Anastasio Somoza Debayle

Anastasio Somoza Debayle (1925-80), Nicaraguan president (1967-72, 1974-79), the younger son of the dictator Anastasio Somoza. A graduate of the U.S. Military Academy, he served as commander of the National Guard from 1955 to 1967. He succeeded his brother, Luis, to the presidency. In power, he immediately tightened the political control that had been relaxed under his brother, used the guard to silence or outlaw his opponents, and enriched himself at the country's expense. A broad-based opposition, led by the Sandinistas, overthrew him in 1979. He was assassinated in Asunción, Paraguay, the following year.