born Sept. 10, 1904, Taxisco, Guat.
died Oct. 6, 1990, Guatemala City
President of Guatemala (194551).
Soon after earning his doctorate, he went to Argentina, where he held various academic positions. After the overthrow of the Guatemalan dictator Jorge Ubico, he was elected president, receiving 85 percent of the vote. He established freedom of speech and of the press, and his administration inaugurated a social security system, a labour code, and important education and health programs. His policies favoured urban and agricultural workers and the indigenous population. He stepped down voluntarily at the end of his term. A military coup prevented him from running again in 1963.