Raúl Héctor Castro facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Raúl Héctor Castro
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| United States Ambassador to Argentina | |
| In office November 16, 1977 – July 30, 1980 |
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| President | Jimmy Carter |
| Preceded by | Robert C. Hill |
| Succeeded by | Harry W. Shlaudeman |
| 14th Governor of Arizona | |
| In office January 6, 1975 – October 20, 1977 |
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| Preceded by | Jack Richard Williams |
| Succeeded by | Wesley Bolin |
| United States Ambassador to Bolivia | |
| In office September 3, 1968 – November 3, 1969 |
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| President | Lyndon B. Johnson Richard Nixon |
| Preceded by | Douglas Henderson |
| Succeeded by | Ernest Siracusa |
| United States Ambassador to El Salvador | |
| In office December 11, 1964 – July 17, 1968 |
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| President | Lyndon B. Johnson |
| Preceded by | Murat Williams |
| Succeeded by | William Bowdler |
| Personal details | |
| Born | June 12, 1916 Cananea, Mexico |
| Died | April 10, 2015 (aged 98) San Diego, California |
| Political party | Democratic Party |
| Alma mater | Northern Arizona University James E. Rogers College of Law |
Raul Hector Castro (June 12, 1916 – April 10, 2015) was a Mexican-born American politician. He has served in both elected and non-elected public offices, including Ambassadors from the United States and the 14th Governor of Arizona (1975–77).
He was the first hispanic to be elected governor of Arizona. At the age of 98, he became the oldest living United States governor, after the death of former Washington Governor Albert Rosellini at the age of 101.
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Early life
Castro was born on June 12, 1916 on Cananea, Mexico. He studied at Northern Arizona University and at James E. Rogers College of Law.
Career
In 1954, he was elected county attorney and served in that capacity until 1958, when he became a Pima County Superior Court Judge. His national stature grew over the years, and President Lyndon B. Johnson appointed Castro as U.S. Ambassador to El Salvador in 1964. After four years there, he served as Ambassador to Bolivia until the end of 1969.
Returning to Tucson, Arizona in 1969 to specialize in international law, Castro continued to rise to the top in Arizona Democratic politics. Seeking state office for the first time in 1970, he won the Democratic nomination for governor, but narrowly lost the general election to Republican incumbent Jack Williams. In 1974, Castro was elected governor. In 1977, after two years as governor, he was selected by President Jimmy Carter to be ambassador to Argentina. Castro held that post until 1980.
Detention
On June 12, 2012, despite searing temperatures, Castro was stopped by U.S. Border Patrol after they detected traces of radiation in his vehicle. After explaining that the radiation was due to a medical procedure from the previous day, the ex-governor was released after a short detention.
Death
Castro died in his sleep while under hospice care in San Diego, California, aged 98.
- Interview with R.H. Castro for the newspaper Clarín of Buenos Aires, Argentina, 20 December 1998 concerning the Beagle conflict: Clarín.
- The Raul Castro Collection at the University of Arizona UAiR Collection
| Preceded by Albert Rosellini |
Oldest living US governor October 10, 2011 – April 10, 2015 |
Succeeded by Edgar Whitcomb |
