Alemán, Miguel

Alemán, Miguel (mēgĕl` älāmän`), 1902–83, president of Mexico (1946–52). Son of a revolutionary general, Alemán became a highly successful lawyer and a champion of Mexican labor. He was governor of Veracruz from 1936 to 1940 but resigned to manage the presidential campaign of Manuel Ávila Camacho, under whom Alemán held (1940–45) the ministry of the interior. Elected president in 1946, Alemán became the first civilian president of Mexico since Francisco I. Madero. He changed the name of the official government party from National Revolutionary party to Institutional Revolutionary party (PRI), to indicate the permanent status of the revolution. Alemán's administration was characterized by a vigorous program of modernization and increased investment to improve the infrastructure. He improved communications and education, and generally raised the standard of living.