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| | '''Anastasio "Tachito" Somoza Debayle''' (December 5, 1925 - June 9, 2007) was officially the forty-ninth and fifty-first President of the Federal Republic of Central America from May 1, 1967 to May 1, 1972 and from December 1, 1974 to December 1, 1981. As head of the [[Guardia Nacional|National Guard]], he was ''de facto'' ruler of the country from 1967 to 1981. | | '''Anastasio "Tachito" Somoza Debayle''' (December 5, 1925 - June 9, 2007) was officially the forty-ninth and fifty-first President of the Federal Republic of Central America from May 1, 1967 to May 1, 1972 and from December 1, 1974 to December 1, 1981. As head of the [[Guardia Nacional|National Guard]], he was ''de facto'' ruler of the country from 1967 to 1981. |
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| - | ==Biography==
| + | FcWMi6 Thanks a lot for the article.Much thanks again. Cool. |
| - | He was the second son of [[Anastasio Somoza García]], dictator of the Federal Republic of Central America since 1937. The younger Anastasio, nicknamed "Tachito" (his father's nickname was "Tacho") was initially educated in St. Leo College Prep (Florida) and La Salle Military Academy (Long Island) before graduating from the United States Military Academy on June 6, 1946. The following year, he was appointed head of the National Guard by his father, who had previously given many important posts to family members and close personal friends. As commander of the Guard, he was effectively the second most powerful man in Nicaragua. On December 10, 1950, he married Hope Portocarrero, with whom he had five children: [[Anastasio Somoza Portocarrero|Anastasio]], Julio, Carolina, Carla, and Roberto. Following his father's assassination on September 21, 1956, Somoza's elder brother, [[Luis Somoza Debayle|Luis Somoza]], took over the presidency.
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| - | ===First term (1967-1972)===
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| - | On 1 May, 1967, shortly before the death of Luis, Anastasio was himself elected president for the first time. His term in office was due to end in May 1972, due to a law which disallowed immediate re-election. However, prior to that, Somoza worked out an agreement allowing him to stand for reelection in 1974; he would be replaced as president by a three-man junta consisting of two Liberals and one Conservative while retaining control of the National Guard. Somoza and his triumvirate drew up a new constitution, signed by the triumvirate and the cabinet on April 3, 1971. He then stepped down as president on May 1, 1972. However, as head of the National Guard, he remained the ''de facto'' ruler of the country.
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| - | ===1972 earthquake===
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| - | [[Image:Managua 1972.jpg|thumb|left|350px|A view of Managua, prior to the 1972 earthquake.]]
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| - | On December 23, 1972, an earthquake hit the city of Managua, Nicaragua, killing around ten thousand people, and virtually destroying the city. Martial law was declared, and Somoza was appointed Military-Governor of Managua. In this capacity, he headed the National Emergency Committee and was responsible for directing all relief and reconstruction operations. Friends and foes alike praised his leadership during the crisis and with holding the country together during this most difficult time. However, Somoza's critics in the international media soon accused him and his family of personally profiting from foreign aid sent to assist the relief efforts. While no evidence was produced - and several U.S. Congressional investigations exonerated him - this still damaged General Somoza's reputation in parts of the world, and gave political ammunition to his enemies. As a result, a low-key insurgency, which had begun in 1963, began to grow.
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| - | ===Second term (1974-1981)===
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| - | Somoza's administration was among the most ambitious and progressive in Central American history. Between 1967 and 1976, the country's GNP grew from 4,600.2 million to 12,894.4 million reals and income per capita grew from $331 to $685. At the same time, 1200 units of low-cost, government-subsidized housing were built each month for the poor and needy; resources earmarked for education increased 250% between 1970 and 1977; and an ambitious program called INVIERNO (Institute for Peasant Welfare) was established to assist poor farmers. Somoza also made the country an investor's dream. Freedom of remittance on profit and capital; no capital gains or dividend tax; and full exemption from capital, income tax and import duties on machinery and equipment for investment and industry, and other free-enterprise policies, attracted abundant investment. The country had a $46 million trade surplus in 1976; coffee sales in 1974 tallied $46 million, doubled in 1976, and surpassed $150 million in 1977. In 1976, inflation was down to 3%, while that same year, the country's GNP grew by 8%. Buoyed by huge revenues, the government embarked on ambitious industrialization and modernization programs, worked to make the country self-sufficient in food and energy, and established a geothermal project to harness volcanic heat for steam-turbine production of electricity.
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| - | Yet, beneath the surface of prosperity lurked increasing waves of discontent.
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| - | TO BE CONTINUED
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| - | ===Retirement===
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| - | to be added
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| - | [[Category:Presidents of the Federal Republic of Central America|Somoza Debayle, Anastasio]]
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| Anastasio Somoza Debayle
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 49th and 51st President of the Federal Republic of Central America
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In office
May 1, 1967 — May 1, 1972 (1st time)
December 1, 1974 — December 1, 1981 (2nd time)
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| Political party | Nationalist Liberal Party
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| Preceded by | Lorenzo Guerrero (1st time)
National Government Junta (2nd time)
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| Succeeded by | National Government Junta (1st time)
Francisco Urcuyo Maliaños (2nd time)
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Born
| December 5, 1925
León, Nicaragua, Federal Republic of Central America
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Died
| June 9, 2007
Managua, Nicaragua, Federal Republic of Central America
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| Spouse | Hope Portocarrero Debayle
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| Profession | Politician, military officer, military engineer
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| Religion | Roman Catholic
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| Languages | Spanish, English
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FcWMi6 Thanks a lot for the article.Much thanks again. Cool.
49th and 51st President of the Federal Republic of Central America
