Joaquín Balaguer


Balaguer, Joaquín

 

Born Sept. 1, 1907, in Santiago. Governmental and political figure of the Dominican Republic.

A lawyer by education, Balaguer held diplomatic and government posts from 1932 to 1952. He then was elected to the national congress and served as secretary to the president. Minister of education and the arts from 1955 to 1957, he was vice-president from May 1957 to August 1960 and president from August 1960 to January 1962 (chairman of the Council of State from December 1961 to January 1962). He resigned in January 1962 and emigrated to the USA. Balaguer returned to his country in mid-1965 and became president of the Dominican Republic in July 1966. His policy is pro-American.