Williams Calderón, Abraham (1896–1986)

Abraham Williams Calderón (b. 16 March 1896; d. 24 March 1986), Honduran military figure and politician. In 1954, Honduras suffered directly the political results of the coup d'état in Guatemala in the form of a large strike against the United Fruit Company in the North Coast region. The strike was due in part to the perception of the company as dominating Central American politics. Political unrest, exacerbated by the strike, culminated in a split within the National Party (PNH) when it became clear that the party would nominate former President Tiburcio Carías Andino (president 1933–1949), who owed his political career to United Fruit. Former vice president Williams Calderón is known primarily for leading the newly organized National Reformist Movement (MNR) splinter group in the 10 October 1954 presidential election. He lost to Ramón Villeda Morales, who obtained 121,213 votes. The aging Carías Andino received 77,041 votes, and Williams Calderón received 53,041. Despite his poor showing in the polls, Williams Calderón and the MNR continued to play an active political role. However, with the National Party splintered, the Liberal Party (PLH) won the 1957 elections as well.

See alsoHonduras; United Fruit Company.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Luis Mariñas Otero, 2d ed., Honduras (1983).

James A. Morris, Honduras: Caudillo Politics and Military Rulers (1984).

Additional Bibliography

Euraque, Darío A. Reinterpreting the Banana Republic: Region and State in Honduras, 1870–1972. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 1996.

Funes, Matías. Los deliberantes: El poder militar en Honduras. Tegucigalpa, Honduras: Editorial Guaymuras, 1995.

                                             Jeffrey D. Samuels