Carlos Hevia
Encyclopedia
Carlos Hevia y Reyes-Gavilan (March 21, 1900 – April 2, 1964) was the President of Cuba
, serving for less than three days. During the third week of 1934, Hevia was President from 5:00 p.m. on Monday, January 15, until 1:20 a.m. on Thursday, January 18. Cuban junta leader Fulgencio Batista
had obtained the resignation of Hevia's predecessor, Ramón Grau
. The choice of Hevia was unpopular with the military, and by Wednesday, the new President was asked to resign. He was replaced by Manuel Márquez Sterling
.
Hevia, who was also a surgeon
, had been the first Cuban national to graduate from the United States Naval Academy
at Annapolis, as a member of the Class of 1919.
Hevia later broke with Batista and became an important politician in the Autentico party
. He served as foreign minister
of Cuba from 1948 to 1950, in the administration of Carlos Prio. Hevia was chosen to be the Autentico presidential candidate for the 1952 elections. However, the elections, in which Hevia's main opponents were Roberto Agramonte
and Fulgencio Batista, were canceled when Batista took power in a military coup.
Hevia went into exile in the United States
and during the early 1960s was part of groups opposed to Fidel Castro
who overthrew Batista in 1959.
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...
, serving for less than three days. During the third week of 1934, Hevia was President from 5:00 p.m. on Monday, January 15, until 1:20 a.m. on Thursday, January 18. Cuban junta leader 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....
had obtained the resignation of Hevia's predecessor, Ramón Grau
Ramón Grau
Dr. Ramón Grau San Martín was a Cuban physician and the President of Cuba .-Youth:...
. The choice of Hevia was unpopular with the military, and by Wednesday, the new President was asked to resign. He was replaced by Manuel Márquez Sterling
Manuel Márquez Sterling
Manuel Márquez Sterling was a Cuban diplomat and President of Cuba for a few hours on January 18, 1934....
.
Presidency of Cuba
Hevia was the Agricultural Minister when rioting broke out in Havana protest against the President Grau. The junta requested Grau's resignation and named Hevia as the new president. Hevia initially declined, after hearing the reaction of the mob. After 100 troops arrived from Camp Columbia to guard the presidential palace, Hevia accepted the post at 5:00 Monday afternoon. Hevia met with Batista's rival, union leader Carlos Mendieta, in the early hours of Tuesday morning. Hoping to receive Menideta's endorsement, Hevia came away instead with little more than Mendieta's pledge of neutrality. Hevia was administered the oath of office on Tuesday by his father-in-law, Dr. Juan Federico Edelmann, who was also the president (chief justice) of the Cuban Supreme Court and a 21 gun salute was given from the cannons of the Cabanas Fortress following the inauguration. Meanwhile, labor organizations made plans for a nationwide strike. Wednesday, Hevia was unable to forestall the Nationalist Union's plans for a walkout, and decided that evening to resign. About 40 hours after he had been formally inaugurated, Hevia resigned early Thursday morning in favor of Mendieta. He left the presidential palace at 2:15 a.m., saying "I am going back to my cane fields to cut cane,"Hevia, who was also a surgeon
Surgeon
In medicine, a surgeon is a specialist in surgery. Surgery is a broad category of invasive medical treatment that involves the cutting of a body, whether human or animal, for a specific reason such as the removal of diseased tissue or to repair a tear or breakage...
, had been the first Cuban national to graduate from 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...
at Annapolis, as a member of the Class of 1919.
Hevia later broke with Batista and became an important politician in the Autentico party
Partido Auténtico
The Partido Auténtico was a political party in Cuba most active between 1933 to 1952...
. He served as foreign minister
Foreign minister
A Minister of Foreign Affairs, or foreign minister, is a cabinet minister who helps form the foreign policy of a sovereign state. The foreign minister is often regarded as the most senior ministerial position below that of the head of government . It is often granted to the deputy prime minister in...
of Cuba from 1948 to 1950, in the administration of Carlos Prio. Hevia was chosen to be the Autentico presidential candidate for the 1952 elections. However, the elections, in which Hevia's main opponents were Roberto Agramonte
Roberto Agramonte
Dr. Roberto Agramonte was a philosopher and Cuban politician....
and Fulgencio Batista, were canceled when Batista took power in a military coup.
Hevia went into exile in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and during the early 1960s was part of groups opposed to 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...
who overthrew Batista in 1959.