Frei, Eduardo

Frei (Montalva), Eduardo

(born Jan. 16, 1911, Santiago, Chile—died Jan. 22, 1982, Santiago) Chilean politician and president (1964–70). He earned a law degree in 1933, held government posts in the 1940s, ran for president in 1958, and became president as a centre-left candidate in 1964. He offered a moderate program of agrarian reform, economic stabilization, “Chileanization” of U.S.-owned copper interests, and a more equitable distribution of wealth. Though he made marked progress in expanding educational opportunities for the poor, most of his reform efforts failed to achieve their objectives, and his administration was plagued by inflation and labour unrest. His son Eduardo Frei Ruiz-Tagle (b. 1942) served as president from 1994 to 2000. See also Salvador Allende.