Romulo BETANCOURT (Betancourt Romulo)

(1908-1981)
Born February 22, 1908 in Guatire (pc. Miranda). He studied at the Faculty of the University of Caracas. Political career began in his student years, taking part in demonstrations against the dictatorship of Juan Vicente GцЁmez. In February 1928 he was imprisoned. Coming to freedom, participated in organizing the uprising, after his defeat was banished from the country and remained abroad until 1936.
In 1930 Costa Rica joined the Communist Party, which later sarcastically described as 'childhood diseases, which gave a lifetime immunity against the disease'. In 1936, after the death of the dictator and with the advent of his successor, General Eleazar LцЁpez Contreras (1936-1941), Betancourt returned to his homeland, but in 1939 was again sent. In 1941 founded a reformist opposition party Democratic Action. In October 1945, Betancourt was involved in the overthrow of General Isayasa Medina Angarita. In a coup, the Democratic Action Party became the ruling, and its leader has been appointed interim president (1945-1948). In 1948 headed the Venezuelan delegation at the 9-th International Conference of American States in Bogotц?. Resigned in 1948, trying to ensure free presidential elections, but in November the same year, took power in Venezuela, General Marcos Perez Jimenez. Betancourt was forced into exile, he lived in the United States, Cuba, Puerto Rico, etc.. countries. In the years of dictatorship Jimц?nez (1948-1958) from abroad has been managing the Democratic Action Party, is in hiding.

In 1958, after the overthrow of the dictator, Betancourt returned to Venezuela, won the election and in February 1959 took the presidency. During his rule, carried out social welfare programs, redistribution of land, the education system, encourage foreign investment and tried to give the Venezuelan economy, dependent on oil, multidisciplinary. In 1962, Betancourt banned Communist Party (1962) and adopted a hostile attitude toward socialist Cuba. In foreign policy, put forward a so-called. "Betancourt doctrine ', calling for Latin American nations do not maintain diplomatic relations with the governments that came to power through undemocratic. Following the constitution, Betancourt did not become a candidate for a second presidential term in 1964, later lived in Switzerland. He returned to Venezuela in 1972. Betancourt died in New York on 28 September 1981.