Teodoro Moscoso
Encyclopedia
Teodoro Moscoso Mora was a Puerto Rican politician known as "the architect of "Operation Bootstrap
".
, Puerto Rico
. Alejandrina was pregnant when she and her husband were visiting Barcelona, Spain. Teodoro Jr., was born during their visit and soon afterward the Moscosos returned to the island. The elder Moscoso attended to his pharmacy, which was located in the center of Ponce.
. Afterward he moved to Ponce and graduated from Ponce High School
. After graduation he attended the Philadelphia School of Pharmacy (now the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia
) to follow in his father's profession. After three years, he transferred to the University of Michigan
, where he graduated in 1932. Moscoso returned to Ponce and worked in his father's pharmacy. He married Gloria Sánchez Vilella.
, the grant aided the construction of nearly 1,000 homes in Ponce. Moscoso's success caught the attention of various Puerto Rican
government officials. In 1940, Moscoso joined the Popular Democratic Party
after meeting Luis Muñoz Marín
, and became instrumental in making Luis Muñoz Marín's vision of an industrialized Puerto Rico a reality.
, forged legislative projects which established nationalized entities such as Compañia de Fomento Industrial (Industrial Development Company, or PRIDCO), The Bank of Fomento, The Planning Board (Junta de Planificacion), The Power Authority (La Autoridad de las Fuentes Fluviales), The Communications Authority (La Autoridad de Comunicaciones), The Water and Sewage Authority (La Autoridad de Acueductos Y Alcantarillados), and the Transportation Authority (Autoridad de Transporte). In 1942, Moscoso became Executive Director one such entity, Compañia de Fomento Industrial (known as "Fomento", for short), the agency in charge of Puerto Rico's industrial promotions and economic development.
("Operacion Manos a la Obra"). Munoz's administration realized that agriculture alone would not be able to provide employment for the burgeoning population, and sought to use the advantadges of free access to the American market, plus the ready, inexpensive, trained labor to rapidly industrialize the country. The rapid economic progress of Puerto Rico during the decades of 1950-1970 made the island the "miracle of the Caribbean". The ambitious Fomento project stimulated various industries through federal and local tax exemption as well as through government assistance, to invest in Puerto Rico. Moscoso succeeded in attracting worldwide capital investment to the Commonwealth; this, in turn, helped transform the island into a modern industrial society. The Economist
later reported: "one century of economic development . . . achieved in a decade."
The following table shows Puerto Rico's change from agricultural to manufacturing society in terms of employment (extracted from Fernando Pico's Historia General de Puerto Rico).
John F. Kennedy
named Moscoso ambassador to Venezuela
and in November he was named coordinator of Kennedy's Alliance for Progress.
After the Kennedy assassination, Moscoso returned to Puerto Rico. In 1966, Moscoso headed the Commonwealth Oil Refining Co. ("CORCO"). From 1973 to 1976 Moscoso became again the head of "Fomento".
with the Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport
bears the name of Teodoro Moscoso. The bridge, over the San José Lagoon, is the longest bridge over a body of water in Puerto Rico
. In Ponce
he is honored at the Illustrious Ponce Citizens Plaza in Tricentennial Park.
Operation Bootstrap
For other uses, see Bootstrapping and Bootstrapping .Operation Bootstrap is the name given to the ambitious projects which industrialized Puerto Rico in the mid-20th century.-History:...
".
Early years
Moscoso's parents were Teodoro Moscoso Sr., the founder of "Farmacias Moscoso" (Moscoso Pharmacies), and Alejandrina Mora Fajardo, from PoncePonce, Puerto Rico
Ponce is both a city and a municipality in the southern part of Puerto Rico. The city is the seat of the municipal government.The city of Ponce, the fourth most populated in Puerto Rico, and the most populated outside of the San Juan metropolitan area, is named for Juan Ponce de León y Loayza, the...
, Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
. Alejandrina was pregnant when she and her husband were visiting Barcelona, Spain. Teodoro Jr., was born during their visit and soon afterward the Moscosos returned to the island. The elder Moscoso attended to his pharmacy, which was located in the center of Ponce.
Schooling
The Moscosos sent their son to New York where he was to go to school and obtain his primary education. Moscoso obtained his early education in New YorkNew York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. Afterward he moved to Ponce and graduated from Ponce High School
Ponce High School
The Ponce High School is public educational institution in Ponce, Puerto Rico, offering grades ten through twelve. The school's main building is a historic structure located on Cristina Street, in the Ponce Historic Zone. From its beginning the school has secured a unique place in Puerto Rico's...
. After graduation he attended the Philadelphia School of Pharmacy (now the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia
University of the Sciences in Philadelphia
University of the Sciences , officially known as University of the Sciences in Philadelphia , located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, offers bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees in pharmacy and a variety of other health-related disciplines.-History:The history of the University of the Sciences...
) to follow in his father's profession. After three years, he transferred to the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
, where he graduated in 1932. Moscoso returned to Ponce and worked in his father's pharmacy. He married Gloria Sánchez Vilella.
Entry into civil service
Moscoso left the family business and helped win for the Ponce Housing Authority (PHA) an imperiled $2-million grant. In the midst of the Great DepressionGreat Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
, the grant aided the construction of nearly 1,000 homes in Ponce. Moscoso's success caught the attention of various Puerto Rican
Puerto Rican people
A Puerto Rican is a person who was born in Puerto Rico.Puerto Ricans born and raised in the continental United States are also sometimes referred to as Puerto Ricans, although they were not born in Puerto Rico...
government officials. In 1940, Moscoso joined the Popular Democratic Party
Popular Democratic Party of Puerto Rico
The Popular Democratic Party of Puerto Rico is a political party that supports Puerto Rico's right to self-determination and sovereignty, through the enhancement of Puerto Rico's current status as a commonwealth....
after meeting Luis Muñoz Marín
Luis Muñoz Marín
Don José Luis Alberto Muñoz Marín was a Puerto Rican poet, journalist, and politician. Regarded as the "father of modern Puerto Rico," he was the first democratically elected Governor of Puerto Rico. Muñoz Marín was the son of Luis Muñoz Rivera, a renowned autonomist leader...
, and became instrumental in making Luis Muñoz Marín's vision of an industrialized Puerto Rico a reality.
Fomento
In 1941, the U.S.-appointed Governor of Puerto Rico, Rexford Guy Tugwell, and the president of the Puerto Rican Senate, Luis Muñoz MarínLuis Muñoz Marín
Don José Luis Alberto Muñoz Marín was a Puerto Rican poet, journalist, and politician. Regarded as the "father of modern Puerto Rico," he was the first democratically elected Governor of Puerto Rico. Muñoz Marín was the son of Luis Muñoz Rivera, a renowned autonomist leader...
, forged legislative projects which established nationalized entities such as Compañia de Fomento Industrial (Industrial Development Company, or PRIDCO), The Bank of Fomento, The Planning Board (Junta de Planificacion), The Power Authority (La Autoridad de las Fuentes Fluviales), The Communications Authority (La Autoridad de Comunicaciones), The Water and Sewage Authority (La Autoridad de Acueductos Y Alcantarillados), and the Transportation Authority (Autoridad de Transporte). In 1942, Moscoso became Executive Director one such entity, Compañia de Fomento Industrial (known as "Fomento", for short), the agency in charge of Puerto Rico's industrial promotions and economic development.
Operation Bootstrap
Under Governor Munoz Marin's administration, Moscoso led a project known as Operation BootstrapOperation Bootstrap
For other uses, see Bootstrapping and Bootstrapping .Operation Bootstrap is the name given to the ambitious projects which industrialized Puerto Rico in the mid-20th century.-History:...
("Operacion Manos a la Obra"). Munoz's administration realized that agriculture alone would not be able to provide employment for the burgeoning population, and sought to use the advantadges of free access to the American market, plus the ready, inexpensive, trained labor to rapidly industrialize the country. The rapid economic progress of Puerto Rico during the decades of 1950-1970 made the island the "miracle of the Caribbean". The ambitious Fomento project stimulated various industries through federal and local tax exemption as well as through government assistance, to invest in Puerto Rico. Moscoso succeeded in attracting worldwide capital investment to the Commonwealth; this, in turn, helped transform the island into a modern industrial society. The Economist
The Economist
The Economist is an English-language weekly news and international affairs publication owned by The Economist Newspaper Ltd. and edited in offices in the City of Westminster, London, England. Continuous publication began under founder James Wilson in September 1843...
later reported: "one century of economic development . . . achieved in a decade."
The following table shows Puerto Rico's change from agricultural to manufacturing society in terms of employment (extracted from Fernando Pico's Historia General de Puerto Rico).
| Salaried employment in Puerto Rico (1940–70) measured in thousands of employees |
||
| Decade | Agriculture & Fishing | Manufacture |
|---|---|---|
| 1940-49 | 230 | 56 |
| 1950-59 | 216 | 55 |
| 1960-69 | 125 | 81 |
| 1970-79 | 68 | 132 |
Ambassador
In May 1961, United States PresidentPresident of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
named Moscoso ambassador to Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
and in November he was named coordinator of Kennedy's Alliance for Progress.
After the Kennedy assassination, Moscoso returned to Puerto Rico. In 1966, Moscoso headed the Commonwealth Oil Refining Co. ("CORCO"). From 1973 to 1976 Moscoso became again the head of "Fomento".
Legacy
A 2.25-kilometer bridge connecting the Hato Rey/Río Piedras sectors of San Juan, Puerto RicoSan Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan , officially Municipio de la Ciudad Capital San Juan Bautista , is the capital and most populous municipality in Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 395,326 making it the 46th-largest city under the jurisdiction of...
with the Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport
Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport
Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport is a joint civil-military public airport located in Carolina, Puerto Rico, three miles southeast of San Juan. Over 4 million passengers board a plane at the airport per year according to FAA reports . It is owned and managed by the Puerto Rico Ports...
bears the name of Teodoro Moscoso. The bridge, over the San José Lagoon, is the longest bridge over a body of water in Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
. In Ponce
Ponce, Puerto Rico
Ponce is both a city and a municipality in the southern part of Puerto Rico. The city is the seat of the municipal government.The city of Ponce, the fourth most populated in Puerto Rico, and the most populated outside of the San Juan metropolitan area, is named for Juan Ponce de León y Loayza, the...
he is honored at the Illustrious Ponce Citizens Plaza in Tricentennial Park.
Books
- Teodoro Moscoso and Puerto Rico's Operation Bootstrap by A.W. Maldonado, ISBN 0-8130-1501-4
See also
- List of famous Puerto Ricans
- History of Puerto RicoHistory of Puerto RicoThe history of Puerto Rico began with the settlement of the archipelago of Puerto Rico by the Ortoiroid people between 3000 and 2000 BC. Other tribes, such as the Saladoid and Arawak Indians, populated the island between 430 BC and 1000 AD. At the time of Christopher Columbus's arrival in the New...
- Caribe Hilton HotelCaribe Hilton HotelThe Caribe Hilton Hotel, located in San Juan, Puerto Rico, is one of the best-known hotels in the Caribbean. It was the first facility ever operated by Hilton Hotels outside of the continental United States....
- Operation BootstrapOperation BootstrapFor other uses, see Bootstrapping and Bootstrapping .Operation Bootstrap is the name given to the ambitious projects which industrialized Puerto Rico in the mid-20th century.-History:...
- Puerto Rican PotteryPuerto Rican PotteryPuerto Rican Pottery was one of two potteries that established Mid Century Modern Pottery/Ceramics on the Island of Puerto Rico. The pottery operated from 1948–1966 in Santurce, Puerto Rico...