Rafael Trujillo

Trained by U.S. Marines in 1918 and elevated to commander in chief of the National Army by 1927, General Rafael Trujillo (1891-1961) assumed control of the Dominican Republic in 1930. While successful in reducing foreign debt and fostering greater economic prosperity for the Dominican people, Trujillo and his heinous human rights abuses—including the murder of thousands of civilians—managed to escape rebuke from the international community for decades. Although his reputation became tarnished after reports of a massacre against an estimated 20,000 Haitians became public in 1937, it wasn’t until his failed assassination attempt on Venezuelan President Romulo Betancourt in 1960 that the Organization of American States finally voted to sever relations with the brutal dictator. A year later, Trujillo was killed by a group of rebels determined to topple his regime. http://www.history.com/topics/rafael-trujillo

Anastasio Somoza “Tacho” President of Written by: The Editors of Encyclopædia Britannica

Anastasio Somoza, in full Anastasio Somoza García, byname Tacho … [was a] soldier-politician who was dictator of Nicaragua for 20 years. Preferring the use of patronage and bribery to violence, he established a family dynasty in which he was succeeded by his son as president (1956–63) and by another son, Anastasio Somoza Debayle, as head of the Guardia Nacional and then as president (1967–72, 1974–79).

The son of a wealthy coffee planter, Somoza was educated in Nicaragua and the . By marrying the daughter of a prominent Nicaraguan family, he ensured himself a secure political career. Rising quickly through the political ranks, he became head of Nicaragua’s army, the Guardia Nacional, in 1933. With the army at his disposal, three years later he deposed the elected president, his uncle , had himself “elected” president, and assumed office on Jan. 1, 1937. Although he was officially not president from 1947 to 1950, his position as commander in chief guaranteed his continuous, firm rule for two decades until his death.

Somoza fostered agriculture, livestock raising, and mineral production; sponsored public works; and made Nicaragua less dependent on banana income. At the same time he amassed a considerable personal fortune, exiled most of his political opponents, owned large areas of land and many businesses, and pictured himself as a paternalistic leader in charge of a benighted people.

Nominated for still another term on Sept. 21, 1956, Somoza was shot by a young assassin and died a few days later in a U.S. military hospital. http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/554161/Anastasio-Somoza

Jorge Ubico

Jorge Ubico, byname Tata (Spanish: “Daddy”) (born Nov. 10, 1878, Guatemala City—died June 14, 1946, New Orleans, La., U.S.), soldier and dictator who ruled Guatemala for 13 years (1931–44).

Ubico received a commission in the Guatemalan army in 1897, distinguished himself in several campaigns, and rose to the rank of colonel. In 1907 he was appointed governor of Alta Verapaz and in 1911 governor of Retalhuleu, where he served with efficiency and honesty. In the following years he was made a brigadier general, a member of the National Assembly, and minister of war (1922–26) under President José María Orellana. In 1931, backed by liberals and progressives, he was elected president of Guatemala, an office he held until 1944.

Ubico restored Guatemala’s international credit, built roads and public works, improved public health, and eliminated wholesale corruption. He also replaced Indian slavery with vagrancy laws, which required that indigenous farmers work an assigned number of hours on certain plantations in order to maintain an equal distribution of workers among landowners. Ubico also established Decree 1816, which essentially made it legal to murder an indigenous farmer who refused to comply with the new laws. Ubico cultivated the friendship of the United States, particularly during World War II, and was rewarded with tariff reductions and armaments. At the same time, he also eliminated all political opposition and democratic activity in Guatemala. Unrest developed, and when Ubico suspended freedom of speech and the press on June 22, 1944, he was overthrown by a popular revolt the following day. He fled the country on July 1 and made his home in New Orleans. http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/612337/Jorge-Ubico