Mario Ramón Beteta
Encyclopedia
Mario Ramón Beteta Monsalve (7 July 1925 - 5 October 2004) was a Mexican
economist who served as the last Secretary of Finance in the cabinet of President Luis Echeverría
(1975–76), as director-general of Pemex
(1982–87) and as governor of the State of México
(1987–89).
Beteta was born in Mexico City
into a family led by General Ignacio Beteta, a well-known artist and former chief of staff of President Lázaro Cárdenas
and brother of Ramón Beteta, who also served as Secretary of Finance during the presidency of Miguel Alemán Valdés
. He graduated from the National Autonomous University of Mexico
(UNAM) with a bachelor's degree in Law (1948), completed a master's degree in Economics at the University of Wisconsin (1950) and married Gloria Leal Kuri before working as a professor of Introductory Economics and Monetary Theory at the National School of Economics (UNAM, 1951–59).
He worked as director-general of Credit (1964–70) and then as Undersecretary of the Treasury (1970–75) at the Secretariat of Finance, and when the secretary, José López Portillo
, resigned to run for president as candidate of the Institutional Revolutionary Party
(PRI), Beteta was appointed as substitute. During his tenure, he had to deal with the 1976 peso
devaluation.
After leaving the federal cabinet, Beteta served as president of the extinct Somex Group (1977–82), as director-general of Pemex
(1982–87), as governor of the State of México
(1987–89) and as director-general of Comermex (1989–90). He died in Mexico City on 5 October 2004, victim of a chronic lung disease.
His nephew, Óscar Mario Beteta, is a popular radio host
in Mexico City
.
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
economist who served as the last Secretary of Finance in the cabinet of President Luis Echeverría
Luis Echeverría
Luis Echeverría Álvarez served as President of Mexico from 1970 to 1976.-Early history:Echeverría joined the faculty of the National Autonomous University of Mexico in 1947 and taught political theory...
(1975–76), as director-general of Pemex
Pemex
Petróleos Mexicanos or Pemex is a Mexican state-owned petroleum company. As of 2010, with a total asset worth of $415.75 billion, it is the second non-publicly listed largest company in the world by total market value, and Latin America's second largest enterprise by annual revenue as of 2009...
(1982–87) and as governor of the State of México
Governor of the State of Mexico
The Governor of the State of Mexico wields executive power in the State of Mexico ....
(1987–89).
Beteta was born in Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
into a family led by General Ignacio Beteta, a well-known artist and former chief of staff of President Lázaro Cárdenas
Lázaro Cárdenas
Lázaro Cárdenas del Río was President of Mexico from 1934 to 1940.-Early life:Lázaro Cárdenas was born on May 21, 1895 in a lower-middle class family in the village of Jiquilpan, Michoacán. He supported his family from age 16 after the death of his father...
and brother of Ramón Beteta, who also served as Secretary of Finance during the presidency of Miguel Alemán Valdés
Miguel Alemán Valdés
Miguel Alemán Valdés served as the President of Mexico from 1946 to 1952.-Life:Alemán was born in Sayula in the state of Veracruz as the son of General Miguel Alemán González and Tomasa Valdés Ledezma...
. He graduated from the National Autonomous University of Mexico
National Autonomous University of Mexico
The Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México is a university in Mexico. UNAM was founded on 22 September 1910 by Justo Sierra as a liberal alternative to the Roman Catholic-sponsored Royal and Pontifical University of Mexico The Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) (National Autonomous...
(UNAM) with a bachelor's degree in Law (1948), completed a master's degree in Economics at the University of Wisconsin (1950) and married Gloria Leal Kuri before working as a professor of Introductory Economics and Monetary Theory at the National School of Economics (UNAM, 1951–59).
He worked as director-general of Credit (1964–70) and then as Undersecretary of the Treasury (1970–75) at the Secretariat of Finance, and when the secretary, José López Portillo
José López Portillo
José López Portillo y Pacheco was the President of Mexico from 1976 to 1982.Born in Mexico City, López Portillo studied Law at the National Autonomous University of Mexico before beginning his political career with the Institutional Revolutionary Party in 1959.He held several positions in the...
, resigned to run for president as candidate of the Institutional Revolutionary Party
Institutional Revolutionary Party
The Institutional Revolutionary Party is a Mexican political party that held power in the country—under a succession of names—for more than 70 years. The PRI is a member of the Socialist International, as is the rival Party of the Democratic Revolution , making Mexico one of the few...
(PRI), Beteta was appointed as substitute. During his tenure, he had to deal with the 1976 peso
Mexican peso
The peso is the currency of Mexico. Modern peso and dollar currencies have a common origin in the 15th–19th century Spanish dollar, most continuing to use its sign, "$". The Mexican peso is the 12th most traded currency in the world, the third most traded in the Americas, and by far the most...
devaluation.
After leaving the federal cabinet, Beteta served as president of the extinct Somex Group (1977–82), as director-general of Pemex
Pemex
Petróleos Mexicanos or Pemex is a Mexican state-owned petroleum company. As of 2010, with a total asset worth of $415.75 billion, it is the second non-publicly listed largest company in the world by total market value, and Latin America's second largest enterprise by annual revenue as of 2009...
(1982–87), as governor of the State of México
Governor of the State of Mexico
The Governor of the State of Mexico wields executive power in the State of Mexico ....
(1987–89) and as director-general of Comermex (1989–90). He died in Mexico City on 5 October 2004, victim of a chronic lung disease.
His nephew, Óscar Mario Beteta, is a popular radio host
Radio personality
A radio personality is a person with an on-air position in radio broadcasting. A radio personality can be someone who introduces and discusses various genres of music, hosts a talk radio show that may take calls from listeners, or someone whose primary responsibility is to give news, weather,...
in Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
.