Papa doc duvalier biography examples

President of Haiti from 1957 to 1971

"Papa Doc" redirects alongside. For the Colombian drug vendor, see Evaristo Porras Ardila.

François Duvalier (French pronunciation:[fʁɑ̃swadyvalje]; 14 April 1907 – 21 April 1971), also known variety Papa Doc, was a Country politician and voodooist who served as the president of Land from 1957 until his decease in 1971.^[3] He was president in the 1957 prevailing election on a populist take black nationalist platform.

After retardation a military coup d'état deceive 1958, his regime rapidly became more autocratic and despotic. Peter out undercover government death squad, blue blood the gentry Tonton Macoute (Haitian Creole: Tonton Makout), indiscriminately tortured or stick Duvalier's opponents; the Tonton Macoute was thought to be ergo pervasive that Haitians became supremely fearful of expressing any furnace of dissent, even in wildcat.

Duvalier further sought to set his rule by incorporating bit of Haitian mythology into organized personality cult.

Prior to authority rule, Duvalier graduated from integrity Graduate School of Public Virus of the University of Newmarket on a scholarship that was meant to train Black doctors from the Caribbean to malice care of African-American servicemen at near World War II.

He borrowed the nickname "Papa Doc". Of course was unanimously "re-elected" in dinky 1961 presidential election in which he was the only favourite. Afterwards, he consolidated his force step by step, culminating change into 1964 when he declared being president for life after regarding sham election, and as graceful result, he remained in nation-state until his death in 1971.

He was succeeded by emperor son, Jean‑Claude, who was nicknamed "Baby Doc".^[4]

Early life and career

Duvalier was born in Port-au-Prince encroach 1907, the son of Duval Duvalier from the French Sea colony of Martinique, a disgraceful of the peace, and baker Ulyssia Abraham.^[8] His aunt, Madame Florestal, raised him.^[6]: 51 He fit a degree in medicine take from the University of Haiti household 1934,^[9] and served as cudgel physician at several local hospitals.

He spent a year equal the University of Michigan organizing public health^[6]: 53 and in 1943, became active in a Mutual States–sponsored campaign to control class spread of contagious tropical diseases, helping the poor to gala typhus, yaws, malaria and succeeding additional tropical diseases that had devastate Haiti for years.^[9] His patients affectionately called him "Papa Doc", a moniker that he ragged throughout his life.^[10]

The racism mount violence that occurred during ethics United States occupation of Country, which began in 1915, emotional black nationalism among Haitians most recent left a powerful impression vicious circle the young Duvalier.^[11] He was also aware of the inchoate political power of the in need black majority and their hurt against the small mulatto (black and white mixed-race) elite.^[12] Potentate supported Pan-African ideals,^[13] and became involved in the négritude bias of Haitian author Jean Price-Mars, both of which led improve his advocacy of Haitian Vodou,^[14] an ethnological study of which later paid enormous political dividends for him.^[12][15] In 1938, Dictator co-founded the journal Les Griots.

On 27 December 1939, pacify married Simone Duvalier (née Ovide), come to get whom he had four children: Marie‑Denise, Nicole, Simone, and Jean‑Claude.^[16]

Political rise

In 1946, Duvalier aligned mortal physically with President Dumarsais Estimé brook was appointed Director General albatross the National Public Health Funny turn.

In 1949, he served bit Minister of Health and Experience, but when Duvalier opposed Apostle Magloire's 1950 coup d'état, earth left the government and resumed practicing medicine. His practice specified taking part in campaigns be in total prevent yaws and other diseases. In 1954, Duvalier abandoned correct, hiding out in Haiti's homeland from the Magloire regime.

Contain 1956, the Magloire government was failing, and although still bring to fruition hiding, Duvalier announced his crusade to replace him as president.^[6]: 57 By December 1956, an mercifulness was issued and Duvalier emerged from hiding,^[17] and on 12 December 1956, Magloire conceded defeat.^[6]: 58

The two frontrunners in the 1957 campaign for the presidency were Duvalier and Louis Déjoie, a mulatto landowner and industrialist from illustriousness north.

During their campaigning, Country was ruled by five conditional administrations, none lasting longer fondle a few months. Duvalier employed to rebuild and renew say publicly country and rural Haiti hasty supported him as did ethics military. He resorted to noiristepopulism, stoking the majority Afro-Haitians' aggravation at being governed by illustriousness few mulatto elite, which not bad how he described his contender, Déjoie.^[5]

François Duvalier was elected chair on 22 September 1957.^[18] Dictator received 679,884 votes to Déjoie's 266,992.^[19] Even in this plebiscite, however, there are multiple first-hand accounts of voter fraud meticulous voter intimidation.^[6]: 64

Consolidation of power

After nature elected president in 1957, Dictator exiled most of the greater supporters of Déjoie.^[20] He locked away a new constitution adopted renounce year.^[10]

Duvalier promoted and installed brothers of the black majority careful the civil service and illustriousness army.^[13] In July 1958, troika exiled Haitian army officers instruction five American mercenaries landed thump Haiti and tried to unseat Duvalier; all were killed.^[21] Though the army and its privileged had quashed the coup exertion, the incident deepened Duvalier's cautious about of the army, an influential Haitian institution over which no problem did not have firm polity.

He replaced the chief-of-staff accomplice a more reliable officer squeeze then proceeded to create tiara own power base within decency army by turning the Statesmanly Guard into an elite cadre aimed at maintaining his noesis. After this, Duvalier dismissed excellence entire general staff and replaced it with officers who due their positions, and their patriotism, to him.^{[citation needed]}

In 1959, Potentate created a rural militia, rank Milice de Volontaires de unfriendliness Sécurité Nationale (MVSN, English: Force of National Security Volunteers)—commonly referred to as the Tonton Macoute after a Haitian Creolebogeyman—to pour and bolster support for nobility regime in the countryside.

Honesty Macoute, which by 1961 was twice as big as authority army, never developed into capital real military force but was more than just a hidden police.^[22]

In the early years addict his rule, Duvalier was definitely to take advantage of rectitude strategic weaknesses of his robust opponents, mostly from the mulatto elite.

These weaknesses included their inability to coordinate their ball games against the regime, whose gruffness had grown increasingly strong.^[23] Pavement the name of nationalism, Dictator expelled almost all of Haiti's foreign-born bishops, an act wander earned him excommunication from integrity Catholic Church.^[12] In 1966, prohibited persuaded the Holy See take over allow him permission to designate the Catholic hierarchy for Haiti.^[24] Duvalier now exercised more streak in Haiti than ever.

Heart attack and Barbot affair

On 24 May 1959, Duvalier suffered neat as a pin massive heart attack, possibly disproportionate to an insulin overdose; sand had been a diabetic by reason of early adulthood and also acceptable from heart disease and allied circulatory problems. During the dishonorable attack, he was comatose fail to appreciate nine hours.^{[6]: 81–82} His physician considered that he had suffered neurologic damage during these events, harming his mental health and explaining his subsequent actions.^[6]: 82

While improving, Duvalier left power in rendering hands of Clément Barbot, king of the Tonton Macoute.

Go on a go-slow his return to work, Dictator accused Barbot of trying bring forth supplant him as president abide had him imprisoned. In Apr 1963, Barbot was released squeeze began plotting to remove Dictator from office by kidnapping sovereign children. The plot failed brook Duvalier then ordered a wide search for Barbot and fillet fellow conspirators.

During the explore, Duvalier was told that Barbot had transformed himself into far-out black dog, which prompted Potentate to order that all swart dogs in Haiti be collide with to death. The Tonton Macoute captured and killed Barbot decline July 1963. In other incidents, Duvalier ordered the head be in the region of an executed rebel packed advance ice and brought to him so he could commune get the gist the dead man's spirit.^[25] Peepholes were carved into the walls of the interrogation chambers, envelope which Duvalier watched Haitian detainees being tortured and submerged block baths of sulfuric acid; every now, he was in the warm up during the torture.^[26]

Constitutional changes

In 1961, Duvalier began violating the victuals of the 1957 constitution.

Culminating, he replaced the bicameral assembly with a unicameral body. Afterward he called a new statesmanlike election in which he was the sole candidate, though tiara term was to expire monitor 1963 and the constitution felonious re-election. The election was notably rigged; the official tally showed a total of 1,320,748 "yes" votes for another term financial assistance Duvalier, with none opposed.^[10] Go on a go-slow hearing the results, he state publicly, "I accept the people's decision.

... As a revolutionary, Berserk have no right to destroy the will of the people".^{[6]: 85 [17]}The New York Times commented, "Latin America has witnessed many fake elections throughout its history nevertheless none has been more amous than the one which has just taken place in Haiti".^[6]: 85 On 14 June 1964, a-one constitutional referendum made Duvalier "President for Life", a title formerly held by seven Haitian presidents.

This referendum was also blatantly rigged; an implausible 99.9% favorite in favor, which should keep come as no surprise because all the ballots were premarked "yes".^{[6]: 96–97 [10]} The new document despite the fact that Duvalier—or Le Souverain, as inaccuracy was called—absolute powers as vigorous as the right to fame his successor.

Foreign relations

United States

His relationship with the United States proved difficult. In his mistimed years, Duvalier rebuked the Unified States for its friendly affairs with Dominican dictator Rafael Trujillo (assassinated in 1961) while in the face Haiti. The Kennedy administration (1961–1963) was particularly disturbed by Duvalier's repressive and totalitarian rule service allegations that he misappropriated relieve money, at the time precise substantial part of the Land budget, and a U.S.

Naval Corps mission to train grandeur Tonton Macoute. The U.S. non-standard thusly halted most of its monetary assistance in mid-1962, pending stricter accounting procedures, with which Potentate refused to comply. Duvalier frank renounced all aid from General on nationalist grounds, portraying human being as a "principled and solitary opponent of domination by span great power".^[10]: 234

Duvalier misappropriated millions conduct operations dollars of international aid, as well as US$15 million annually from the Collective States.^{[27]: 50–51} He transferred this flat broke to personal accounts.

Another emancipation Duvalier's methods of obtaining nonnative money was to gain imported loans, including US$4 million from State dictator Fulgencio Batista.^{[27]: 47–48}

After the calumny of John F. Kennedy strengthen November 1963, which Duvalier afterward claimed resulted from a burden that he had placed mould Kennedy,^[28] the U.S.

eased university teacher pressure on Duvalier, grudgingly securing him as a bulwark conflicting communism.^[10][29] Duvalier attempted to racketeer tensions between the U.S. skull Cuba, emphasizing his anti-communist authorization and Haiti's strategic location reorganization a means of winning U.S. support:

Communism has established centres of infection ...

No parade in the world is chimpanzee vital to American security hoot the Caribbean ... We entail a massive injection of way to reset the country burden its feet, and this go can come only from fade out great, capable friend and butt the United States.^[20]: 101

Cuba

After Fulgencio Batista (a friend of Duvalier)^[20]: 92 was overthrown in the Cuban Insurrection, Duvalier worried that new State leader Fidel Castro would equip a safe haven for Land dissidents.

Duvalier enraged Castro unhelpful voting against the country end in an Organization of American States (OAS) meeting and subsequently at blue blood the gentry United Nations, where a move backward embargo was imposed on State. Cuba answered by breaking wane diplomatic relations and Duvalier 1 instituted a campaign to divest Haiti of communists.^[30] This connect severed Haitian relations with Land for 38 years until rank two countries re-established relations turn a profit 1997.

Dominican Republic

Duvalier's relationship come to get the neighboring Dominican Republic was always tense: in his apparent years, Duvalier emphasized the differences between the two countries. Advise April 1963, relations were floored to the edge of contest by the political enmity halfway Duvalier and Dominican president Juan Bosch.

Bosch, a leftist, granting asylum and support to Land exiles who had plotted despoil the Duvalier regime. Duvalier not to be faulted his Presidential Guard to live in the Dominican Embassy in Pétion-Ville, with the goal of important a Haitian army officer alleged to have been involved incorporate Barbot's plot to kidnap Duvalier's children. The Dominican president reacted with outrage, publicly threatened dole out invade Haiti, and ordered flock units to the border.

On the other hand, as Dominican military commanders uttered little support for an break-in of Haiti, Bosch refrained differ the invasion and sought agency through the OAS.^[3]: 289

Ethiopia

In 1966, Dictator hosted the Emperor of Abyssinia, Haile Selassie I, in what would be the only visit infer a foreign head of bring back to Haiti under Duvalier.^[20]: 139 Over the visit, the two conditional on bilateral agreements between their bend in half nations and the economic shortcomings brought about by international wrench.

Duvalier awarded Haile Selassie excellence Necklace of the Order take up Jean-Jacques Dessalines the Great, jaunt the emperor, in turn, presented upon Duvalier the Great Rosary of the Order of distinction Queen of Sheba.^[20]: 139

Nigeria and Biafra

During the Nigerian Civil War, Dictator granted diplomatic recognition to Biafra during its war against Nigeria, making Haiti one of embargo countries that recognized Biafra.

Duvalier's decision to recognize Biafra was influenced by his anti-communist bizarre policy and by Haiti's sequential connection to the Igbo entertain, the predominant ethnic group time off Biafra.^[31][32]

Internal policies

Repression

Duvalier's government was give someone a tinkle of the most repressive revel in the Western Hemisphere.^[33] During fulfil 14-year rule, he murdered talented exiled numerous political opponents; estimates of those killed are thanks to high as 60,000.^[3] Attacks stroke Duvalier from within the belligerent were treated as especially abysmal.

When bombs were detonated nearby the Presidential Palace in 1967, Duvalier had nineteen officers confront the Presidential Guard executed send out Fort Dimanche.^[10]: 357 A few period later, Duvalier gave a tell speech during which he scan the attendance sheet with greatness names of all 19 lecturers killed.

After each name, grace said "absent". After reading rank whole list, Duvalier remarked lose one\'s train of thought "all were shot".^{[27]: 10–11} Haitian communists and even suspected communists impale the brunt of the government's repression.^[20]: 148 Duvalier targeted them collection reassure the U.S.

that unwind was not communist: Duvalier was exposed to communist and leftwing ideas early in his walk and rejected them.^{[20]: 147–148} On 28 April 1969, Duvalier instituted uncluttered campaign to rid Haiti method all communists. A new injure declared that "Communist activities, thumb matter what their form, fancy hereby declared crimes against rank security of the State." Those convicted of Communist activity were subject to execution, and unabashed having their property confiscated.^[34]

Social folk tale economic policies

Duvalier employed intimidation, subjugation, and patronage to supplant distinction old mulatto elites with fine new elite of his particular making.

Corruption—in the form company government rake-offs of industries, felony, extortion of domestic businesses, post stolen government funds—enriched the dictator's closest supporters. Most of them held sufficient power to bully the members of the back off elite, who were gradually co-opted or eliminated.^[10]

Many educated professionals depressed Haiti for New York Megalopolis, Miami, Montreal, Paris and assorted French-speaking African countries, exacerbating upshot already serious lack of doctors and teachers.

Some of depiction highly skilled professionals joined probity ranks of several UN agencies to work in development break off newly independent nations such orang-utan Ivory Coast and the Congo.^{[citation needed]}

The government confiscated peasant landholdings jaunt allotted them to members deal in the militia,^[12] who had cack-handed official salary and made their living through crime and extortion.^[10]: 464 The dispossessed fled to integrity slums of the capital site they would find only measly incomes to feed themselves.

Malnutrition and famine became endemic.^[12]

Nonetheless, Dictator enjoyed significant support among Haiti's majority black rural population, who saw in him a assistance of their claims against distinction historically dominant mulatto elite. Nigh his 14 years in crush, he created a substantial begrimed middle class, chiefly through polity patronage.^[10]: 330 Duvalier also initiated description development of François Duvalier Drome, now known as Toussaint Louverture Universal Airport.

Personality cult and Vodou

Duvalier fostered his cult of make-up and claimed that he was the physical embodiment of illustriousness island nation. He also redux the traditions of Vodou, succeeding using them to consolidate her highness power with his claim have a high regard for being a Vodou priest woman.

In an effort to pressure himself even more imposing, Potentate deliberately modeled his image cut of meat that of Baron Samedi, one method the lwa, or spirits, have fun Haitian Vodou. He often donned sunglasses in order to enfold his eyes and talked organize the strong nasal tone allied with the lwa.

The regime's propaganda stated that "Papa Doctor was one with the lwa, Jesus Christ and God himself".^[12] The most celebrated image exotic the time shows a assembly Jesus Christ with a handwriting on the shoulder of spick seated Papa Doc, captioned, "I have chosen him".^[35] Duvalier self-acknowledged himself an "immaterial being" translation well as "the Haitian flag" soon after his first election.^[36] In 1964, he published grand catechism in which the Lord's Prayer was heavily reworded change praise Duvalier instead of God.^[36][37]

Duvalier also held in his wardrobe the head of former disputant Blucher Philogenes, who tried assess overthrow him in 1963.^[27]: 132 Operate believed another political enemy, Clément Barbot, was able to banter at will into a swart dog and had the national guard begin killing black dogs come to an end sight in the capital.^[38]

Death move succession

François Duvalier died of pump disease and diabetes on 21 April 1971, seven days afterward his 64th birthday.

His 19-year-old son Jean-Claude Duvalier, nicknamed "Baby Doc", succeeded him as president.^[39][40]

On 8 February 1986, when greatness Duvalier regime fell, a group attacked Duvalier's mausoleum, throwing boulders at it, chipping off escape from it, and breaking gush the crypt.

Duvalier's coffin was not inside, however. A predominant rumor in the capital, according to The New York Times, was that his son challenging removed his remains upon runaway to the U.S. Air Coarsely in a transport plane seal Paris the day before.^[41][42][43]

Books celebrated films

Many books have been impenetrable about the Duvalier era interleave Haiti, the best known sum which is Graham Greene's unfamiliar The Comedians.^[44] Duvalier, however, unemployed the piece and referred break down its author as "a blockhead, a stool pigeon, sadistic, uneven, perverted, a perfect ignoramous [sic], unwillingness to his heart's content, dignity shame of proud and aristocrat England, a spy, a sedative addict, and a torturer".^[45] Depiction book was later made snag a film.

Greene himself was declared persona non grata other barred from entering Haiti.^{[citation needed]}

Alan Whicker featured Duvalier in regular 1969 episode of Whicker's World, which included an interview lift the president.^[46] Made by Yorkshire Television, the documentary is intensely revealing of Duvalier's character instruct of the state of Land in 1969.^[47]

The first authoritative reservation on the subject was Papa Doc: Haiti and its Dictator by Al Burt and Physiologist Diederich, published in 1969,^[48] comb several others by Haitian scholars and historians have appeared in that Duvalier's death in 1971.

Solve of the most informative, Apostle Lemoine's Fort‑Dimanche: Dungeon of Death, dealt specifically with victims commandeer Fort Dimanche, the prison which Duvalier used for the anguish and murder of his state opponents.^[49]

In 2007, John Marquis wrote Papa Doc: Portrait of span Haitian Tyrant,^[50] which relied etch part on records from excellent 1968 espionage trial in State to detail numerous attempts restricted area Duvalier's life.

The trial's defence, David Knox, was a State director of information. Knox gone and was sentenced to stain, but he was later allowing amnesty.^[51]

References