Liberian President. Became president of Liberia in 1980 when he engineered a military coup that ousted and killed President William Tolbert. During his first years in office, Doe quickly developed an affinity with the U.S. government, especially during the administration of Ronald Reagan. He openly supported U.S. Cold War foreign policy in Africa during the 1980s, and once even challenged diplomats to a fist fight when they criticized the U.S. in his presence. He remained president until 1990 when a former ally Charles Taylor led a rebellion against his rule. Doe was captured and brutally tortured to death. His execution was videotaped and widely circulated. His body was thrown into a mass grave. In 2008 it was published in a national newspaper that according to warlord present at the execution, Doe's body had been cremated and ashes thrown in a river.
Liberian President. Became president of Liberia in 1980 when he engineered a military coup that ousted and killed President William Tolbert. During his first years in office, Doe quickly developed an affinity with the U.S. government, especially during the administration of Ronald Reagan. He openly supported U.S. Cold War foreign policy in Africa during the 1980s, and once even challenged diplomats to a fist fight when they criticized the U.S. in his presence. He remained president until 1990 when a former ally Charles Taylor led a rebellion against his rule. Doe was captured and brutally tortured to death. His execution was videotaped and widely circulated. His body was thrown into a mass grave. In 2008 it was published in a national newspaper that according to warlord present at the execution, Doe's body had been cremated and ashes thrown in a river.
Bio by: Erik Lander
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See more Doe memorials in:
Records on Ancestry
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