Juan Bosch

Juan Bosch (Juan Bosch Gavino) , 1909-2001, president of the Dominican Republic (Feb.-Sept., 1963). A teacher and writer, he spent 24 years in exile during the dictatorship of Rafael Trujillo and helped found (1939) the Dominican Revolutionary party. He returned (1961) to the Dominican Republic after the assassination of Trujillo and was elected president in the first free elections (Dec., 1962) held in 38 years. He introduced sweeping social and economic reforms but was ousted after seven months by military leaders who viewed him as too leftist. An attempt by his supporters to restore him to power in Apr., 1965, brought civil war and provoked armed intervention by U.S. troops. In 1966, Bosch was overwhelmingly defeated for the presidency by Joaquín Balaguer . After a voluntary exile in Europe, Bosch returned (1970) and joined the opposition to President Balaguer. In 1973 he founded the Dominican Liberation party, which he led until 1994. In 1978, 1982, 1986, 1990, and 1994 he again ran unsuccessfully for the presidency.

Bosch, Juan (1909– ) Dominican statesman. He founded the leftist Partido Revolucionario Dominicano (PRD) in 1939 and was exiled during the dictatorship of Rafael TRUJILLO. After the latter's assassination he returned (1961) to the Dominican Republic and was elected President (1962–63) in the first free elections for nearly forty years. He introduced sweeping liberal and democratic reforms, but after nine months in office was overthrown by rightist military leaders with the backing of the Church, of landowners, and of industrialists. His supporters launched their revolt in 1965, a movement which prompted a military intervention by the USA. In 1966 he was defeated for the presidency by Joaquin Balaguer, who had heavy US backing.