Enrique Mosca
Encyclopedia
Enrique Mosca was an Argentine lawyer and politician prominent in the centrist UCR
.
, in 1880. He enrolled at the Jesuit
College of the Immaculate Conception and received a juris doctor
from the University of the Province of Santa Fe (today the National University of the Littoral
), in 1906.
Affiliated to the Radical Civic Union
(UCR) from his years at the university, he helped advance the UCR's push for democratic elections through his post as editor-in-chief of La Argentina, one of Santa Fe's leading newsdailies at the time. Their securing that critical reform in 1912 led to the election of the UCR's leader, Hipólito Yrigoyen
, in 1916
. That election also carried Mosca to Congress, and in 1920, he was elected governor of his native Santa Fe Province
.
Governor Mosca enacted numerous reforms in office, while keeping a pragmatic agenda. He rescinded annual fees for public primary school students and created the Provincial Library and Archives. He vetoed the replacement of the provincial constitution for the sake of avoiding future conflict; but responded to strikes among logging industry workers by sanctioning the formation of paramilitary
groups against them. This record helped earn Mosca an appointment as Federal Interventor of Mendoza Province
in 1924 when President Marcelo Torcuato de Alvear
removed the progressive governor, Carlos Washington Lencinas
. He joined the "Antipersonalist UCR" when this faction's opposition to Yrigoyen led to a split from the party, in 1924. He was named head of the National Education Council in 1926 and was among the few Antipersonalists to win a seat in Congress in the 1928 elections
, when Yrigoyen was returned to the presidency in a landslide.
The overthrow of the aging Yrigoyen in 1930 met with vocal opposition from Mosca, despite his enmity towards the former. The dictatorship had him imprisoned in the notorious Ushuaia
prison (now a museum) in 1931, by which Mosca's health deteriorated. Freed in 1934, he was offered the vice-presidential nomination by his party's leader, former President Alvear, ahead of the 1937 elections
. Amid widespread voter intimidation and fraud, however, the duo was defeated by the ruling party candidate.
A coup d'état
in 1943 led to rise of the populist new Labor Minister, Col. Juan Perón
, who later forced the junta to call elections for early 1946. UCR leader José Tamborini
led an unusually diverse coalition against the charismatic Perón, and named Mosca his running mate. The alliance (the Democratic Union) was united solely by the goal of keeping Perón from the Casa Rosada
, and failed to win over several prominent lawmakers opposed the Union's ties to conservative interests. It was also burdened with U.S. Ambassador Spruille Braden
's vocal support, which allowed Perón to make the election a choice between "Perón or Braden," while prevailing on President Edelmiro Farrell to enact his populist agenda and dismissing Tamborini and Mosca as "the tambourine and the fly." The elections
, held in February, resulted in a defeat for the Tamborini-Mosca ticket by 11%.
Enrique Mosca retired from active political life and died in Buenos Aires
in 1950, at age 70.
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...
.
Life and times
Enrique Mosca was born in Santa FeSanta Fe, Argentina
Santa Fe is the capital city of province of Santa Fe, Argentina. It sits in northeastern Argentina, near the junction of the Paraná and Salado rivers. It lies opposite the city of Paraná, to which it is linked by the Hernandarias Subfluvial Tunnel. The city is also connected by canal with the...
, in 1880. He enrolled at the Jesuit
Society of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
College of the Immaculate Conception and received a juris doctor
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
from the University of the Province of Santa Fe (today the National University of the Littoral
National University of the Littoral
The National University of the Littoral is a university in Argentina. It is based in Santa Fe, the capital of the province of the same name, and it has colleges and other academic facilities in Esperanza, Reconquista and Gálvez, also in Santa Fe Province.-History:The original institution was...
), in 1906.
Affiliated to the Radical Civic Union
Radical Civic Union
The Radical Civic Union is a political party in Argentina. The party's positions on issues range from liberal to social democratic. The UCR is a member of the Socialist International. Founded in 1891 by radical liberals, it is the oldest political party active in Argentina...
(UCR) from his years at the university, he helped advance the UCR's push for democratic elections through his post as editor-in-chief of La Argentina, one of Santa Fe's leading newsdailies at the time. Their securing that critical reform in 1912 led to the election of the UCR's leader, Hipólito Yrigoyen
Hipólito Yrigoyen
Juan Hipólito del Sagrado Corazón de Jesús Irigoyen Alem was twice President of Argentina . His activism became the prime impetus behind the obtainment of universal suffrage in Argentina in 1912...
, in 1916
Argentine presidential election, 1916
The Argentine general election of 1916 was held on 2 April. Voters elected the President, legislators, and local officials. The first free presidential elections in the nation's history, they had a turnout of 62.7% and produced the following official results:...
. That election also carried Mosca to Congress, and in 1920, he was elected governor of his native Santa Fe Province
Santa Fe Province
The Invincible Province of Santa Fe, in Spanish Provincia Invencible de Santa Fe , is a province of Argentina, located in the center-east of the country. Neighboring provinces are from the north clockwise Chaco , Corrientes, Entre Ríos, Buenos Aires, Córdoba, and Santiago del Estero...
.
Governor Mosca enacted numerous reforms in office, while keeping a pragmatic agenda. He rescinded annual fees for public primary school students and created the Provincial Library and Archives. He vetoed the replacement of the provincial constitution for the sake of avoiding future conflict; but responded to strikes among logging industry workers by sanctioning the formation of paramilitary
Paramilitary
A paramilitary is a force whose function and organization are similar to those of a professional military, but which is not considered part of a state's formal armed forces....
groups against them. This record helped earn Mosca an appointment as Federal Interventor of Mendoza Province
Mendoza Province
The Province of Mendoza is a province of Argentina, located in the western central part of the country in the Cuyo region. It borders to the north with San Juan, the south with La Pampa and Neuquén, the east with San Luis, and to the west with the republic of Chile; the international limit is...
in 1924 when President Marcelo Torcuato de Alvear
Marcelo Torcuato de Alvear
Máximo Marcelo Torcuato de Alvear Pacheco , better known as Marcelo T. de Alvear was an Argentine politician and President of Argentina from October 12, 1922 to October 12, 1928.-Biography:...
removed the progressive governor, Carlos Washington Lencinas
Carlos Washington Lencinas
Carlos Washington Lencinas was an Argentine politician.-Life and times:Carlos Washington Lencinas was born in Rivadavia Department, Mendoza, in 1888, to Fidela Peacock and José Néstor Lencinas. The elder Lencinas was a Mendoza Province lawmaker known for his tempestuous political rights advocacy...
. He joined the "Antipersonalist UCR" when this faction's opposition to Yrigoyen led to a split from the party, in 1924. He was named head of the National Education Council in 1926 and was among the few Antipersonalists to win a seat in Congress in the 1928 elections
Argentine presidential election, 1928
The Argentine general election of 1928 was held on 1 April. With a turnout of 80.9%, it produced the following official results:-President: a) Parties nominating the Leopoldo Melo-Vicente Gallo ticket...
, when Yrigoyen was returned to the presidency in a landslide.
The overthrow of the aging Yrigoyen in 1930 met with vocal opposition from Mosca, despite his enmity towards the former. The dictatorship had him imprisoned in the notorious Ushuaia
Ushuaia
Ushuaia may refer to the following:*Ushuaia, a city in Argentina.**Ushuaia Department, an administrative division**Ushuaia River**Ushuaia International Airport**Colegio Nacional de Ushuaia, National School of Ushuaia....
prison (now a museum) in 1931, by which Mosca's health deteriorated. Freed in 1934, he was offered the vice-presidential nomination by his party's leader, former President Alvear, ahead of the 1937 elections
Argentine presidential election, 1937
The Argentine presidential election of 1937 was held on 5 September. With a turnout of 76.2%, it produced the following official results: aAbstentions.-Background:...
. Amid widespread voter intimidation and fraud, however, the duo was defeated by the ruling party candidate.
A coup d'état
Coup d'état
A coup d'état state, literally: strike/blow of state)—also known as a coup, putsch, and overthrow—is the sudden, extrajudicial deposition of a government, usually by a small group of the existing state establishment—typically the military—to replace the deposed government with another body; either...
in 1943 led to rise of the populist new 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...
, who later forced the junta to call elections for early 1946. UCR leader José Tamborini
José Tamborini
José Tamborini was an Argentine physician and historically significant politician.-Life and times:José Pascual Tamborini was born in Buenos Aires, in 1886...
led an unusually diverse coalition against the charismatic Perón, and named Mosca his running mate. The alliance (the Democratic Union) was united solely by the goal of keeping Perón from the Casa Rosada
Casa Rosada
La Casa Rosada is the official seat of the executive branch of the government of Argentina, and of the offices of the President. The President normally lives at the Quinta de Olivos, a compound in Olivos, Buenos Aires Province. Its characteristic color is pink, and is considered one of the most...
, and failed to win over several prominent lawmakers opposed the Union's ties to conservative interests. It was also burdened with U.S. Ambassador Spruille Braden
Spruille Braden
Spruille Braden was an American diplomat, businessman, lobbyist, and member of the Council on Foreign Relations. He served as the ambassador of various Latin American countries, and as Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs...
's vocal support, which allowed Perón to make the election a choice between "Perón or Braden," while prevailing on President Edelmiro Farrell to enact his populist agenda and dismissing Tamborini and Mosca as "the tambourine and the fly." The 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....
, held in February, resulted in a defeat for the Tamborini-Mosca ticket by 11%.
Enrique Mosca retired from active political life and died in 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...
in 1950, at age 70.