Balaguer, Joaquín (Joaquín Balaguer Ricardo) (hwäkēn` bälägār` rēkär`thō), 1907–2002, president of the Dominican Republic (1960–62, 1966–78, 1986–96). A lawyer by trade, he held posts under the dictator Rafael Trujillo Molina Trujillo Molina, Rafael Leonidas (räfäĕl` lāōnē`thäs tr
..... Click the link for more information. . He served as vice president (1957–60) and assumed the presidency (1960) when the dictator's brother, Hector Trujillo, resigned. Power rested, however, with the dictator until his assassination inMay, 1961. Balaguer, unable to control the chaos following the assassination, was ousted by the military in Jan., 1962.

Exiled until 1965, he returned at the time of the U.S. military intervention, and won the presidency in 1966 and again, in elections boycotted by the opposition, in 1970 and 1974. His administration restored financial stability and promoted development, but social unrest and guerrilla activity led to repressive, sometimes brutal measures. He lost the 1978 and 1982 presidential elections. Advanced in age and blind, he was reelected in 1986, 1990, and 1994 on a conservative platform, but the 1994 election was so marred by fraud that opposition protests and international pressure forced Balaguer to agree to resign after an abbreviated two-year term. A scholar and poet, Balaguer authored numerous books on a wide range of subjects.

Balaguer (y Ricardo), Joaquín (Vidella)

(born Sept. 1, 1907, Villa Bisonó, Dom. Rep.—died July 14, 2002, Santo Domingo) President of the Dominican Republic (1960–62, 1966–78, 1986–96). He held numerous government posts during Gen. Rafael Trujillo's 30-year dictatorship. Balaguer was vice president under Trujillo's brother Hector and became president when Hector resigned, but Trujillo continued to wield actual power until assassinated in 1961. Balaguer's subsequent attempts at liberalization caused his overthrow by the military. Elected president in 1966 after the U.S. military intervention in 1965, he achieved steady economic growth and modest social reforms. He was reelected repeatedly, but his last term was shortened by two years amid political violence and charges of electoral fraud and corruption.