Cámpora, Hector José (1909–1980)

Hector José Cámpora, an Argentine politician and dentist, served as president of Argentina in 1973. Born in the province of Buenos Aires on March 26, 1909, he began his political activity as a member of the Conservative Party (conservadurismo). In 1945 he joined the Peronists, and in 1946 he was elected national deputy. He gave unconditional support to the government of Juan Domingo Perón and served as president of the chamber of deputies between 1948 and 1952. After the military coup in 1955, he was arrested along with other Peronist leaders but escaped to exile in Chile.

In 1971 he was named the personal delegate (principal representative in Argentina) of Perón, who trusted in his extreme loyalty. In 1973 Perón was disqualified as a candidate by the outgoing dictatorship and arranged for Cámpora to take his place for the Justicialista Liberation Front. After his victory, he attempted in vain to find a balance between the views of the young Peronists and the more conservative factions. He endorsed amnesty for political prisoners and restored diplomatic relations with Cuba. His closeness to the Peronists left led him to a confrontation with the extreme right wing of the party. However, without Perón's support and under enormous political pressure as well as pressure from the labor unions, he resigned his post and opened the way for Perón to become president. He was then appointed ambassador to Mexico, and returned home in 1975. After the 1976 coup, he was forced to find refuge in the Mexican embassy. Years later, and very ill, he was allowed by the regime to gain asylum in Mexico, where he lived until his death on December 18, 1980.

See alsoArgentina: The Twentieth Century; Argentina, Political Parties: Justicialist Party; Perón, Juan Domingo.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Acuña, Carlos Manuel. Por amor Al Odio: Crónicas de guerra: De cámpora a la muerte de Perón. Buenos Aires: Del Pórtico, 2003

De Riz, Liliana. La política en suspenso: 1966–1976. Buenos Aires: Paidós, 2000.

James, Daniel. Resistencia e integración: El peronismo y la clase trabajadora Argentina, 1946–1976. Buenos Aires: Sudamericana, 1990.

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