to kill PerónWas implicated in plot to kill PerónTorture by police national police became commonTorture by police national police became common

Media ControlMedia ControlPerPerón preferred control of media over torturing ón preferred control of media over torturing

oppositionopposition Intimidation of pressIntimidation of press

110 publications closed down during 40s alone110 publications closed down during 40s aloneCaused remaining outlets to self-censorCaused remaining outlets to self-censor

Perón imprisoned or exiled numerous artists Perón imprisoned or exiled numerous artists and intellectualsand intellectuals Including actors, film makers, musicians who ran Including actors, film makers, musicians who ran

afoul of Perónafoul of Perón

Protection of Nazi War CriminalsProtection of Nazi War CriminalsNazis, collaborators permitted to enter Nazis, collaborators permitted to enter

Argentina to escape prosecutionArgentina to escape prosecution Including Josef Mengele (Auschwitz “doctor,”) Including Josef Mengele (Auschwitz “doctor,”)

Adolf Eichmann (architect of Holocaust), Klaus Adolf Eichmann (architect of Holocaust), Klaus Barbie (butcher of Lyon – Gestapo) Barbie (butcher of Lyon – Gestapo)

Secret routing of Nazis to Argentina called the Secret routing of Nazis to Argentina called the “ratline”“ratline”

Nazi hunters focused on Argentina for yearsNazi hunters focused on Argentina for yearsPerPerón an admirer of Fascist Italy and Spainón an admirer of Fascist Italy and Spain

Jews and Germans in ArgentinaJews and Germans in ArgentinaPerPerón not anti-Semiticón not anti-Semitic

Close advisors included many Jews including many Close advisors included many Jews including many who had fled from Nazi dominated Europewho had fled from Nazi dominated Europe

Argentina first Latin American country to Argentina first Latin American country to recognize new state of Israelrecognize new state of IsraelSecured trade deals and visits from prominent Secured trade deals and visits from prominent

Israeli leadersIsraeli leadersAccepted more Jewish immigrants than any other Accepted more Jewish immigrants than any other

Latin American countryLatin American countryPerón had sympathized with Axis during war Perón had sympathized with Axis during war

but believed in the rights of the Jewsbut believed in the rights of the Jews

Golda Meir of Israel talks with Evita Perón on Meir's visit to Argentina, 1951

Germans in ArgentinaGermans in Argentina

German Argentine community 3German Argentine community 3rdrd largest in largest in the countrythe country

PerPerón generally disliked “rigid” German ón generally disliked “rigid” German cultureculture

He allowed Nazi criminals into Argentina in He allowed Nazi criminals into Argentina in hopes of acquiring advanced German hopes of acquiring advanced German technology developed during the wartechnology developed during the war

Peronist PersistencePeronist PersistenceDuring PerDuring Perón’s exile, political supporters ón’s exile, political supporters

continued to keep his chances of return alivecontinued to keep his chances of return aliveDivisions between Left and Right, some of it Divisions between Left and Right, some of it

violentviolentPerón returned during presidency of a Perón returned during presidency of a

supporter whose unpopularity led to resignation supporter whose unpopularity led to resignation and a new electionand a new election

Perón won a third term that was marred by left-Perón won a third term that was marred by left-right conflictright conflict

He died while in office after several major He died while in office after several major health issues, ultimately by heart attackhealth issues, ultimately by heart attack