Eduardo Frei Montalva

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Eduardo Frei Montalva

28th President of Chile
In office November 3, 1964 – November 3, 1970
Preceded by	Jorge Alessandri
Succeeded by	Salvador Allende

Born	January 16, 1911 Santiago, Chile
Died	January 22, 1982 Santiago, Chile
Political party	Christian Democrat
Spouse	María Ruiz-Tagle Jiménez

Eduardo Nicanor Frei Montalva (1911–1982) was a Chilean political figure and president of Chile from 1964 to 1970.

[edit] Early life

Eduardo Frei was born in Santiago on January 16, 1911, the son of Eduardo Frei and Victoria Montalva Martínez. He studied his high school at the Instituto de Humanidades Luis Campino and attended law school at the Universidad Católica de Chile, graduating as a lawyer in 1933. He married María Ruiz-Tagle, and had 5 children.

He began his political career in the Conservative Party, but was among a group of young men who rescinded themselves and founded their own party in 1938: the Falange Nacional. In 1957, the Falange became the Christian Democratic Party of Chile, and he became the undisputed leader.

He was minister of Public Works in 1945, and senator in 1949. He ran for president in 1958 before being elected in 1964. That year he was elected with his “Revolución en Libertad” ("Revolution in Liberty") slogan by a large margin (56%), defeating Socialist candidate Salvador Allende who only received 39% of the vote, but was later elected president in 1970.

[edit] Administration

During the 1964 election, the CIA, fearing an Allende victory, moved to intervene in Chile's domestic affairs with the designation of US$3 million to be used in support of Frei's candidacy, mostly through means of planting anti-leftist political propaganda in the Chilean media. [1]

During Frei's administration many reforms were made in Chilean society. "Promoción Popular," (Social Promotion) "Reforma Agraria," (Agraria Reform) "Reforma Educacional," (Education Reform) and "Juntas de Vecinos" (Neighborhood Asociations) were some of his main projects.

After Allende's 1970 victory, Frei claimed to fear what he called a "totalitarian project" to impose a communist tyranny and became the leader of the opposition. His Christian Democratic Party supported the Armed Forces intervention to remove Allende in 1973, after the Chamber of Deputies on August 22, 1973, accused Allende of violating the Constitution. In November 1973 Frei wrote a historic letter to Mariano Rumor, President of the International Christian Democrats, endorsing the Armed Forces intervention and denouncing the attempt by Allende to impose in Chile a communist dictatorship.

After the Augusto Pinochet government began to follow free market policies, Frei became part of the opposition.

Frei died in Santiago, on January 22, 1982, from complications stemming from surgery. As of 2006, his death is being investigated because of allegations by his family that he was poisoned.

Frei's eldest son, Eduardo Frei Ruiz-Tagle, was also president of Chile from 1994 to 2000.

Preceded by Jorge Alessandri	President of Chile 1964–1970	Succeeded by Salvador Allende

Presidents of Chile
Blanco Encalada \| Freire \| Pinto Díaz \| Prieto \| Bulnes \| Montt Torres \| Pérez \| Errázuriz Zañartu \| Pinto Garmendia \| Santa María \| Balmaceda \| Montt Álvarez \| Errázuriz Echaurren \| Riesco \| Montt Montt \| Barros Luco \| Sanfuentes \| Alessandri Palma \| Figueroa \| Ibáñez del Campo \| Montero \| Aguirre Cerda \| Ríos \| González Videla \| Alessandri Rodríguez \| Frei Montalva \| Allende \| Pinochet \| Aylwin \| Frei Ruiz-Tagle \| Lagos \| Bachelet