La verdad de lo que pasó con Lázaro Cárdenas

31 Tragic and Curious Facts About Lázaro Cárdenas

Introduction to Lázaro Cárdenas

• Lázaro Cárdenas remains a polarizing figure in Mexico, often viewed as the first president to implement significant social justice reforms.

• Critics argue that his socialist policies, including the nationalization of oil and railroads, hindered Mexico's economic potential.

Early Life and Revolutionary Involvement

• Born on May 21, 1895, in Jiquilpan, Michoacán; he was the first son in a lower-middle-class family.

• Left school at age 11 to support his family after his father's death; worked various jobs before joining the Mexican Revolution.

• Joined the revolution following the assassination of President Madero in 1913; fought under notable leaders like Obregón and Villa.

Military Ascendancy

• Became known for his integrity in financial matters while serving as a paymaster during revolutionary campaigns.

• Promoted to brigadier general at age 25 after Carranza's assassination; had strong ties with influential political figures like Calles.

Political Career and Governance

• Appointed military operations chief in Huasteca by Calles; observed U.S. companies evading taxes and exploiting resources.

• Fought against Catholic forces during the Cristero War while serving as governor of Michoacán from 1928.

Agrarian Reforms and Cultural Contributions

• Advocated for agrarian reform by expropriating land from wealthy landowners to create collective ejidos.

• Celebrated indigenous heritage by honoring historical figures like Princess Eréndira through cultural initiatives.

Presidential Campaign and Legacy

• Initially perceived as a puppet of Calles when nominated for presidency but proved himself an independent leader with integrity.

• First presidential candidate to travel extensively across Mexico during his campaign, covering over 25,000 kilometers.

Lázaro Cárdenas: A Revolutionary Leader

Cárdenas' Unique Campaign Approach

• Despite the absolute control of power by the Mexican Revolution through the National Revolutionary Party, Cárdenas chose to travel across Mexico, unlike his predecessors who remained in Mexico City and made only short trips during campaigns.

• Cárdenas traveled 25,000 kilometers throughout Mexico, allowing many Mexicans to see a presidential candidate campaigning for the first time. This extensive contact helped build his personal power base and provided firsthand information for his government plan.

• During the 1934 electoral campaign, Cárdenas campaigned both by car and on horseback with just one companion—his driver Rafael M. Pedrajo—who was a military comrade from Michoacán.

• His disregard for personal security at a time when political adversaries would have preferred him dead enhanced his reputation for leadership and bravery.

Election Victory and Political Context

• Cárdenas's election in 1934 was politically inevitable; he won with 98.2% of the votes while his party secured 173 seats in the Chamber of Deputies and 58 in the Senate.

• Although Calles controlled power through puppet presidents, he believed he could manage Cárdenas as well since he had prospered under Calles’s patronage for two decades.

Governance Style and Initial Actions

• As president, Cárdenas became the first to serve a six-year term aligned with a sexennial plan inspired by Soviet models that aimed to collectivize land and secularize education.

• The plan included significant reforms such as reducing salaries (including his own), closing casinos linked to corrupt officials, and promoting worker cooperatives against industrial capitalism.

• His first act as president was halving his salary—a surprising move that went against economic interests of some allies of Calles.

Cabinet Composition and Political Maneuvering

• Despite cutting ties with some corrupt practices, Cárdenas's initial cabinet still included key figures loyal to Plutarco Elías Calles, indicating a complex political landscape where old loyalties persisted.

• Key appointments included Rodolfo Calles (Secretary of Communications), Aaron Sáenz Garza (City Administrator), Narciso Bassols (Secretary of Finance), Tomás Garrido Canaval (Agriculture Secretary), and Emilio Portes Gil (Foreign Relations Secretary).

Transitioning Power Dynamics

• Recognizing Calles's lingering influence behind the scenes, Cárdenas began purging loyalists from his cabinet in favor of trusted allies over time.

• Upon taking office, he opted not to reside in Chapultepec Castle due to its ostentatious nature; instead, he chose Rancho La Hormiga but later renamed it Los Pinos after a place dear to him related to his wife Amalia Solórzano.

Personal Life Influencing Politics

• On May 1st, 1934—two months before becoming president—Cárdenas welcomed Cuauhtémoc into his family as their only son.

• Cuauhtémoc followed in his father's footsteps into politics later on as governor of Michoacán but faced challenges implementing unpopular measures among PRI members.

Political Context and Key Events in Mexico

Prohibition of Cockfighting and Liquor Sales Regulation

• The prohibition of cockfighting and the establishment of liquor sales hours were significant political moves during this period.

• Recognition of victories by the Acción Nacional party in three municipalities in Michoacán, which some members of the PRI preferred to overlook.

The Second Cristero War

• The Second Cristero War began shortly after Lázaro Cárdenas was elected president on July 1, 1934, following Plutarco Elías Calles' call for educational reforms aimed at achieving socialist education. This was against Christian education principles.

• The conflict remained low-profile as both sides refrained from public discourse about it, concluding with a federal victory in 1938 under President Cárdenas.

Personal Life of Lázaro Cárdenas

• His daughter Alicia married actor Abel Salazar in 1944; their wedding took place at a house owned by Cárdenas in San Ángel Inn, featuring a string orchestra and mariachi music.

• Despite finishing his presidential term in 1940, Cárdenas maintained influence as Secretary of National Defense under President Manuel Ávila Camacho.

Support for Ethiopia

• Cárdenas promoted naming a metro station "Etiopía" to honor Haile Selassie I, who was supported by Mexico during Mussolini's invasion in 1935. This support continued even after Selassie's reinstatement post World War II.

• A commemorative plaque honoring Selassie was unveiled on June 22, 1954, at the metro station named after him.

Family Legacy and Political Aspirations

• Lázaro Cárdenas' brother Dámaso also pursued a political career and established a bull-breeding ranch called El Junco while serving as governor between 1950 and 1956.

• Cuauhtémoc Cárdenas faced three unsuccessful presidential bids (1988, 1994, and 2000), opposing the PRI's selection process that favored Carlos Salinas de Gortari over him due to ideological differences with his father's leftist policies.

Asylum for Leon Trotsky

• In January 1937, Lázaro Cárdenas granted asylum to Leon Trotsky upon request from Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo; Trotsky lived with them until political disagreements arose in late 1939.

Conflict with Plutarco Elías Calles

• Tensions escalated between Cárdenas and Calles around 1935 when Calles threatened to remove him from power; this led to labor organizations supporting Cárdenas publicly while Calles retreated politically.

• By April 9, 1936, soldiers arrived at Calles' residence to inform him of his exile due to diminishing political support against Cárdenas’ consolidated power.

Lázaro Cárdenas: A Revolutionary Leader

Nationalization of the Oil Industry

• Lázaro Cárdenas nationalized the oil industry in 1938, a significant political and economic measure that stirred nationalist sentiments in Mexico.

• The nationalization faced skepticism from countries like the UK regarding Mexico's ability to compensate for expropriated assets, yet it garnered widespread support among Mexican political parties and citizens.

• This action was seen as a response to abuses by transnational oil companies backed by foreign powers, particularly the United States and Great Britain.

Involvement in Cuban Affairs

• At nearly 66 years old, Cárdenas considered joining Fidel Castro's forces during the Bay of Pigs invasion in April 1961, demonstrating his continued commitment to revolutionary causes.

• Following the invasion's failure, he called on Mexicans to support Cuba’s revolution during a rally at Zócalo in Mexico City.

Support for Spanish Republicans

• Cárdenas opened Mexico's doors to around 40,000 Spanish Republican exiles fleeing Franco’s regime after Spain's Civil War (1936-1939).

• He established aid committees for orphaned children of Republican fighters, showcasing humanitarian efforts amidst political turmoil.

Diplomatic Relations with Spain

• After supporting the Republicans during Spain’s Civil War with military aid, Cárdenas severed diplomatic ties with Francoist Spain post-war—a rift lasting 38 years until relations were restored in 1977.

Agrarian Reforms and Legacy

• Cárdenas faced challenges from regional leaders like Saturnino Cedillo due to his collectivist land reforms aimed at redistributing land—an effort that ultimately distributed over 18 million hectares but did not yield expected agricultural improvements.

• Both Lázaro Cárdenas and Plutarco Elías Calles died on October 19th—Cárdenas from lung cancer in 1970—and are commemorated alongside other revolutionary figures.

Lázaro Cárdenas: A Historical Overview

The Rise of Cuauhtémoc Cárdenas

• Cuauhtémoc Cárdenas became the first elected head of government for Mexico City through popular vote, breaking a tradition where the president appointed governors.

• His tenure as head of government lasted only two years, from 1997 to 1999, after which he resigned to run for president in the 2000 federal elections.

Legacy and Historical Context

• Lázaro Cárdenas is noted as the last military leader to govern Mexico, marking an end to the era of caudillos who rose to power based on military achievements during the Mexican Revolution.

• The legacy of cardenismo remains a topic of debate today, with discussions focusing on both its successes and failures in contemporary Mexico.

Engagement and Further Learning

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