See Also: Balaguer (y Ricardo), Joaquin (Vidella)(encyclopedia)
Ricardo (as used in expressions)(encyclopedia)
Ricardo, David(encyclopedia)
Alfonsin (Foulkes), Raul (Ricardo)(encyclopedia)
San Joaquin River(encyclopedia)
Rodrigo, Joaquin(encyclopedia)
San Joaquin fever(medicine)
San Joaquin Valley fever(dictionary)
San Joaquin Community Hospital(health)
San Joaquin Valley fever(medicine)

Balaguer (y Ricardo), Joaquin (Vidella) (sh)




born Sept. 1, 1907, Villa Bisono, Dom. Rep.
died July 14, 2002, Santo Domingo

President of the Dominican Republic (1960-62, 1966-78, 1986-96).

He held numerous government posts during Gen. Rafael Trujillo's 30-year dictatorship. Balaguer was vice president under Trujillo's brother Hector and became president when Hector resigned, but Trujillo continued to wield actual power until assassinated in 1961. Balaguer's subsequent attempts at liberalization caused his overthrow by the military. Elected president in 1966 after the U.S. military intervention in 1965, he achieved steady economic growth and modest social reforms. He was reelected repeatedly, but his last term was shortened by two years amid political violence and charges of electoral fraud and corruption.