Nicaraguan President. A 1946 graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, he became president of Nicaragua in an election in 1967 which was marred by fraud. His father, General Anastasio Somaza Garcia, and brother Luis Somoza Debayle, had previously served as the President of Nicaragua. Somoza served two terms as president from 1967 to 1972 and 1974 to 1979. His rule was marked by corruption and repression. Opposition to him grew until a persistent uprising by the Sandinista National Liberation Front forced to resign as president and flee to the United States in 1979. He later moved to Paraguay, where he was assassinated by members of the Argentinian Revolutionary Workers' Party. His assassination is the subject of a book, "Death of Somoza."
Nicaraguan President. A 1946 graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, he became president of Nicaragua in an election in 1967 which was marred by fraud. His father, General Anastasio Somaza Garcia, and brother Luis Somoza Debayle, had previously served as the President of Nicaragua. Somoza served two terms as president from 1967 to 1972 and 1974 to 1979. His rule was marked by corruption and repression. Opposition to him grew until a persistent uprising by the Sandinista National Liberation Front forced to resign as president and flee to the United States in 1979. He later moved to Paraguay, where he was assassinated by members of the Argentinian Revolutionary Workers' Party. His assassination is the subject of a book, "Death of Somoza."
Bio by: Warrick L. Barrett
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