Peron, Juan D. (1896-1974)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1974 Jul 4 p. 3

Birth date: 1896

text of obituary:

Aged Argentinian President Dies

Argentina faced a possible new crisis in its stormy political history with the death on Monday of President Juan D. Peron, 78, the country's strongman leader in the 1940s and 1950s who made a triumphant return from exile last year.

Peron died of complications from a bronchial infection which aggravated a heart condition.

He was immediately succeeded by his wife, Maria Estella Peron, who as vice president had taken over the duties of president at Peron's request two days before his death. She is the first woman president in the history of the Western Hemisphere.

After her husband's death, Mrs. Peron made a television broadcast and pled for the country's support. Appearing behind her on the telecast were the nation's military and cabinet leaders. A former cabaret dancer, she met Peron while he was living in exile in Panama and became his third wife in 1960.