born Oct. 8, 1895, Buenos Aires province, Arg.
died July 1, 1974, Buenos Aires
President of Argentina (1946–55, 1973–74).
After attending military school, he served in the 1930s in Italy, where he observed the successes of the Fascists. In 1943 he helped overthrow Argentina's ineffective civilian government. As secretary of labour and social welfare, he built a loyal following among industrial workers, who helped elect him president in 1946. Perón's political views drew on both the far left and the far right: while he showered workers with much-needed benefits, he restricted civil liberties severely. The charisma of his second wife, Peronist party was made legal, he was reelected president in absentia; he died less than a year after returning to Argentina and assuming the presidency. See also {{link=Per%C3%B3n, Isabel Mart%C3%ADnez de">Isabel Perón .
Juan Perón, 1954.
Courtesy of the OAS (Columbus Memorial Library)