Rodríguez Luján, Abelardo (1889–1967)

Abelardo Rodríguez Luján (b. 12 May 1889; d. 13 February 1967), president of Mexico (1932–1934). Last of the troika of presidents during the 1928–1934 administration, General Rodríguez replaced Pascual Ortiz Rubio when he resigned. As chief executive, he is generally considered to have been a caretaker, subordinate to his mentor, General Plutarco Elías Calles. He was a major stockholder in many incipient Mexican industries, including Portland Cement and La Suiza.

From a humble family in Guaymas, Sonora, and with little formal education, Rodríguez worked at many unskilled jobs before joining the Constitutionalists in 1913. He made the military his career, rising through the ranks to division general (three stars) in 1928. He became governor and military commander of Baja California del Norte (1923–1929), a post he used to develop his personal financial holdings in the fishing and packing industries. Rodríguez held several cabinet posts, including secretary of industry and commerce (1932) and secretary of war and the navy (1932). He served as a regional military commander during World War II and as governor of his home state (1943–1948).

See alsoMexico: Since 1910 .

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Francisco J. Gaxiola, El Presidente Rodríguez (1938).

John W. F. Dulles, Yesterday in Mexico: A Chronicle of the Revolution, 1919–1936 (1961).

Lorenzo Meyer, Historia de la revolución mexicana, período 1928–1934 (1978).

Additional Bibliography

Gómez Estrada, José Alfredo. Gobierno y casinos: Origin de la riqueza de Abelardo L. Rodríguez. Mexicali, Baja California, México: Universidad Autónoma da Baja California, 2002.

Moncada, Carlos. Aquel hombre: Abelardo L. Rodríguez. Hermosillo, Sonora, México: Fondo Editorial el Libro Sonorense, 1997.

                                     Roderic Ai Camp