Dictatorship and Politics: Intrigue, Betrayal, and Survival in Venezuela, 1908-1935 (Kellogg Institute Series on Democracy and Development)

596 Pages·2008·52.827 MB·English

by  Brian McBeth

Google Original from
Digitized by UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
Goos le Original from
Digitized by UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
Dictatorship
&Politics
Google Original from
Digitized by UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
RECENT TITLES FROM THE HELEN KELLOGG INSTITUTE FOR
INTERNATIONAL STUDIES
Scott Mainwaring, general editor
The University of Notre Dame Press gratefully thanks the Helen Kellogg Institute for
International Studies for its support in the publication of titles in this series.
Yemile Mizrahi
From Martyrdom to Powtr: The Partido Acrion Nacional in Mexico (2003)
Charles D. Kenney
Fujimori's Coup and the Breakdown of Democracy in Latin America (2004)
Alfred P. Montero and David}. Samuels, eds.
Dmn/Talization and Democracy in Latin America (2004)
Katherine Hite and Paola Cesarini, eds.
Authoritarian ugarus and Democracy in Latin America and Southern Europe (2004)
Robert S. Pelton, C.S.C., ed.
Monsignor Romero: A Bishop for the Third Millennium (2004)
Guillermo O'Donnell,Jorge Vargas Cullell, and Osvaldo M. lazzetta, eds.
The Quality of Democracy: Theory and Applications (2004)
Arie M. Kacowicz
The Impact of Norms in International Society: The Latin American Experience, 1881-2001 (2005)
Roberto DaMatta and Elena Soarcz
Eagles, Donhys, and Butte,jlies: An Anthropological Study of Brazil'$ "Animal Game" (2006)
Kenneth P. Serbin
Nuds oft he Heart: A Social and Cultural History ofB razil's Clergy and Seminaries (2006)
Christopher Wdna and Gustavo Gall6n, eds.
Peace, Demomzcy, and Human Rights in Colombia (2007)
Guillermo O'Donnell
Dissonances: Democratic Critiques of Democracy (2007)
Marifel P~rcz-Stable, ed.
Loo~ing Forward: Comparatif.Je Perspectif.Jes on Cuba's Transition (2007)
Jodi S. Finkel
Judicial &form as Politi£al Insurance (2008)
Robert R. Wilson, Peter M. Ward, Peter K. Spink, and Victoria E. Rodriguez
Gowrnance in the Americas: Dtcmtralization, Democracy, and Subnational GOf.Jernmtnt in Brazil,
Mt:xico, and tht USA (2008)
For a complete list of titles from the Helen Kellogg Institute for International Studies,
see http://www.undpress.nd.edu
Google Original from
Digitized by UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
Dictatorship
& Politics
Intrigue, Betrayal, and Survival in Venezuela, I908-I9J5
University ofN otre Dame Press
Notre Dame, Indiana
Google Original from
Digitized by UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
Copyright© 2008 by University of Notre Dame
Notre Dame, Indiana 46556
www.undpress.nd.edu
All Rights Reserved
Manufactured in the United States of America
Library of Congress Cataloging in-Publication Data
McBeth, B. S. (Brian Stuart), 1951-
Dictatorship and politics : intrigue, betrayal, and survival in Venezuela,
1908-1935 I Brian S. McBeth.
p. cm.
"Recent titles from the Helen Kellogg Institute for International Studies."
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN-13: 978-0-268-03510-5 (cloth: a1k. paper)
ISBN-10: 0-268-03510-5 (cloth: a1k. paper)
1. Venezuela-Politics and govemment-1908-1935. 2. Dictatorship
Venezuela-History-2oth century. I. Helen Kellogg Institute for
International Studies. II. Title.
F2325.M388 2008
987.06'313-dc22
The paper in this boolt meets the guidelines far permanence
00
and durability of the Committee on Production Guidelines far
Boolt Longroity of the Council on Library &sources.
Google Original from
Digitized by UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
This book is dedicated to Ram6n J. Velasquez, a man of immense personal
courage and great intellectual and political powers, who has served Venezuela
and his native Tachira with distinction for more than fifty years, becoming
president of the country in 1993. His political career started in the 1940s, and
he was later imprisoned and tortured for many long years for opposing the
Perez Jimenez dictatorship in the 1950s. He was secretary general of the
presidency {1959-63) during the difficult years of R6mulo Betancourt's ad
ministration and assumed the reigns of power after Betancourt was wounded
on June 24, 1960, during an attempted assassination paid for by the Domini
can dictator general Rafael Le6nidas Trujillo. Velasquez was first elected
senior senator for his home state ofTachira in 1959 and represented the state
until 1979, returning later in 1989 until 1994. While a senator he headed a
number of important committees. He has written a large number of erudite
and immensely readable books on modem Venezuelan history, bringing to
light a period of darkness in the country's history. He was editor of El Na
cional newspaper for many years (1964-69 and 1979-81). He saved and nur
tured the Archiw Historico de Miraflores, publishing a vast array of documents
from the archive. He also founded FUNRES, an institution dedicated to
saving historical archives on Venezuela. Velasquez is a truly modem Renais-
sance man.
Google Original from
Digitized by UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
Google Original from
Digitized by UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
CONTENTS
List of Tables ,x
Acknowledgments xt
Abbreviations xm
Introduction
1
Part I Establishment of Power, 1908-1916
CHAPTER ONE
A New Era 13
CHAPTER TWO
Gomez Takes Over 46
CHAPTER THREE
An Opportunity for the Exiles 91
Part II. Consolidation ofP ower, 1917-1928
CHAPTER FOUR
The Odin/Harrier Expedition 143
CHAPTER FIVE
The .Angelita Expedition 170
CHAPTER SIX
The Civil-Military Movements of 1928 201
Google Original from
Digitized by UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
vm Contents
Part Ill Maintenance ofP ower, z929-z935
CHAPTER SEVEN
Renewed Hope for the Rebels 243
CHAPTER EIGHT
The Fa/kt Expedition 264
CHAPTER NINE
One Last Try 3z9
CHAPTER TEN
The Succession Is Resolved 360
Conclusion 37z
Appendix A.
Background Information on Important Political Actors
of the G6mez Era 379
AppendixB.
Currency and Exchange Rate Information 424
Notes 427
Bibliography 499
Index ill
Google Original from
Digitized by UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN