Alberto Teisaire
Encyclopedia
Alberto Teisaire was an Argentine Navy
officer and Vice President of Argentina.
. He enrolled in the Argentine Naval Academy in 1908 and, upon graduation in 1912, was accepted to the United States Naval Academy
. There, he was commissioned as a submarine
officer in the U.S. Navy, during World War I
. Returning to Argentina, he married Duilia Fayo Lonne and was eventually named Commander of the Navy's flagship, the historic Sarmiento Frigate
.
Teisaire later taught at the Argentine Naval Academy and held numerous policy-making posts in that service, including ones in the Naval Requisitions Department, the Argentine Naval delegations in the United States
and Europe
, as head of the Navy's River Fleet (1938), and as assistant director of the important Navy Mechanics' School
, in 1940, where he specialized in the instruction of navigation
and hydrology
.
A power vacuum caused by the replacement of President Pedro Ramírez
by a fellow General (Edelmiro Farrell) led to Teisaire's February 29, 1944 appointment as Navy Secretary. He became a reliable ally of the new War and Labor Minister, Col. Juan Perón
, whose support of organized labor
and their platform had provoked growing rivalries within the military regime. Teisaire became Perón's most prominent ally in the government when, in July, he was named Interior Minister (at the time, overseeing law enforcement). He retired as Rear Admiral
in 1945 to pursue a seat in the Argentine Senate
, ahead of the February 1946 general elections
.
Elected as Senator on Perón's Labor Party ticket, Teisaire represented the city of Buenos Aires
, a district normally leaning towards Perón's chief opposition, the centrist UCR
. A leading member of the local Lions Club, Teisaire also received the German Order of Merit
. He, however, did not enjoy support from the President's influential First Lady, Eva Perón
, who refused his request to take part in her 1947 "Rainbow Tour" because (in her words): "I did not want that "maricón" creating a scandal in Paris
, when for that I already have Paquito
, who at least makes me laugh."
Teisaire did well in his career in the Senate, even so. He was elected to the Constitutional Assmebly of 1949
, which drafted a replacement of the 1853 Constitution of Argentina
(reinstated in 1957), and was reelected Senator in 1951. He was named President of the Senate in 1952 and head of the Peronist Party's Superior Council, effectively making him the third-most powerful member of the administration (after Interior Minister Ángel Borlenghi
and Perón, himself). Controversy surrounding the President's in-laws and political violence both by and against his Peronist movement dominated headlines in the first half of 1953, and Perón took the opportunity of upcoming legislative polls to test his popularity. The Argentine Constitution did not require it at the time; but a special election was announced to replace the late Vice President, Hortensio Quijano
, and Perón nominated Teisaire as his candidate for the post.
The April 1954
elections increased the Peronists' overwhelming majority in Congress and elected Teisaire Vice President by a 30% margin of victory. Following this success, Perón began to dispense with his hitherto warm relations with the Catholic Church by banning a number of their organizations and periodicals, and with the unprecedented, December 22 legalization of divorce and prostitution. The Vice President supported these moves, arguing that Argentina's Catholic majority were mostly non-practicing and, by extension, probably amenable to Perón's push to limit their influence.
The miscalculation proved fateful, however, when the conflict destroyed military loyalty for the administration, and a series of violent confrontations from June to September 1955 ended with Perón's September 19 resignation and exile.
Vice President Teisaire was forced to resign on September 23, following which he was coerced into reading a 7-page confession of the "fugitive dictator's" alleged abuses. His "confession" was produced into a 12-minute propaganda film
by the Revolución Libertadora
, which ordered the footage shown on all movie theatres.
Teisaire kept a low profile in retirement; as he enjoyed lunch in a suburban Buenos Aires restaurant on October 12, 1962, with his secretary and bodyguard, however, a commando team attacked the group with machine gun fire, killing all three instantly. Teisaire was 71.
Argentine Navy
The Navy of the Argentine Republic or Armada of the Argentine Republic is the navy of Argentina. It is one of the three branches of the Armed Forces of the Argentine Republic, together with the Army and the Air Force....
officer and Vice President of Argentina.
Life and Times
Alberto Teisaire was born in 1891 to Eduardo Teisaire and Clementina Cejas de Teisaire, in Mendoza, ArgentinaMendoza, Argentina
Mendoza is the capital city of Mendoza Province, in Argentina. It is located in the northern-central part of the province, in a region of foothills and high plains, on the eastern side of the Andes. As of the , Mendoza's population was 110,993...
. He enrolled in the Argentine Naval Academy in 1908 and, upon graduation in 1912, was accepted to the United States Naval Academy
United States Naval Academy
The United States Naval Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located in Annapolis, Maryland, United States...
. There, he was commissioned as a submarine
Submarine
A submarine is a watercraft capable of independent operation below the surface of the water. It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability...
officer in the U.S. Navy, during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. Returning to Argentina, he married Duilia Fayo Lonne and was eventually named Commander of the Navy's flagship, the historic Sarmiento Frigate
ARA Presidente Sarmiento
ARA Presidente Sarmiento is a museum ship, originally built as a training ship for the Argentine Navy. She is considered to be the last intact cruising training ship from the 1890s....
.
Teisaire later taught at the Argentine Naval Academy and held numerous policy-making posts in that service, including ones in the Naval Requisitions Department, the Argentine Naval delegations in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, as head of the Navy's River Fleet (1938), and as assistant director of the important Navy Mechanics' School
ESMA
The Navy Petty-Officers School of Mechanics , commonly referred to by its abbreviation ESMA, is a facility of the Argentine Navy that was employed as an illegal detention center during the dictatorial rule of the National Reorganization Process...
, in 1940, where he specialized in the instruction of navigation
Navigation
Navigation is the process of monitoring and controlling the movement of a craft or vehicle from one place to another. It is also the term of art used for the specialized knowledge used by navigators to perform navigation tasks...
and hydrology
Hydrology
Hydrology is the study of the movement, distribution, and quality of water on Earth and other planets, including the hydrologic cycle, water resources and environmental watershed sustainability...
.
A power vacuum caused by the replacement of President Pedro Ramírez
Pedro Pablo Ramírez
General Pedro Pablo Ramírez was de facto President of Argentina from June 7, 1943 to February 24, 1944. He was the founder and leader of the Guardia Nacional, Argentina's Fascist militia....
by a fellow General (Edelmiro Farrell) led to Teisaire's February 29, 1944 appointment as Navy Secretary. He became a reliable ally of the new War and Labor Minister, Col. Juan Perón
Juan Perón
Juan Domingo Perón was an Argentine military officer, and politician. Perón was three times elected as President of Argentina though he only managed to serve one full term, after serving in several government positions, including the Secretary of Labor and the Vice Presidency...
, whose support of organized labor
General Confederation of Labour (Argentina)
The General Confederation of Labour of the Argentine Republic is a national trade union centre of Argentina founded on September 27, 1930, as the result of the merge of the USA and the COA trade union centres...
and their platform had provoked growing rivalries within the military regime. Teisaire became Perón's most prominent ally in the government when, in July, he was named Interior Minister (at the time, overseeing law enforcement). He retired as Rear Admiral
Rear Admiral
Rear admiral is a naval commissioned officer rank above that of a commodore and captain, and below that of a vice admiral. It is generally regarded as the lowest of the "admiral" ranks, which are also sometimes referred to as "flag officers" or "flag ranks"...
in 1945 to pursue a seat in the Argentine Senate
Argentine Senate
The Argentine Senate is the upper house of the Argentine National Congress. It has 72 senators: three for each province and three for the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires...
, ahead of the February 1946 general elections
Argentine general election, 1946
The Argentine general election of 1946, the last for which only men were enfranchised, was held on 24 February. Voters chose both the President and their legislators and with a turnout of 83.4%, it produced the following results:-President:aAbstentions....
.
Elected as Senator on Perón's Labor Party ticket, Teisaire represented the city of Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
, a district normally leaning towards Perón's chief opposition, the centrist UCR
UCR
UCR may refer to:* University of California, Riverside* Unified Cornish Revised, a variety of the Cornish language* Uniform Crime Reports* Under color removal* University of Costa Rica* Unión Cívica Radical, an Argentine political party...
. A leading member of the local Lions Club, Teisaire also received the German Order of Merit
Bundesverdienstkreuz
The Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany is the only general state decoration of the Federal Republic of Germany. It has existed since 7 September 1951, and between 3,000 and 5,200 awards are given every year across all classes...
. He, however, did not enjoy support from the President's influential First Lady, Eva Perón
Eva Perón
María Eva Duarte de Perón was the second wife of President Juan Perón and served as the First Lady of Argentina from 1946 until her death in 1952. She is often referred to as simply Eva Perón, or by the affectionate Spanish language diminutive Evita.She was born in the village of Los Toldos in...
, who refused his request to take part in her 1947 "Rainbow Tour" because (in her words): "I did not want that "maricón" creating a scandal in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, when for that I already have Paquito
Paco Jamandreu
Paco Jamandreu was a well known Argentine fashion designer and actor. He was a personal friend of Eva Perón and participated as a costume designer in multiple Argentine films.-Career:...
, who at least makes me laugh."
Teisaire did well in his career in the Senate, even so. He was elected to the Constitutional Assmebly of 1949
Argentine legislative election, 1948
Argentina held legislative and Constitutional Assembly elections in 1948 were held on 7 March and 5 December, respectively. These were the last elections in which only men were enfranchised to vote and, with a turnout of 74.2%, they produced the following results:-Congress and Constitutional...
, which drafted a replacement of the 1853 Constitution of Argentina
Constitution of Argentina
The constitution of Argentina is one of the primary sources of existing law in Argentina. Its first version was written in 1853 by a Constitutional Assembly gathered in Santa Fe, and the doctrinal basis was taken in part from the United States Constitution...
(reinstated in 1957), and was reelected Senator in 1951. He was named President of the Senate in 1952 and head of the Peronist Party's Superior Council, effectively making him the third-most powerful member of the administration (after Interior Minister Ángel Borlenghi
Ángel Borlenghi
Ángel Borlenghi was an Argentine labor leader and politician closely associated with the Peronist movement.-Early life and the labor movement:Ángel Gabriel Borlenghi was born in Buenos Aires to Italian immigrants, in 1904...
and Perón, himself). Controversy surrounding the President's in-laws and political violence both by and against his Peronist movement dominated headlines in the first half of 1953, and Perón took the opportunity of upcoming legislative polls to test his popularity. The Argentine Constitution did not require it at the time; but a special election was announced to replace the late Vice President, Hortensio Quijano
Hortensio Quijano
Dr. Juan Hortensio Quijano was the Vice President of Argentina under President Juan Perón from 1946 until his 1952 death in Buenos Aires.Quijano was born in Corrientes Province in 1884, and enrolled at the University of Buenos Aires, where he graduated in 1908 and received a juris doctor in 1919...
, and Perón nominated Teisaire as his candidate for the post.
The April 1954
Argentine legislative election, 1954
The Argentine legislative election of 1954 was held on 25 April. Voters chose both their legislators and the Vice-President of Argentina; with a turnout of 86.0%, it produced the following results:-Congress:-Vice Presidency:-Background:...
elections increased the Peronists' overwhelming majority in Congress and elected Teisaire Vice President by a 30% margin of victory. Following this success, Perón began to dispense with his hitherto warm relations with the Catholic Church by banning a number of their organizations and periodicals, and with the unprecedented, December 22 legalization of divorce and prostitution. The Vice President supported these moves, arguing that Argentina's Catholic majority were mostly non-practicing and, by extension, probably amenable to Perón's push to limit their influence.
The miscalculation proved fateful, however, when the conflict destroyed military loyalty for the administration, and a series of violent confrontations from June to September 1955 ended with Perón's September 19 resignation and exile.
Vice President Teisaire was forced to resign on September 23, following which he was coerced into reading a 7-page confession of the "fugitive dictator's" alleged abuses. His "confession" was produced into a 12-minute propaganda film
Propaganda film
The term propaganda can be defined as the ability to produce and spread fertile messages that, once sown, will germinate in large human cultures.” However, in the 20th century, a “new” propaganda emerged, which revolved around political organizations and their need to communicate messages that...
by the Revolución Libertadora
Revolución Libertadora
The Revolución Libertadora was a military uprising that ended the second presidential term of Juan Perón in Argentina, on September 16, 1955.-History:...
, which ordered the footage shown on all movie theatres.
Teisaire kept a low profile in retirement; as he enjoyed lunch in a suburban Buenos Aires restaurant on October 12, 1962, with his secretary and bodyguard, however, a commando team attacked the group with machine gun fire, killing all three instantly. Teisaire was 71.