Lázaro Cárdenas

Lázaro Cárdenas (1895-1970), Mexican president (1934-1940), born in Jiquilpan de Juárez, Michoacán. Cárdenas rose from humble origins in the revolutionary turmoil after 1910 to become a brigadier general in the Mexican revolutionary army in 1925. He then served as governor of Michoacán from 1928 to 1932. On the national level he became president of the National Revolutionary Party in 1930, minister of the interior in 1931, and minister of war and marine in 1933. He was elected president of Mexico in 1934. During his administration the 6-year plan for economic and social reform formulated by his party was put into action. Large tracts of privately owned land were divided and distributed to peasants, and many industries were converted to worker cooperatives. In 1938 foreign-owned oil properties were nationalized. Although a conciliatory attitude was taken toward the Roman Catholic church, education was secularized. Cárdenas was one of the most popular presidents of Mexico, but under Mexican law he could not run for a second term. In 1942 he was made commander of all Mexican forces on the Pacific coast, and he also served as minister of defense (1942-1945). Thereafter he lived in retirement.