Abelardo L. Rodríguez

Abelardo L. Rodríguez
43rd President of Mexico
In office September 4, 1932 – November 30, 1934
Preceded by	Pascual Ortiz
Succeeded by	Lázaro Cárdenas
Governor of Sonora
In office 1943–1948
Preceded by	Anselmo Macías Valenzuela
Succeeded by	Horacio Sobarzo
Secretary of Defense
In office 1932–1932
Preceded by	Plutarco Elías Calles
Succeeded by	Pablo Quiroga
Secretary of Economy
In office 1932–1932
Governor of the North District of the Federal Territory of Baja California
In office 1923–1930
Preceded by	José Inocente Lugo
Succeeded by	José María Tapia
Military Commander of Northern Baja California
In office 1921–1929
Personal details
Born	Abelardo Rodríguez Luján 12 May 1889 Guaymas, Sonora
Died	13 February 1967 (aged 77) La Jolla, California, USA
Nationality	Mexican
Political party	National Revolutionary Party
Spouse(s)	Aída Sullivan (1904-1975)

Abelardo Rodríguez Luján, commonly known as Abelardo L. Rodríguez (Spanish pronunciation: [aβeˈlarðo ˈele roˈðɾiɣes]; May 12, 1889 – February 13, 1967) was the interim president of Mexico from 1932–1934. He completed the term of Pascual Ortiz after his resignation.

Early life

Born in San Jose de Guaymas, Sonora, to a poor family, he worked early in his life in a hardware store, in a copper mine, and as a professional baseball player. He did not finish his primary studies in Nogales, Sonora. He joined the Mexican revolution in 1913 and began moving up the ranks soon after. He became a Colonel in 1916, and following his involvement in the Plan de Agua Prieta, he was named Military Commander of northern Baja California in 1921.

Political career

In 1923 he became Governor of the North Territory of Baja California and continued as both Military Commander and Governor until 1929. He continued one more year as Governor of northern Baja California, and then in 1932, he held two different cabinet positions under president Ortiz.

Following Ortiz's resignation, Rodríguez took the presidency on September 4, 1932. Some of his accomplishments included the establishment of several financial institutions, the restoration of public education, and the implementations of laws related to private charity and monopolies. He also lengthened the presidential term from four to six years.

After his term ended on November 30, 1934, Rodríguez returned to private life until 1943, when he was elected Governor of Sonora, where he had a significant impact on education. He promoted university education, establishing Sonora's state university. He resigned from his governorship in April 1948, citing health reasons. He returned to his work in business, in which he continued until his death in La Jolla, California, on February 13, 1967.

Legacy

• General Abelardo L. Rodríguez International Airport, Tijuana, Baja California
• Presa Abelardo L. Rodríguez, dam over the Tijuana River
• El Sauzal de Rodríguez, Ensenada Municipality, Baja California

References

• Camp, Roderic A. Mexican Political Biographies. Tucson, Arizona: University of Arizona, 1982.
• English biography Accessed April 16, 2005