born Sept. 1, 1907, Villa Bisonó, Dom. Rep.
died July 14, 2002, Santo Domingo
President of the Dominican Republic (196062, 196678, 198696).
He held numerous government posts during Gen. Rafael Trujillo 's 30-year dictatorship. Balaguer was vice president under Trujillo's brother Hector and became president when Hector resigned, but Trujillo continued to wield actual power until assassinated in 1961. Balaguer's subsequent attempts at liberalization caused his overthrow by the military. Elected president in 1966 after the U.S. military intervention in 1965, he achieved steady economic growth and modest social reforms. He was reelected repeatedly, but his last term was shortened by two years amid political violence and charges of electoral fraud and corruption.