President of the Republic of Panama. Born Marco Aurelio Robles Mendez in Aguadulce, he received his education at the University of Panama and Sorbonne University in Paris, France. Before his career in politics, he was general manager of the National Bank of Panama. He served in diplomatic posts in the United Kingdom and France, before serving as Minister of Government and Justice in the cabinet of President Roberto F. Chiari from 1960. A member of the National Liberal Party, he succeeded Chiari to the office on October 1, 1964. Almost immediately he signed a promissory agreement with US President Lyndon B. Johnson for the renegotiation of the Panama Canal Treaty, the result of hostilities on January 9 of that year. While his presidency was marked by suspicion of corruption and policies repressive to the working class, tenure accomplishments include establishment of the Catholic Universidad Santa Maria la Antigua, establishment of the Institute for Training and Development of Human Resources (IFARHU), construction of the Yeguada Dam in Veraguas, and the opening of the Pan American Highway on July 15, 1967. He notoriously armed the National Guard with rifles, ordering them shoot all criminals caught in the act. This earned him the moniker "Marco Rifle". In 1967, he was charged with electoral coercion by publicly supporting presidential candidate David Samudio Avila. Against the objections of the Supreme Court, the National Assembly impeached and deposed him, swearing in Vice President Max Del Valle. However, Robles was supported by the National Guard and the Supreme Court, which overruled the impeachment and restored him to power. He was succeeded by Arnulfo Arias Madrid on October 1, 1968. Arias Madrid held office only a matter of days before his overthrow by General Omar Torrijos. The coup prompted Robles into voluntary exile to Miami, Florida, USA.