Vicente Fox Quesada

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Vicente Fox Quesada

The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition | 2008 | The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. Copyright 2008 Columbia University Press. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

Vicente Fox Quesada , 1942-, Mexican political leader, president of Mexico (2000-6). Raised on a ranch in rural central Mexico's Guanajuato state, he became a successful rancher and business executive. He joined Coca Cola in 1964 and rose to become the company's head in Mexico and the Caribbean. A charismatic right-of-center populist, Fox joined the conservative, pro-Catholic National Action party (PAN) when he entered politics in 1988 as an unsuccessful candidate for congress.

In 1995 he was elected governor of his native state, serving in that office until 1999 and earning a reputation as a promoter of small businesses, increased exports to the United States, and improved schools. Actively campaigning for president, he drew supporters from various parts of the political and cultural spectrum with his probusiness and antipoverty platform and his colorful personal style. His election (2000) as Mexico's president ended 71 years of rule by the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), which had long been criticized for governmental inaction and institutional corruption.

Even before assuming office, Fox announced an ambitious campaign to reduce government corruption and rebuild Mexico's federal law enforcement system, as well as other reforms, and also proposed an agreement with the United States on a less restrictive immigration policy. In office, he brought to the presidency an informality it had not previously seen, made a number of antidrug and anticorruption moves, and brought Mexico to a new height of international prominence. His relations with the opposition-controlled congress, however, were difficult, and much of the legislation he proposed was not passed, including tax reforms and measures to encourage investment. The possible future presidential ambitions of his wife were a distraction in 2004, but in July of that year, after one of Fox's aides resigned and accused her of meddling in the government, she disavowed any intention of running for the office.

Bibliography: See his Revolution of Hope: The Life, Faith, and Dreams of a Mexican President (2007, with R. Allyn).

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Fox Quesada, Vincente

A Dictionary of Contemporary World History | 2004 | | © A Dictionary of Contemporary World History 2004, originally published by Oxford University Press 2004. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

Fox Quesada, Vincente (2 July 1942). President of Mexico, 2000–  Born in Mexico City, his family moved to the state of Guanajuato when he was a child. He studied business administration in Mexico City and obtained a diploma in upper management. He joined the Coca-Cola company in 1964, and eventually became the youngest person to be the company's president for Mexico and Latin America. In 1987 he entered politics by joining the oppositional Catholic Party of National Action (Partido Acción National, PAN), and in 1988 he entered Congress. After an unsuccessful bid in the gubernatorial elections for his home state, Guanajuato, in 1991, he was elected Governor there in 1995. The telegenic and charismatic Fox used a popular campaign to bypass the PAN's elite and obtain his nomination for the presidency in 2000. This campaign increased his popularity throughout the country, and he became the first oppositional candidate to win the Presidency for over 70 years. He was only partially successful in ending the impasse over ending the Chiapas Rebellion, and in introducing a fundamental tax reform, since he did not command a majority in the legislature.

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JAN PALMOWSKI. "Fox Quesada, Vincente." A Dictionary of Contemporary World History. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (November 17, 2009). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O46-FoxQuesadaVincente.html

JAN PALMOWSKI. "Fox Quesada, Vincente." A Dictionary of Contemporary World History. 2004. Retrieved November 17, 2009 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O46-FoxQuesadaVincente.html

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Related articles from newspapers, magazines, and more

Profile of President Fox On Dec. 1 2000, Vicente Fox Quesada became the Constitutional President of the United Mexican States.
Newspaper article from: Korea Times (Seoul, Korea); 6/4/2001; 700+ words ; Vicente Fox Quesada was born in Mexico City on July 2, 1942...Jose Luis Fox, a farmer, and Mercedes Quesada. When he was just four days old, his...Rincon, in the state of Guanajuato. Vicente Fox has four children, Ana Cristina...
REGION: MEXICAN PRESIDENT-ELECT VICENTE FOX QUESADA PROMISES DEVELOPMENT PLAN TO INCLUDE CENTRAL AMERICA.
Newspaper article from: NotiCen: Central American & Caribbean Affairs; 9/21/2000; 700+ words ; ...September, Mexican President-elect Vicente Fox Quesada pledged to pay more attention to...illegal immigrants from the isthmus. Fox scrapped an earlier arrangement for...NotiCen, 2000- 08-31). Instead, Fox visited Costa Rica, Guatemala...
Incumple el gobernador de Guanajuato su compromiso de apoyo al museo de José Chávez Morado en Silao; los recursos para este año, retirados. (Vicente Fox Quesada, gobernador de Guanajuato; Chávez Morado, artista guanajuatense; México)(TT: The governor of Guanajuato breaks his promise to help the museum of José Chávez Morado in Silao; the resources for this year, taken away) (TA: Vicente Fox Quesada governor of Guanajuato; Chávez morado, artist from Guanajuato; Mexico)
Magazine article from: Proceso; 2/8/1998; ; 700+ words ; ...Jos Chvez Morado, al gobernador Vicente Fox Quesada se le olvid que la construccin...jinete" la aportacin ofrecida por Fox y finalmente les entreg casi la...Presente, el gobernador Fox Quesada ofreci apoyar con recursos del...
Vicente Fox Quesada/ Un retiro en Monterrey.(Nacional)
Newspaper article from: Reforma (México D.F., México); 3/25/2002; 700+ words ; Byline: Vicente Fox Quesada Cumbre en Monterrey Presidente de Mxico En el marco de la Cumbre de Monterrey, el Presidente Vicente Fox auspici una reunin ahora conocida como El retiro, donde los Jefes...
President Vicente Fox Quesada of Mexico to Address TownHall Los Angeles.
PR Newswire; 3/21/2001; 508 words ; WHAT: Vicente Fox Quesada, President of Mexico, to address TownHall Los Angeles WHO: President Vicente Fox of Mexico Governor Gray Davis of California Mayor Richard Riordan...
Loyal opposition.(INTERVIEW)(Vicente Fox Quesada speaks about Mexico's economy and future)(Interview)(Cover story)
Magazine article from: Latin Trade; 5/1/2006; ; 700+ words ; Vicente Fox Quesada is Mexico's first president elected from...member of the Partido Accion Nacional, Fox took office in December 2000 and promised...pending tax, labor and energy reforms. Fox spoke with LATIN TRADE Editor-in-Chief...
Mexican President-Elect Vicente Fox Quesada to Receive The Center for Democracy's International Democracy Medal.
PR Newswire; 8/21/2000; 560 words ; ...Aug. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- President-Elect of Mexico Vicente Fox Quesada will receive The Center for Democracy's International...today. The Medal will be awarded to President-Elect Fox, honoring him for his pivotal role in the globally...
President Vicente Fox Quesada Presents Mexico National Technology Award to Plantronics.
PR Newswire; 2/9/2006; 700+ words ; ...the only organization ever to win both esteemed awards. Presented to Plantronics yesterday by Mexico President Vicente Fox Quesada, Mexico's National Technology award honors companies that exemplify outstanding technology development and management...
Wilson Greatbatch Technologies, Inc. Opens Manufacturing Facility in Mexico; Mexican President Vicente Fox Quesada Commemorates Grand Opening.
Business Wire; 5/19/2005; 642 words ; ...for its cardiac rhythm management customers. President Vicente Fox Quesada of Mexico was the guest of honor at the ribbon cutting...medical device industry. We are pleased to have President Fox and other important dignitaries on hand to take part...
Reinventing the government in Guanajuato, Mexico: An interview with Governor Vicente Fox Quesada.(Interview)
Magazine article from: Government Finance Review; 2/1/1998; ; 700+ words ; After two and a half years of his administration, Governor of the State of Guanajuato Vicente Fox Quesada reviews some of the most important information technology (IT) implementations carried out in the state in this interview with...
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