Echandi Jiménez, Mario

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Mario Echandi Jiménez (mär´yō āchän´dē hēmā´nās), 1915–2011, president of Costa Rica (1958–62). A lawyer, he served as ambassador to the United States (1950–51, 1966–68), as foreign minister (1951–53), and in the national assembly (1953–58). He was a conservative president, introducing a cautious economic program designed to increase productivity and reduce the national debt. He ran again for president in 1970, losing to former President José Figueres Ferrer.