Ramón Villeda Morales facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ramon Villeda Morales
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Ramón Villeda Morales in 1962
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| President of Honduras | |
| In office December 21, 1957 – October 3, 1963 |
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| Vice President | José Mejía Arellano |
| Preceded by | Julio Lozano Díaz (de jure) Military Government Council (de facto) |
| Succeeded by | Oswaldo López Arellano |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
José Ramón Adolfo Villeda Morales
November 26, 1909 Ocotepeque, Honduras |
| Died | October 8, 1971 (aged 61) New York City, New York, United States |
| Political party | Liberal Party |
| Spouse | Alejandrina Bermúdez Milla (1917-2012) |
| Profession | politician, physician |
José Ramón Adolfo Villeda Morales (born November 26, 1909 – died October 8, 1971) was a very important leader in Honduras. He served as the President of Honduras from 1957 to 1963. People often called him "Pajarito," which means "Little Bird."
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Biography of Ramón Villeda Morales
Ramón Villeda Morales first trained to be a doctor. He specialized in pediatrics, which means he was a children's doctor. He believed in making Honduras a more democratic country. This meant giving more power to the people after a long time of military leaders being in charge.
Becoming President
In 1954, Villeda Morales was the candidate for the Liberal Party. This was the first free election in Honduras in over 20 years. He won the most votes, but not enough to be the clear winner. This led to a difficult situation, and a military group took control for a short time.
In 1957, a special group called a Constituent Assembly chose him to be president. His job was to help Honduras become a true democracy.
Changes for the People
As president, Villeda Morales quickly started programs to help people who were struggling. He introduced new welfare benefits, which are like support programs for families. He also created a new labor code. This set rules to protect workers and improve their working conditions. These changes were very popular with many people in Honduras.
However, these new rules made some powerful groups unhappy. The military and the wealthy families in Honduras did not like these changes. They felt their power was being challenged.
End of His Presidency
In 1963, another election was coming up. It looked like the Liberal Party candidate, Modesto Rodas Alvarado, would win easily. This would mean even more social changes for Honduras. Just ten days before the election, the military took control again in a coup. This ended Villeda Morales's time as president.
Family Life
Ramón Villeda Morales and his wife, Alejandrina, had six sons. Their names were Ramon, Ruben (who were twins), Alejandro, Mauricio, Leonardo, and Juan Carlos.
Villeda Morales passed away on October 8, 1971, in New York City. At that time, he was working as Honduras's Ambassador to the United Nations. His wife, Alejandrina Bermúdez Milla, who was once the First Lady of Honduras, died in 2012 when she was 95 years old.
Ramón Villeda Morales's Legacy
Ramón Villeda Morales helped make Honduras a more modern country. He played a big part in creating systems for public health, public education, and social security. These systems help make sure people have access to healthcare, schools, and support when they are older or unable to work.
He also strongly supported the Alliance for Progress. This was a program from the United States that aimed to help Latin American countries develop and improve their economies.
Today, the Ramón Villeda Morales International Airport in San Pedro Sula is named after him. His son, Mauricio Villeda Bermúdez, also became a leader in the Liberal Party and ran for president in 2013.
See also
In Spanish: Ramón Villeda Morales para niños
