The Peron’s: A Political Dynasty

1. The Peron’s: A Political Dynasty By Nick Elders

2. The Trifecta of Power • Three members-Juan, Eva, and Isabel • Each had a lasting effect on Argentine politics • All three courted the masses for support Picture taken from http://www.almargen.com.ar/sitio/seccion/politica/fraude

3. El Lider, Juan Domingo Peron • Born October 8, 1895 in Lobos • Second child of Mario Tomas Peron and Juana Sosa Toledo • Mario was not married to Juana when Juan was born • Mario was the son of a doctor, and Juana was a servant • Mario and Juana married when Juan was six Picture taken from http://www.usatoday.com

4. Juan’s Military Career and First Marriage • At fifteen, entered the Colegio Militar de la Nacion, after having attended the Colegio Internacional de Olivos and the Colegio Internacional Politecnica • Graduated in 1913 with a commission as a sublieutenant of the infantry • In 1924, he left the Sargento Cabral officers’ school as a captain

5. The First Mrs. Peron • In 1925, Peron met Aurelia Tizon, whom he nicknamed Potota • When they married, Peron was almost thirty,while Aurelia was barely into her twenties • Aurelia so respected her husband that she called him only Commander • They tried to have children, but Juan was most likely sterile • In 1938, after 13 years of marriage, Aurelia died of Uterine Cancer • A year after Aurelia’s death, Peron embarked on a Military mission to Europe, which lasted from 1939 to 1941

6. Peron’s rise to political power • When he returned from Europe, Peron joined the Grupo de Oficiales Unidos, a group that sympathized with the fascists • 1943- Peron helps oust President Ramon Castillo and is made undersecretary of war and chief of staff of the military under General Pedro Pablo Ramirez • Also made the director of the National Department of Labor, which he changed into the Secretariat of Welfare and Labor

7. Peron’s rise continues • As he rose through the political ranks, Peron garnered more clout with the working classes • He played a key role in ending the Ramirez administration and putting General Edelmiro Farrell in power • Under Farrell, Peron was the Secretary of Labor and Welfare, Minister of War, and Vice-President • Peron was rumored to have the real power at this time • It was during this period that, at a benefit for earthquake victims in Nicaragua, he met his second wife, Eva

8. Eva Maria Duarte de Peron • Born May 7, 1919 in Los Toldos • Fifth child and fourth daughter of Juana Ibarguren, a Basque cook, and Juan Duarte, a wealthy land owner • Juan and Juana never married, so Eva was illegitimate • Juan had a wife, Estela Grisolia and three daughters in Chivilcoy • He left Juana and her brood in 1920 and died in a car accident on January 8, 1926

9. Eva’s Early Years

10. Eva’s Early Years • Eva was always conscious of her status as an illegitimate child, and wanted to rise above it • She resolved to become a great actress to do it • She ran away to Buenos Aires with a tango singer, Augustin Magaldi, at fifteen • Magaldi was the first of Eva’s many lovers, whom she used to get ahead in the world • She ended her habit of dating and discarding men when she met Peron

11. Juan and Eva become a Team • Eva became Juan’s mistress shortly after they met • In October of 1945, however, Juan was arrested by the president and sent to a secret location that even Eva didn’t know • The people came to his aid and staged a rally to free him, which worked • Shortly after his release, Juan married Eva, which legitimized her in a way • Together, they planned for Juan’s run at the presidency in 1946

12. President and First Lady • Juan was elected to his first term as president in 1946 • Eva was now the first lady, the most powerful woman in Argentina • The rich had a hard time accepting her, as evidenced by the Charitable Society, a women’s organization, denying Eva the honorary position of President • Eva retaliated against this by cutting of the society’s federal funding and starting her own foundation, The Eva Peron Foundation

13. Eva becomes the friend of the poor • Eva’s foundation helped the poor get jobs, food, clothing, money, and anything else they could want • There are no financial records for the foundation, so it is not known how much money was taken in and how much was kept • The people adored Eva for what she did for them,a and considered her a saint

14. The Rainbow Tour • Eva decided to go to Europe to push Peron’s policies in other countries, in hopes of making alliances with the more powerful heads of state • Spain was her first stop, and while there, she received the highest honor from Francisco Franco, the cross of Isabella the Catholic • Franco declared a holiday so the workers could see Eva

16. Italy and the rest of the tour • Italy was slightly colder than Spain and more disappointing • Eva had hoped that the pope would honor her with a Marquisette for her work with the poor • She got a twenty minute audience and a gold rosary instead • Eva next went to Paris and made quite a splash there • The tour was to culminate with her staying in Buckingham Palace with the royal family, but they wouldn’t officially invite her, so she decided against going to Great Britain

18. Will the Peron’s run together in 1951? • In 1951, Juan decided to run again for President • Eva wanted to run with him as Vice President • When she accepted the nomination, she made it look like she was bowing to the people’s will , but it didn’t work • The military told Peron that they would try revolution if Eva didn’t renounce her candidacy • Juan told Eva to step down and, though crushed, she did as she was instructed

19. Eva’s illness and death • Shortly after her renunciation, Eva began feeling ill • She was diagnosed with Uterine Cancer, the same disease that had killed her predecessor, Aurelia • She had a hysterectomy, but it wasn’t enough to stop the cancer • She voted in the election from a hospital bed and, though seriously ill, attended the inauguration • She got through the ceremonies with a triple dose of pain-killer before and a double dose after • Shortly after the inauguration, Eva died at the age of 33.

21. Peron is ousted from power • After Eva died, Juan planned on having her embalmed, so she would last forever • Dr. Pedro Ara was asked to do the job, and he did it beautifully • A tomb for Eva was in the works, but Peron was ousted before it could be completed • When Eva died, Peron lost his link to the people, and this hurt him greatly • After his overthrow, Peron fled the country • Eventually, he ended up in Panama, where he met wife number three

23. Maria Estela de Martinez enters the picture • Maria Estela,or Isabel, was born on February 4, 1931 in La Rioja • Her father died when she was six, and she became a dancer at twenty • In 1956, she met Peron in Panama • In 1961, they married and moved to Madrid • Peron began planning his return to Argentina from Madrid • Isabel was Juan’s representative on trips to Argentina, since he couldn’t return from exile • Isabel’s main goal was uniting the Peronists

24. Peron gains power once more • On June 20, 1973 Juan and Isabel returned to Argentina • On July 13, President Hector Campora resigned to make way for Peron • Peron shocked the nation when he announced that he and Isabel would run together on August 4 • Isabel accepted the nomination, and the Peron’s won the election, thus giving Isabel the office that had been denied to Evita, the Vice-Presidency • Isabel, however, was thrust into the spotlight when Peron died on July 1, 1974 of bronchial pneumonia

25. Picture taken from http:// hjem.get2net.dk

26. Isabel’s term and the end of the Peron dynasty • Isabel took over the presidency when Juan died, and promised to adhear to his policies strictly • Problems beset her presidency from the start • Inflation rose and political struggle continued between the Peronists • What the army feared would happen if a female became president happened with Isabel • In 1976, Isabel was ousted in a coup, thus ending the Peron regime, and a great chapter in Argentine history