Andrés Rivero Agüero
Encyclopedia
Andrés Rivero Agüero was the last person to be elected president
of Cuba
in a multiparty election. He was born to extremely poor parents in San Luis
, Oriente Province (now Santiago de Cuba Province
) on 4 February 1905. He taught himself to read when he was 16. Rivero managed to secure a high school education by his own efforts, and obtained a law degree from Havana University (1934). Elected a city councilman in Santiago de Cuba
, he quickly became a leader of the Liberal Party, and was befriended by Fulgencio Batista
. During Batista's first administration (1940–1944), Rivero served as Minister of Agriculture
, and implemented Batista's plan for resettling landless peasants in Oriente Province.
During General Batista's exile in the United States
from 1944–1952, Rivero practised law
in Cuba and wrote political commentary for several periodicals. When Batista
returned to run for President of Cuba in 1952, Rivero helped to organise Batista's United Action Party. He supported Batista's military coup on 10 March 1952, and thereafter served as Minister of Education
in Batista's second administration (1952–1958). Elected a Senator from Pinar del Río
province in 1954, Rivero became Cuba's prime minister
(1957–1958), and participated in several reconciliation conferences as Batista's representative.
Rivero resigned his premiership in 1958 to run for President of Cuba. He received the support of Batista's Progressive Action Party, and three other pro-government parties. Rivero was declared the winner of the elections
, which were speculated by many to have been rigged with the support of the United States government in an effort to repel the ongoing Cuban revolution. After the election, Rivero entered into conversations with U.S. Ambassador Earl E. T. Smith, and with leading Cuban politicians, to resolve the crisis caused by the ongoing rebellion
led by Fidel Castro
. He apparently wished to convene a Constituent Assembly
shortly after taking office, to bring about a restoration of constitutional rule. However, the success of the revolution frustrated Rivero's plans, and he fled with General Batista into exile in the Dominican Republic
on 1 January 1959.
Rivero eventually settled in the United States
, living in extremely modest circumstances. He lived to be a great-grandfather. Rivero died in Miami, Florida
in 1996.
President of Cuba
--209.174.31.28 18:43, 22 November 2011 The President of Cuba is the Head of state of Cuba. According to the Cuban Constitution of 1976, the President is the chief executive of the Council of State of Cuba...
of Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
in a multiparty election. He was born to extremely poor parents in San Luis
San Luis, Santiago de Cuba
San Luis is a town and municipality in the Santiago de Cuba Province of Cuba. It is located north of Santiago de Cuba.-History:The city was founded in 1827 on the location of a ranch. Arrival of the railroad accelerated its development...
, Oriente Province (now Santiago de Cuba Province
Santiago de Cuba Province
Santiago de Cuba Province is the second most populated province in the island of Cuba. The largest city Santiago de Cuba is the main administrative center...
) on 4 February 1905. He taught himself to read when he was 16. Rivero managed to secure a high school education by his own efforts, and obtained a law degree from Havana University (1934). Elected a city councilman in Santiago de Cuba
Santiago de Cuba
Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city of Cuba and capital city of Santiago de Cuba Province in the south-eastern area of the island, some south-east of the Cuban capital of Havana....
, he quickly became a leader of the Liberal Party, and was befriended by Fulgencio Batista
Fulgencio Batista
Fulgencio Batista y Zaldívar was the United States-aligned Cuban President, dictator and military leader who served as the leader of Cuba from 1933 to 1944 and from 1952 to 1959, before being overthrown as a result of the Cuban Revolution....
. During Batista's first administration (1940–1944), Rivero served as Minister of Agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
, and implemented Batista's plan for resettling landless peasants in Oriente Province.
During General Batista's exile in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
from 1944–1952, Rivero practised law
Law
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
in Cuba and wrote political commentary for several periodicals. When Batista
Fulgencio Batista
Fulgencio Batista y Zaldívar was the United States-aligned Cuban President, dictator and military leader who served as the leader of Cuba from 1933 to 1944 and from 1952 to 1959, before being overthrown as a result of the Cuban Revolution....
returned to run for President of Cuba in 1952, Rivero helped to organise Batista's United Action Party. He supported Batista's military coup on 10 March 1952, and thereafter served as Minister of Education
Education in Cuba
Education in Cuba has been a highly ranked system for many years. The University of Havana was founded in 1727 and there are a number of other well-established colleges and universities. Following the 1959 revolution, the Castro government nationalized all educational institutions, and created a...
in Batista's second administration (1952–1958). Elected a Senator from Pinar del Río
Pinar del Río
Pinar del Río is a city in Cuba. It is the capital of Pinar del Río Province.Inhabitants of the area are called Pinareños.Neighborhoods in the city include La Conchita, La Coloma, Briones Montoto and Las Ovas.-History:...
province in 1954, Rivero became Cuba's prime minister
Prime Minister of Cuba
Prime Minister of Cuba was a position in the government of Cuba. Fidel Castro assumed the position of Prime Minister in 1959 replacing José Miró Cardona....
(1957–1958), and participated in several reconciliation conferences as Batista's representative.
Rivero resigned his premiership in 1958 to run for President of Cuba. He received the support of Batista's Progressive Action Party, and three other pro-government parties. Rivero was declared the winner of the elections
Cuban presidential election, 1958
General elections were held in Cuba on 1 November 1958. Due to Fidel Castro's threat to jail and execute any candidate who participated in the election, Batista-supported Andrés Rivero Agüero was the sole candidate. However, he was unable to take office due to the Cuban Revolution.-Results:...
, which were speculated by many to have been rigged with the support of the United States government in an effort to repel the ongoing Cuban revolution. After the election, Rivero entered into conversations with U.S. Ambassador Earl E. T. Smith, and with leading Cuban politicians, to resolve the crisis caused by the ongoing rebellion
Cuban Revolution
The Cuban Revolution was an armed revolt by Fidel Castro's 26th of July Movement against the regime of Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista between 1953 and 1959. Batista was finally ousted on 1 January 1959, and was replaced by a revolutionary government led by Castro...
led by Fidel Castro
Fidel Castro
Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz is a Cuban revolutionary and politician, having held the position of Prime Minister of Cuba from 1959 to 1976, and then President from 1976 to 2008. He also served as the First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba from the party's foundation in 1961 until 2011...
. He apparently wished to convene a Constituent Assembly
Constituent assembly
A constituent assembly is a body composed for the purpose of drafting or adopting a constitution...
shortly after taking office, to bring about a restoration of constitutional rule. However, the success of the revolution frustrated Rivero's plans, and he fled with General Batista into exile in the Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...
on 1 January 1959.
Rivero eventually settled in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, living in extremely modest circumstances. He lived to be a great-grandfather. Rivero died in Miami, Florida
Miami, Florida
Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...
in 1996.
External links
- Despatch From the US Embassy in Cuba to the US Department of State 1958 Elections: Electoral Outlook Six Weeks Prior to Elections