Menocal, Mario García

Menocal, Mario García (mä`ryō gärsē`ä mānokäl`), 1866–1941, president of Cuba (1913–21). A leader in the fight for liberation from Spain, he later became a Conservative politician. As president he initiated a "businessman" government that was widely criticized as corrupt and arbitrary. His victory in the 1916 election was challenged by the Liberals, and José Miguel Gómez subsequently led an unsuccessful revolt against his regime. Menocal secured U.S. support by taking Cuba into World War I on the side of the Allies. In 1920, Menocal backed Alfredo Zayas and in 1924 he lost to Gerardo Machado. After leading (1931) an abortive revolt, he sought exile in the United States; when the Machado government fell, he returned to Cuba. He ran unsuccessfully for president in 1936.