Gerardo Machado
Gerardo Machado y Morales | |
|---|---|
| President of the Republic of Cuba | |
| In office 20 May 1925 – 12 August 1933 | |
| Vice President | Carlos de la Rosa |
| Preceded by | Alfredo Zayas |
| Succeeded by | Alberto Herrera y Franchi |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Gerardo Machado y Morales 28 September 1869 Camajuaní, Santa Clara, Spanish Cuba |
| Died | 29 March 1939 (aged 69) Miami Beach, Florida, United States |
| Nationality | Cuban |
| Political party | Liberal |
| Spouse | Elvira Machado Nodal |
| Children | Laudelina (Nena) Machado-Machado Ángela Elvira Machado-Machado Berta Machado-Machado |
Gerardo Machado y Morales (28 September 1869 – 29 March 1939) was a general of the Cuban War of Independence and President of Cuba from 1925 to 1933.
Machado was elected president in 1924 as the leader of the Liberal Party, a moderate reform-oriented party. He entered the presidency with widespread popularity and support from the major political parties. However, his support declined over time and Machado took dictatorial powers. Despite promising to govern only for one term, he ran for re-election in 1928 and won a non-democratic election where the opposition was repressed. As protests and rebellions became more strident, his administration curtailed free speech and imprisoned, exiled, and murdered Machado's opponents.
Ultimately, in 1933, Machado was forced to step down in favor of a provisional government headed by Carlos Manuel de Céspedes y Quesada and brokered by US ambassador Sumner Welles. Machado went into exile in Miami Beach, Florida.