Rafael Caldera facts for kids

Rafael Caldera
Quick facts for kids Rafael Caldera
President of Venezuela
	In office; 2 February 1994 – 2 February 1999
Preceded by	Ramón José Velásquez
Succeeded by	Hugo Chávez
	In office; 11 March 1969 – 12 March 1974
Preceded by	Raúl Leoni
Succeeded by	Carlos Andrés Pérez
Senator for Life
	In office; 12 March 1974 – 2 February 1994
	In office; 2 February 1999 – 20 December 1999
President of the Chamber of Deputies of the Congress of Venezuela
	In office; 1959–1962
Solicitor General of Venezuela
	In office; 26 October 1945 – 13 April 1946
Personal details
Born	Rafael Antonio Caldrea Rodríguez ; 24 January 1916; San Felipe, Yaracuy, Venezuela
Died	24 December 2009 (aged 93); Caracas, Venezuela
Political party	COPEI; (1946–1993); National Convergence; (1993–2009)
Spouse(s)	Alicia Pietri Montemayor
Alma mater	Central University of Venezuela
Occupation	Lawyer
Signature

Rafael Antonio Caldera Rodríguez (Spanish pronunciation: [rafaˈel anˈtonjo kalˈdeɾa roˈðɾiɣes]; 24 January 1916 – 24 December 2009), twice elected President of Venezuela, served for two five-year terms (1969-1974 and 1994-1999), becoming the longest serving democratically elected leader to govern the country in the twentieth century.

Widely acknowledged as one of the founders of Venezuela’s democratic system, the main architect of the 1961 Constitution, and a pioneer of the Christian Democratic movement in Latin America, Caldera helped forge an unprecedented period of civilian democratic rule in a country beleaguered by a history of political violence and military caudillos.

His leadership established Venezuela’s reputation as one of the more stable democracies in Latin America during the second half of the twentieth century.

After graduating with a degree in law and political science from Central University of Venezuela in 1939, Caldera embarked on a 70-year long career that combined political, intellectual and academic activities.

(in Spanish) Rafael Caldera — Official biography.
(in Spanish) Rafael Caldera — Biography from National Convergence webpage.
(in Spanish) Speeches and Biography
(in Spanish) Extended bio by CIDOB Foundation

Images for kids

The child Rafael Caldera, dressed as a sailor, 1920.
Rafael Caldera during the High School graduation awards, Colegio San Ignacio, Caracas, 16 October 1931. (Handwritten text): "For my adored mom and dad, a keepsake of my school with total devotion".
In the auditorium of the Central University of Venezuela, upon graduating as a lawyer and doctor of Political Science in 1939.
1941. The youngest representative to be appointed to the National Congress, Rafael Caldera was twenty-five years old.
Rafael Caldera during the 1947 Presidential campaign. Arriving at San Cristóbal, Táchira.
Caldera and Mariano Picón Salas during the talk show La Hora Nacional. RCTV, 1958.
Meeting with President Nixon at the White House, during his official visit to the United States. 2 June 1970.
Speech as president of the Inter-Parliamentary Union before the United Nations General Assembly. 27 August 1980.
On June 3, 1970, during his official visit to the United States, Rafael Caldera addressed a speech in English before the full Congress of that country.
Meeting with Paramount leader of China, Deng Xiaoping, Beijing, China, 6 April 1981.
Caldera and Alicia Pietri during the second term in office.
Rafael Caldera paying tribute at the tombs of Raissa and Jacques Maritain, Kolbsheim, Alsace, France. 1 July 1981.
Rafael Caldera’s speech in commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the encyclical Populorum Progressio. Vatican City, 24 March 1987.
Rafael Caldera at the Royal Spanish Academy, during the solemn session in honor to the 200th Anniversary of Andrés Bello’s birth. 6 December 1981.
Rafael Caldera’s 90th birthday celebration with six grandchildren. Caldera-Pietri’s residence. Tinajero, 24 January 2006.