Abelardo L. Rodríguez

Infobox_President | name=Abelardo L. Rodríguez
nationality=Mexican
office2 = Governor of Sonora
term_start2 = 1943
term_end2 = 1948
predecessor2 = Anselmo Macías Valenzuela
successor2 = Horacio Sobarzo
office = President of Mexico


term_start=September 4, 1932
term_end=November 30, 1934
predecessor=Pascual Ortiz
successor=Lázaro Cárdenas
office3 = Secretary of Defense
term_start3 = 1932
term_end3 = 1932
predecessor3 = Plutarco Elías Calles
successor3 = Pablo Quiroga
office4 = Secretary of Economy
term_start4 = 1932
term_end4 = 1932
predecessor4 =
successor4 =
office5 = Governor of the North District of the Federal Territory of Baja California
term_start5 = 1923
term_end5 = 1930
predecessor5 = José Inocente Lugo
successor5 = José María Tapia
office6 = Military Commander of Northern Baja California
term_start6 = 1921
term_end6 = 1929
predecessor6 =
successor6 =
birth_date=birth date|1889|5|12|mf=y
birth_place=Guaymas, Sonora
dead=dead
death_date=death date and age|1967|2|13|1889|5|12|mf=y
death_place=La Jolla, California, USA
spouse=Aída Sullivan
party=National Revolutionary Party

Abelardo Rodríguez Luján, commonly known as Abelardo L. Rodríguez (May 12 1889–February 13 1967) was the interim president of Mexico from 1932-1934, completing 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 Northern 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 length 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, in 1967.

Legacy

The General Abelardo L. Rodríguez International Airport in Tijuana is named after him.

References

*Camp, Roderic A. Mexican Political Biographies. Tucson, Arizona: University of Arizona, 1982.
* [http://www.elbalero.gob.mx/kids/history/html/rev/biolrodriguez.html English biography] Accessed April 16, 2005

Persondata
NAME = Rodriguez, Abelardo
ALTERNATIVE NAMES = Rodríguez Luján, Abelardo
SHORT DESCRIPTION = President of Mexico (1932 - 1934)
DATE OF BIRTH = 1889-05-12
PLACE OF BIRTH = Guaymas, Sonora, Mexico
DATE OF DEATH = 1967-02-13
PLACE OF DEATH = La Jolla, California, United States