Blanca Rodríguez facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Blanca María Rodríguez de Pérez
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Blanca Rodríguez during the burial of Carlos Andrés Pérez in Caracas (6 October 2011)
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| First Lady of Venezuela | |
| President | Carlos Andrés Pérez |
| In role 12 March 1974 – 12 March 1979 |
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| Preceded by | Alicia Pietri de Caldera |
| Succeeded by | Betty Urdaneta de Herrera |
| In role 2 February 1989 – 20 May 1993 |
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| Preceded by | Gladys Castillo (1988) |
| Succeeded by | Ligia Betancourt Mariño |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Blanca María Rodríguez
1 January 1926 Rubio, Venezuela |
| Died | 5 August 2020 (aged 94) Caracas, Venezuela |
| Spouse | Carlos Andrés Pérez |
| Children | Sonia, Thais, Martha, Carlos Manuel, Maria de los Angeles, Maria Carolina |
| Residence | Caracas, Venezuela |
| Signature |  |
Blanca María Rodríguez de Pérez (born January 1, 1926 – died August 5, 2020) was an important figure in Venezuela. She served as the First Lady of Venezuela two times. Her first term was from 1974 to 1979, and her second was from 1989 to 1993. She was married to Carlos Andrés Pérez, who was the President of Venezuela during those years.
Contents
Biography
Blanca's Early Life and School
Blanca María Rodríguez was born in Rubio, Venezuela, a town in Táchira State. She was the youngest of eight children. Her parents were Manuel and Adela Rodríguez. Her grandfather was a well-known landowner. Her father grew coffee and had fought in the Thousand Days War in Colombia.
When Blanca was four, her mother passed away. Her older sister, Ana Isabel, helped raise her. Four years later, her father also died. The family faced financial difficulties because of the Great Depression in the 1930s. They had to sell their family farms, called haciendas. Blanca went to school at the Our Lady of the Rosary Convent School and finished her studies in 1944.
Marriage and Time in Exile
In 1944, Blanca's cousin, Carlos Andrés Pérez, began to visit her often. He lived and worked in Caracas, the capital city. They got married on June 8, 1948. At first, they lived in San Cristóbal, Táchira, but soon moved to Caracas.
A few months later, in November 1948, the military took over the government. This started a time when Venezuela was ruled by a dictatorship. Carlos Andrés Pérez was a member of the Acción Democrática party, which was against the new government. Because of this, he was often targeted by the police. Blanca had to deal with police searching their home while also taking care of their young children. Her husband was often hiding or in prison. In 1952, she joined him in San José, Costa Rica, where they lived in exile.
Blanca and Carlos Andrés Pérez had six children: five daughters named Sonia, Thais, Martha, María de los Ángeles, and María Carolina, and one son named Carlos Manuel.
When the dictatorship ended in 1958, Blanca and her family returned to Venezuela. As her husband's political career grew, Blanca became more involved. She supported his work, helped with campaigns, and started her own charity activities.
First Lady of Venezuela
When Carlos Andrés Pérez became President in December 1973, Blanca Rodríguez became the First Lady. In Venezuela, this meant she led the Children's Foundation. This organization helped disadvantaged children by organizing summer camps and festivals.
Blanca wanted to do more to help poor families all year round. One of her most important achievements as First Lady was creating many daycare centers across the country. These centers helped mothers who worked, especially single mothers, earn money without worrying about who would care for their children. The program focused on involving the community. Local mothers helped choose and check on the caretakers. The Foundation also gave money to the "mother-carers" who ran the centers.
Blanca also traveled with her husband to meet leaders from other countries. They visited places like Mexico, Egypt, Russia, and Iran. She also hosted important guests in Caracas, such as King Juan Carlos I and Queen Sofía of Spain, U.S. President Jimmy Carter and his wife Rosalynn Carter, and Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau and his wife Margaret Trudeau.
After Her First Term
After Carlos Andrés Pérez finished his first term as president in 1979, Blanca Rodríguez focused on a charity called Bandesir. This foundation provided wheelchairs and crutches to poor people with disabilities. Blanca became the chairwoman of Bandesir. She traveled around the country to give out wheelchairs to those who could not afford them. She also raised money for Bandesir and helped it offer affordable or free medical care. She also supported the Leper Hospice in La Guaira.
Second Term as First Lady
Blanca Rodríguez became First Lady again when her husband was elected President for a second time in 1988. She returned to her role at the Children's Foundation. Under her leadership, the foundation helped the government expand the daycare center program across the country.
During a military coup attempt on February 4, 1992, Blanca, her daughters, and granddaughters were at the Presidential palace, La Casona. Rebel forces surrounded the palace. While her husband managed to escape and stop the coup, Blanca stayed at La Casona during the attack. She made sure to help wounded soldiers, no matter which side they were on. She was very important in keeping everyone's spirits up during those difficult hours.
Later Life and Legacy
After leaving office, Blanca Rodríguez moved to her home outside Caracas. She had designed the house to look like one of her father's old haciendas. She continued her charitable work, especially with the Bandesir foundation. Even though Carlos Andrés Pérez lived outside Venezuela from 1998, Blanca Rodríguez stayed in the country.
In 2004, government security forces searched Blanca Rodríguez's house. They claimed to be looking for weapons related to a conspiracy, but it was clear this was not true. Blanca was a deeply religious Catholic. She continued her faith and charitable work throughout her life.
Death
Blanca Rodríguez passed away on August 5, 2020, at the age of 94.
See also
In Spanish: Blanca Rodríguez de Pérez para niños
- List of first ladies of Venezuela
- Presidents of Venezuela
- 1992 Venezuelan coup d'état attempts
