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Daniel Oduber Quirós facts for kids

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Daniel Oduber Quirós
Daniel Oduber Quirós.jpg
37th President of Costa Rica
In office
8 May 1974 – 8 May 1978
Vice President
  • Carlos Manuel Castillo Morales
  • Fernando Guzmán Mata
Preceded by José Figueres Ferrer
Succeeded by Rodrigo Carazo Odio
Personal details
Born (1921-08-25)25 August 1921
San José, Costa Rica
Died 13 October 1991(1991-10-13) (aged 70)
Escazú, Costa Rica
Political party PLN
Spouse
Marjorie Elliott de Oduber
(m. 1948; wid. 1991)
Children 2
Signature

Daniel Oduber Quirós (born August 25, 1921 – died October 13, 1991) was an important leader from Costa Rica. He was a politician, a lawyer, and even a poet. He served as the President of Costa Rica from 1974 to 1978. During his time, he helped create a national TV and radio system and a distance learning university.

Who Was Daniel Oduber?

Daniel Oduber Quirós was born in San José, Costa Rica. He grew up to be a very smart person. He studied to become a lawyer first. Later, he traveled to other countries to learn even more.

His Education and Family

In 1945, Daniel Oduber went to Canada. He studied philosophy at McGill University and earned a special degree. After that, he returned to Costa Rica. He joined a big movement led by José Figueres Ferrer. When their group won, he became a top leader for the country.

Later, he went to Paris, France, to continue his studies. While there, he met and married Marjorie Elliott Sypher in 1948. She was the daughter of Canadian diplomats. They had two children together, Luis Adrian and Ana María.

Daniel Oduber's Political Journey

After his studies, Daniel Oduber worked a lot in Costa Rican politics. He helped with presidential campaigns. He also served as an Ambassador for Costa Rica in Mexico. Later, he became an ambassador in Europe.

From 1962 to 1964, he was the foreign minister. This meant he handled Costa Rica's relationships with other countries. He also led the country's main law-making group. He was President of the Legislative Assembly of Costa Rica from 1970 to 1973.

Leading Costa Rica as President

Daniel Oduber was elected president in 1974. His government focused a lot on helping people. He worked to improve the lives of working families. He also helped people living in the countryside. He made sure farmers got fair prices for their crops.

Protecting Nature and Building Connections

A big part of his presidency was about nature. He paid a lot of attention to reforestation. This means planting new trees. He also worked to protect Costa Rica's natural resources.

On the world stage, his government was well-liked. Especially among other Central American countries. He worked with leaders like Jimmy Carter and Omar Torrijos. Together, they defended Panama's right to control its own land. During his time, he also worked to include different political groups. He also brought back official relations with Cuba in 1977.

Honoring His Legacy

Today, a major airport in Costa Rica is named after him. The Daniel Oduber International Airport is near Liberia. There is also a statue of him in San Jose. It reminds everyone of his contributions to the country.

Daniel Oduber passed away on October 13, 1991, in Escazú.

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See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Daniel Oduber Quirós para niños

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