René Schick
This article needs additional citations for verification. (August 2017) |
René Schick Gutiérrez | |
---|---|
Lorenzo Guerrero Gutiérrez | |
Preceded by | Luis Somoza Debayle |
Succeeded by | Orlando Montenegro Medrano |
Personal details | |
Born | León, Nicaragua | 23 November 1909
Died | 3 August 1966 Managua, Nicaragua | (aged 56)
Political party | Nationalist Liberal Party |
Alma mater | National University of Nicaragua |
Occupation | Politician, lawyer, diplomat |
René Schick Gutiérrez (23 November 1909 – 3 August 1966) was President of Nicaragua from 1 May 1963 until his death on 3 August 1966.[1]
Biography
Schick was born in
Political career
Schick's political career began in 1957, when he was named Minister of Education under Luis Somoza Debayle. In 1961 he was named Minister of Foreign Affairs, and served in this position until 1962, when he resigned to run as presidential candidate for the Nationalist Liberal Party in the 1963 general election. A close associate of the ruling Somoza family, Schick won the election by a wide margin, and was installed as the country's president on 1 May 1963.[2]
As President, Schick continued the staunch anti-communist policies of his predecessor Luis Somoza Debayle, whom he appointed as head of the National Guard. Still, certain pressures on the opposition were eased. In foreign policy, he was a staunch supporter of United States intervention in the Americas. He accused Cuba of being behind the guerrilla activities that started taking place in Nicaragua during the 1960's, and described Fidel Castro as a serious threat to the security of the Western world in a speech before the UN, leading to a further deterioration of the already strained relations between the two countries. In 1964, the Panama Flag Crisis led the United States to reconsider constructing a new canal on Nicaraguan territory; Schick, as a compensation, signed an alliance with the United States, according to which the installation in Nicaragua of missiles aimed at Cuba was allowed.[2] He visited the United States in June 1966, meeting with President, Lyndon B. Johnson on June 9.[3]
In domestic policies, Schick's main objective was the stabilization of Nicaragua's economy. He allowed his country to enter the Central American Common Market, and had agrarian reforms approved in Congress. In March 1966, he proposed a reform of the Constitution, which would increase the duration of the presidential term from four to five years, reduce the number of vice presidents from three to two, and allow freedom of religion.[2]
Schick
References
- ^ "Gobernantes de Nicaragua". Ministerio de Educación. 9 December 2012. Archived from the original on 2012-10-09.
- ^ a b c d e "Schick, René (1909-1966)". MCNBiografias. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
- ^ Lyndon B. Johnson: "Remarks of Welcome to President Schick of Nicaragua on the South Lawn at the White House, The American Presidency Project, June 9, 1966