Leonardo Argüello Barreto facts for kids

Leonardo Argüello Barreto was an important politician from Nicaragua. He was born on August 29, 1875, and passed away on December 15, 1947. After trying many times, he finally became the President of Nicaragua in 1947. He was president for a very short time, from May 1 to May 27, 1947. His older brother, Santiago Arguello Barreto, was a well-known poet.

Leonardo Argüello was a member of the Nationalist Liberal Party. His time as president ended quickly because of a coup d'état. This was a sudden takeover of the government. It was planned by General Anastasio Somoza García, who was the leader of the National Guard.

Early Life and Political Journey

Leonardo Argüello was born in León, Nicaragua. He worked as a doctor in León. In 1912, he decided to join the Liberal Party in politics. He took part in the Constitutionalist War in 1926.

He held many important jobs in the government. He was the leader of the lower house of the National Congress of Nicaragua. He also served as a minister for Public Education, Interior, and Foreign Affairs.

Becoming a Presidential Candidate

Argüello was also a writer and a diplomat. In the 1936 elections, he ran for president but lost to General Somoza. Surprisingly, Somoza later suggested that Argüello should be the Liberal Party's candidate for the 1947 elections. Somoza himself did not run for president that time.

Many people believed the elections were not fair. One of the conditions for Argüello to win was supposedly that Somoza would remain the head of the National Guard.

His Time as President

On May 1, 1947, Leonardo Argüello became president. During his inauguration speech to the Congress, he said something that went against General Somoza's wishes. He stated, "I will not be, by the way, a simple figurehead." This meant he would not be just a puppet leader.

Disputes with General Somoza

From that day on, disagreements started between President Argüello and General Somoza. For the first time, people spoke out against the bad actions of the National Guard. The government even shared a list of properties that Somoza had gained while he was president.

There were also rumors that President Argüello was trying to team up with military groups who were unhappy with Somoza. He was said to be working with the young Aguirre Baca brothers, Francisco and Horacio. It was ironic because Francisco Aguirre had been Somoza's most trusted military helper. These actions made Somoza very angry, as he wanted to have complete control of the country.

End of His Presidency

Just three weeks after hearing Argüello's speech, the same Congress declared him unable to govern.

Exile and the Coup

On May 26, 1947, General Somoza led a coup d'état against the government. He accused President Argüello of planning to remove him as the head of the National Guard. The Congress then declared that Argüello could not govern. They removed him from his position, saying he tried to harm army discipline. The Assembly then chose Benjamín Lacayo to be president. Lacayo was seen as a puppet of Somoza.

Life After the Presidency

President Argüello sought safety at the Embassy of Mexico. He stayed there for six months. He then moved to Mexico without officially giving up his role as President. The Aguirre Baca brothers also found safety at the Embassy of Panama. They later moved to Panama, then to Caracas, Venezuela, and finally settled in the United States.

President Argüello became ill and passed away shortly after arriving in Mexico City. He died on December 15, 1947, and is buried in Mexico City.

He was a cousin of María Argüello Manning. She was the wife of Juan Bautista Sacasa Sacasa, who was the 63rd President of Nicaragua.

See also

In Spanish: Leonardo Argüello Barreto para niños