Carlos Lemos Simmonds

Infobox Vice President
name = Carlos Apolinar Lemos Simmonds


order = Acting
office = President of Colombia
term_start = January 12, 1998
term_end = January 24, 1998
president = Ernesto Samper Pizano
order2 = 7th
office2 = Vice President of Colombia
term_start2 = September 19, 1997
term_end2 = August 7, 1998
president2 = Ernesto Samper Pizano
predecessor2 = Humberto De la Calle
successor2 = Gustavo Bell
office3 = Minister of Foreign Affairs
term_start3 = March 12, 1981
term_end3 = August 7, 1982
predecessor3 = Diego Uribe Vargas
successor3 = Rodrigo Lloreda Caicedo
president3 = Julio César Turbay Ayala
office4 = Minister of Telecomunications
term_start4 =
term_end4 =
predecessor4 =
successor4 =
president4 = Virgilio Barco
office5 = Minister of Government
term_start5 = 1989
term_end5 = 1990
predecessor5 = Orlando Vásquez Velásquez
successor5 = Horacio Serpa Uribe
president5 = Virgilio Barco
ambassador_from6 = Colombia
country6 = Austria
term_start6 = 1995
term_end6 = 1996
president6 = Ernesto Samper Pizano
ambassador_from7 = Colombia
country7 = United Kingdom
term_start7 = 1996
term_end7 = 1997
president7 = Ernesto Samper Pizano
birth_date = October 23, 1933
birth_place = Popayán, Cauca
death_date = death date and age|2003|07|30|1933|10|23
death_place = Bogotá, Capital District
party = Colombian Liberal Party
spouse = Marta Blanco
alma_mater = Caldas University
occupation = Lawyer, Diplomat, Writer, Journalist
religion = Roman Catholic

Carlos Apolinar Lemos Simmonds (October 23, 1933 in Popayán, Cauca – July 30, 2003 in Bogotá, Cundinamarca) was a Colombian politician and journalist that served as President and Vice President of Colombia in 1997. It is the only vice president of Colombia to become president in the Colombian Constitution of 1991 era under the statutes of the presidential line of succession, after President Ernesto Samper absented due to health problems.

Early years

Lemos went to middle school in the Colegio Champagnat in the city of Popayán for high school he went to the University of Cauca Liceum, he continue studying in this same institution until graduating as a lawyer. During these years Lemos married Marta Blanco.

Political career

After graduating Lemos worked as a Municipal Judge in the town of Piendamó, Cauca. He later transferred to Bogotá where he was elected councilman in the early 1970s for three consecutives terms. He then run for the Chamber of Representatives of Colombia. During the government of President Julio César Turbay Lemos was appointed as Secretary General of the Presidency of Colombia. In the same administration he was promoted to minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, after that he was shifted to different ministries, Ministry of Government, Ministry of Telecomunications.

Lemos served later as Ambassador of Colombia to the Organization of American States (OAS), drafter of the Colombian Constitution of 1991, Ambassador of Colombia to Austria, Ambassador of Colombia to Great Britain, senator, vice president and president of Colombia temporarily.

As a member of the Colombian Foreign Affairs Commission contributed to resolve the dispute over San Andrés y Providencia Islands in the Caribbean sea between Colombia and Nicaragua for territorial waters. He also negotiated the peace process with the M-19 guerrilla.

Jornalism

Lemos was also a notable journalist, writer and historian. He was a regular columnist for the Colombian newspaper El Espacio titled "Entre la Romana y el Pasaje" and also worked as its subdirector. Lemos founded the Diario Liberal newspaper and was once an owner of the Revista Consigna magazine.

Pueblished work

Books

* "Memorias de un antigobierno" (Memories of an antigovernment)
* "El Estado Ladrón" (The Thief State)
* "El Rescate de la moral" (The Rescue of Moral)
* "Turbay, de la Base a la Cumbre" (Turbay, from the base to the peak)
* "Santander".

Newspaper articles

* "Opinión" (Opinion), a column in El Tiempo newspaper.
* Revista Diners, articles.
* Diario Liberal, articles.

TV

Conducted a political TV shows called "Mesa de Café" (Coffee table), "Debates Caracol" (Caracol Debates in Caracol TV) and "Fuerza de la Historia" (Force of History).

Death

Lemos suffered from Cancer and his last days were spent in the Clínica del Country, hospitalized and decaying tired and losing weight. He finally died on July 30, 2003.

References

*es icon [http://www.colombia.com/biografias/autonoticias/destacada/2004/06/02/DetalleNoticia734.asp Colombia.com Carlos Lemos Simmonds biography]
*es icon [http://www.presidencia.gov.co/prensa_new/historia/carlemos.htm Presidency of Colombia; Carlos Lemos Simmonds biography]