An Oral History with Maria Benevidez on the Somoza Government Conducted by: Corbin Ayers
Interviewer: Corbin T. Ayers Interviewee: Maria Benevidez Instructor: Michael Chapper Date: February 17, 2009 Table of Contents
Statement of Purpose 3
Biography 4
Historical Contextualization: A Background on Nicaragua and Somoza's Rise to Power 5
Interview Transcription 13
Time Indexing Recording Log 42
Interview Analysis 43
Works Consulted 47 Statement of Purpose
This project serves to provide a first hand experience on life under the Somoza family reign in Nicaragua. This task will be accomplished through an interview with Maria Benevidez who was a student at the time, on her father's role in the Somoza government and also life under both the Somoza government and the Sandinista. This unique perspective will provide people with more insight and knowledge than they could ever get from reading a textbook. Biography
Maria Benavidez was born on May 29, 1961 in Managua, Nicaragua. She went to the Catholic
High School in Managua and went to college at the University of Managua Rendarie Unan.
Since her father was part of the Somoza regime she was born into a very wealthy family with many luxuries. However, when the Sandinistas overthrew the Somoza Governemnt, she and her family were left with nothing. The Sandinistas forced their way into her house, killed her father right in front of her eyes, and then proceeded to take anything of value in the house. Many years later she moved to the United States, partly because she was offered aid by her aunt, and also because she wanted to get away from her now ex-husband after he became a part of the
Sandinista Government. Her daughter and mother however still live mainly in Nicaragua, however they move quite frequently. When she moved to the United States she could not speak
English. But she took classes at the Sans School and learned to speak English. She later also went to NOVA to get her teaching degree. She now teaches at Churchill High School. Historical Contextualization
Nicaragua: The Somoza Government
Nicaragua is the largest nation in Central America both because of its size (49,579 sq. mi.) and because of its population (more than 4 million). It is a beautiful country the size of
Michigan and has an agro-economy. However, Nicaragua’s history is rattled with violence and war, and varying political extremes. Including the dictatorship of the Somoza family from
1936/7 to 1978. Many say that Somoza was a cruel ruthless dictator, but some say the exact opposite. To understand the Somoza Government one must examine Nicaragua’s background, the Somoza regime, and author’s views as well as gain the perspective of someone who was there.
Nicaragua would not see independence from Spain until 1821. At the time Central
Americans were moving to separate themselves from Spain because of the establishment of an independent empire in Mexico. Nicaraguans were divided as to whether or not to side with advocates of union with Mexico, or advocates for independence from Mexico. Conflict over this ensued from 1839- 1855. There was a lot of foreign interest in Nicaragua, especially from Great
Britain and the United States. The British were interested in Nicaragua for attempts to control
Nicaragua’s Atlantic Coast region. At first the main reason that the United States wanted it was not much more than just to oppose Great Britain. But then they realized how useful Nicaragua could be after the construction of canals to help speed up trade. Because of the potential transit routes that Nicaragua possessed Great Britain forced sovereignty over Nicaragua. Following a battle in 1849 Nicaragua was forced to sign a treaty that did not allow Nicaragua to interfere with the British controlled government of Mosquito King and it’s control of Greytown. When the administration of President James K. Polk heard about the extension of British influence he immediately acted to negotiate with Great Britain and Nicaragua. In 1849 The United States and
Nicaragua reached the agreement that The US was allowed to fortify and utilize the transit route across Nicaragua, and in return The US would protect Nicaragua from Great Britain. This lead to many conflicts between the United States and Great Britain.
Starting in 1857 Nicaragua entered a time of relative peace under conservative rule. The
Conservatives did everything in their power to keep Liberals out of the government. No individual dominated, moderate individuals, most of whom were civilians took turns occupying the presidency. The peace came to an end in 1891 when Roberto Sacasa was elected. Even though Sacasa was conservative, he was from Leon, not Granada. So his election produced a split within the ruling party. The Liberals (led by General Jose Santos Zelaya) took advantage of the situation. In April 1893 a revolt cast out Sacasa and installed another Conservative. Attempts to share the power with Liberals were made, but proved impossible.
In July 1893 Zelaya supporters resigned from the government and led a successful revolt.
After this a new constitution was quickly made, and Zelaya was officially confirmed president, which he retained until 1909. Nicaraguan Conservatives denounced Zelaya’s reign as unbridled corrupt tyranny. However Central American Liberals and American scholars said that Zelaya was relatively progressive and nationalistic. Impressively, he helped to end the dispute with
Britain over the Atlantic Coast; and the formal reincorporation of that region into Nicaragua. On
July 1, 1927 Augusto Cesar Sandino issued his first political manifesto, he said that Moncada
(the current leader) was a traitor, he vowed to drive the Americans out of Nicaragua and called for joint Latin American construction of a Nicaraguan Canal. Sandino led many revolts against
American forces in Nicaragua but all failed. But Sandino would regroup and began a guerilla campaign. Then came the elections of 1932. Moncada had tried to restrict the political activities of the people running against him, and tried to alter the constitution to allow him to stay in power for longer than he was legally allowed to. But the United States stepped in to help regulate the elections, making them into a fairly honest election. In the end Sacasa, mainly due to the
Conservative’s lack of funds, won the election. Later Sacasa decided to elect Anastasio Somoza to command the National Guard. Sacasa’s popularity began to decrease after accusations of fraud and poor leadership. Because of increasing military confrontation headed by a man known as
Somoza, Sacasa was forced to resign. Somoza then proceeded to resign as chief director of the
National Guard, as to comply with the constitutional requirements for eligibility to run for president. With support from the US he won the presidential election of 1836 combining the roles of President and chief director of the Military.
Especially at the beginning of his reign Anastasio Somoza Garcia was not the most honest man. “He made conflicting promises to his officers, the president, and the U.S. ambassador; he cajoled, wheedled, and lied”(Booth 52). He also took ownership of textile companies, sugar mills, rum distilleries, the merchant marine lines, the national Nicaraguan
Airlines, and La Salud dairy, the countries only pasteurized milk factory, to build upon his own personal wealth while the rest of the country went hungry. The Somoza family not only controlled the military and Presidential office but also controlled the PLN (the Liberal Party), which in turn meant that they had control of the Legislature and the Judicial System, Somoza had control over every single aspect of Nicaraguan politics. To ensure that the National Guard stay loyal to him he keeping direct command in the family and isolated the guardsmen from citizens.
The Guard become a sort of Mafia. They directly ran forms of gambling, prostitution and smuggling. Also bribing guardsmen was necessary if someone wanted to engage in any sort of business activity. The power of the National Guard grew and grew until they controlled national radio and telegraph networks, postal and immigration services, health services, the internal revenue service, health services, and the national railroads. Even though it was against the law
Somoza punished people who tried to protest him or show any sort of dislike towards him. A little less than 2 years after he had been elected president Somoza declared that he intended to stay in office way beyond his presidential term allowed. Then in 1938 Somoza organized an assembly that gave the president extreme power, reelected Somoza for another eight-year term, allowed the president to make laws regarding the National Guard without consulting Congress, and ensured that Somoza would have complete and total control over the state and Military. This set the stage for a permanent dictatorship.
As most would assume Somoza made many political enemies and was thus exteamly defensive at all times:
“Gen. Anastasio Somoza, Nicaragua’s Minister of War, declared today that Cuba, Costa Rica, Guatemala and Venezuela were convening to overthrown the Nicaraguan Government. General Somoza issued a statement to newspapers saying that he wished “an evil plot” against the peace of Central America. He said that the plot also included El Salvador and Honduras.”(Somoza Sees Plot Against Nicaragua) Coups against him were attempted every once in a while but never succeeded. For his protection he constructed a secure compound and kept bodyguards, separate from the National
Guard, with him at all times. Even with all of his security on September 21, 1956 Anastasio
Somoza Garcia was wounded while attending a PLN party and died eight days later.
Immediately following his father’s death, Luis Somoza Debayle assumed the position of interim president and his brother “Tachito” Somoza took over the National Guard. Then in 1957
Luis Somoza was officially “elected” president. During Luis’ reign many political opponents were tortured and imprisoned by the National Guard. The government also censored the press and suspended many civil liberties. In 1960, in order to promote trade among member countries
Nicaragua joined El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras in a regional economic group. This increased trade and manufacturing and stimulated economic growth. Somoza’s anti-communist beliefs helped him to gain the support of the United States; and in 1959 Nicaragua was one of the first nations to criticize the Cuban Revolution. Because of this Nicaragua played a major role in the Bay of Pigs Revolution in 1961. They allowed the Cuban exile brigade to launch a failed operation from their coast. However while all of this was happening a new opposition to Somoza was rising, the Sandinista Liberation Front (FSLN) had begun guerilla operations in 1962. The
United States reacted to these “subversive” activities by increasing the National Guards anti- guerilla capabilities. Luis’ rule then ended in 1967.
In June 1967 after a blatantly rigged election Anastasio Somoza Debayle gained control over Nicaragua. As chief of the National Guard Somoza fell back on old traditions of corruption and protecting his officers from prosecution of crimes against civilians. Anastasio then began to replace the skilled development technicians that his brother Luis had installed and replaced them with political allies and associates. By the 1970s, because of Anastasio’s hunger for personal enrichment, Somoza’s legitimacy and civilian power base were quickly fleeing. As a result the government was becoming increasingly inefficient and corrupt. In 1972 there was a horrible earthquake. Somoza saw this as another opportunity for personal enrichment. He allowed the
National Guard to plunder and sell international relief materials and loot the area for all valuables. Somoza promised to resurrect the fallen city but he never followed through. Somoza then took emergency housing funds channeled to Nicaragua by the Agency for International
Development and used a majority of it to erect luxury Housing for National Guard officers, while the homeless were told to be content with quickly, and poorly, constructed wooden shacks. The citizens of Nicaragua, including independent businessmen because of the way that Somoza forced his way through the construction and banking sectors, started to voice their displeasure in the Government through a series of strikes and demonstrations.
In December 1974 a unit of the FSLN took serious action and held a group of high ranking Managua partygoers ransom until the Government met their demands, including a large ransom and transportation of 14 FSLN prisoners and themselves to Cuba. After this Somoza began to root out all of the “terrorists” or FSLN members. During this time the National Guard engaged in pillage, rape, imprisonment, torture, and executions of hundreds of peasants. The
Roman Catholic Church demanded and explanation for these acts and deemed these human rights violations before the entire world. President Jimmy Carter, disgusted by the acts of the
National Guard, pressed Somoza to change his policy. So Somoza reinstated freedom of press and ordered the National Guard to stop terrorizing the peasants. Pedro Juaquín Chamorro and others like him began to publish La Prensa and began to cover opposition activates such as successful guerilla actions, and guerilla meetings, and talked about the corruption and right violations that the Somoza family had committed both past and present.
A group of prominent citizens called the Twelve arrived. They criticized the Somoza dictatorship and called for a change in government that included the FSLN. The big Twelve said that:
“there can be no dialogue with Somoza…because he is the principal obstacle to all rational understanding…through the long dark history of Somocismo, dialogues with the dictatorship have only served to served to strengthen it…”(The Somoza Dynasty)
Even though the Somoza Government’s roots went deep, most people thought it to be invulnerable, but the FSLN was able to shatter the dynasty of dictators. On July 17, 1979
Somoza fled Nicaragua leaving behind him a forty-three year dynastic dictatorship founded by his father, the FSLN had formally taken power.
While most people seem to think that the Somoza dictatorship hurt Nicaragua more than it helped it there are some who think that it was a good thing for Nicaragua. This shows the diversity of opinions surrounding the topic. James D. Rudolph discreetly shows his dislike for the Somoza Government. His book Nicaragua a Country Study says, “the flight of a dictator whose rule had become increasingly tyrannical as he saw his power base crumble” (145).
Rudolph uses the word tyrannical to make the Somoza Government seem extremely cruel and evil. It is that simple word that shows his opinion of Somoza, if he had used a word such as productive or something similar the underlying opinion would be completely different. Another quote from his book is, “the greed of President Anastasio Somoza Debayle…”(145). Yet again he uses the word greed in a derogatory sense to make Somoza seem as evil as possible. Because when someone hears the word greed they usually do not think about someone nice. Another person who shows his dislike of the Somoza family Dictatorship is Neil Maculay. In his book
The Sandino Affair it says, “the Somoza family dictatorship easing up on political repression and, for the first time, showing some concern about the country’s deplorable social conditions”(Preface). Maculay uses an exaggerative tone in this quote to show how little the
Somoza government cared about the people most of the time. He is saying that he is somewhat surprised by the Somoza’s concern for the people because it was such a new thing. The underlying feeling of the Somoza family dictatorship that Maculay carries throughout the book is dislike. However there are also some who think the Somoza benefitted Nicaragua. John Booth is one of them. In his book The End and the Beginning it says, “[Most people say that the Somoza Regime was] cold-bloodedly from the hour set, however, Milett’s detailed analysis of the events suggest otherwise”(25). This quote shows that Booth liked the Somoza regime. This is because he is trying to disprove the common idea that the Somoza regime was terrible, and trying to replace it with the idea that the Somoza regime was good. The quote goes on after that to explain why the Somoza government was good. This just goes to show the variety of opinions one subject can have, not matter how one sided it seems.
While opinions of whether or not the Somoza dictatorship was good or not for Nicaragua varies, there is no doubting the fact that it is important to know about as Americans. The Somoza dictatorship was important for Americans mainly because of how it slowed the spread of
Communism. At the time the United States were extremely anti-communist. So anything to stop the spread of communism was a great thing. The only real threat to the Somoza government was the FSLN who were communist, so the United States helped to keep Somoza in power as to stop the spread of communism. Although Nicaragua eventually fell to communism it was at least delayed which is better than doing nothing at all. But to completely understand about the Somoza
Government one must look at Nicaragua as a country, the Somoza regime and some other people’s opinions as well as gain a first hand perspective from someone who lived through it. Interview Transcription
Interviewee/Narrator: Corbin Ayers Interviewer: Maria Benavidez Location: 714 Running Brook Drive Great Falls, VA Date: January 14, 2009 Corbin Ayers: This is Corbin Ayers and I am interviewing Maria Benavidez as part of the
American Century Oral History Project. So where were you born?
Maria Benavidez: I was born in Managua Nicaragua.
CA: Where is that around Nicaragua?
MD: …Where?
CA: Yeah, just like…
MD: Central America
CA: Okay, and what is your birthday?
MD: My birthday May 27, 61
CA: Where did you go to school?
MD: I just went to I mean different school, I was in Managua to the Premero Sabreo and after I just went to the Catholic School. I finish the high school in Catholic School.
CA: How do you say that?
MD: Puersa Maria, and I just went to the Punanda University, the University from Managua. CA: Lets see, Yah so the college is… the University.
MD: Of Managua Rendarie Unan.
CA: Yeah those were just some preliminary questions I had to do
MD: Yah
CA: So, how was your father associated with the Somoza Government?
MD: Well, he was Antionio Cornel, and he was…
CA: That’s his name?
MD: My fathers name was Hose Benavidez. And so he was the Antonio Cornel he used to work with the IDA, it was the intelligence from Somoza, and he was a study here in West Point for about three years and got all the knowledge need to know and flew to my Country.
CA: Okay, so was he like picked by Somoza or was he in a program to go straight to Somoza?
MD: Well first he was in the program and they, he was in that program and Somoza knew the potential he had cause he a smart guy and that’s the way he was pick up form the _____
CA: So he was very good at what he did?
MD: Yeah
CA: Yeah okay, It was, what was his rank again you were saying, or what was job you were saying he was a, what was it call Antonio Official or…
MD: The what? CA: What was his job title again I forget, you had…
MD: Teantio Cornel that’s her rank..
CA: O yeah, his rank on the…Was that a higher rank or?
MD: It was high, yes.
CA: Okay how do you feel about the Somoza family, not just the reign, you know the Somoza reign but the actual people…Like the Somoza family?
MD: Well by that time my life was easy I was really I mean a little girl a lot of dreams and to me was fabulous but to many people it wasn’t. Because I mean you know was a really unequal, poor people not have the chance that I have by that time and so I think was unfair but I couldn’t see because I mean by that time I was, everything was a fair to me, my family.
CA: So as long as you were connected to the government then you were set, pretty much
MD: Yeah
CA: Do you think that the family’s personality was reflected in their reign or did they act differently as leaders then they did as people
MD: Yeah, completely they did yeah it was completely different.
CA: So were they nice people in general or did they act mean or did they mean in…
MD: It really depend with thewhat people approach to them, it really depend.
CA: What kind of people would they be nice towards then?
MD: Somebody they consider then an equal if they no consider… CA: Like social status or wealth or?
MD: Yeah social, complety social.
CA: How long was your, How was your social status after the Somoza regime? During and after sorry.
MD: During the O was great, fabulous because my father was part of the, of them so.
CA: But yeah, but what after the…
MD: O after that we just became a like one of the thousand more, that don’t have anything, don’t have hope, nothing.
CA: Was it all of a sudden that that happened or was it kind of gradual after Somoza was…
MD: It happen when the Sandinista grab the power from the Country they took away everything all the money we have, my mother have in the bank was freeze so we have nothing.
CA: What happened to the money?
MD: They froze the money.
CA: O geez, but I, did they, you never got any of the money back?
MD: No, no. Even though the three cars my father has, gone, two houses gone,
CA: Do you have any idea where they went too or who they went to?
MD: Yeah, to the Sandinista.
CA: O so they just took them? MD: Yeah.
CA: O yeah cause they are communist so they… Did they divide it up at all or was it, for like the government people?
MD: For the government, they, they also give key to people who are close to them.
CA: O so it wasn’t really, like the ideas of communism, you know that there are equal for everyone, they was the government.
MD: No because they really hate people who was, serve the government of Somoza
CA: But did the government officials in the Sandinista regime, did they like grab, did they have more possessions then most people, or were they better off then most people in the country?
MD: They were a smart to know how to cover, but they more possession because they as you see back, now the all the Ortega, they have the power in the country, they have a lot of money in the suddo life, so.
CA: So they did do a lot of bad things they just covered it up?
MD: Yeah, the cover it up and they a really a smart to how to do it.
CA: Were they, did they do it, like as many bad things as Somoza if…
MD: Was the same thing but they, Somoza never hide, never hide what he did, but these people tried to sell to different ways.
CA: So they both did the same thing just one covered it up.
MD: Completely. CA: So did you personally like Somoza, or.
MD: I was a little kid I didn’t know but I really liked the life I had (both laugh) little kid I wasn’t thinking bout anything I mean we have a good life so.
CA: Well what about now?
MD: Well now I am out of that picture but however my mother still live there and there is a lot of poority, Kimberly can tell you that, and so life is more hard and difficult for everybody
CA: So you did like Somoza then, but do you like Somoza now that you know what he did?
MD: Well when I grew up I realize all that stuff happen so I didn’t like it, I like the life I had, but so I no like what happen now…
CA: Yeah the reasons, what about your family does anyone feel different about that like your daughters or your mother or…
MD: Well my daughters weren’t exististce at all, they don’t know at all. My mom now she like the Sandinistas but I don’t know why, maybe because she old, and she feels week and fragile but by that time she hate them because they kill my mother in the porch of my house and so was really hard.
CA: How did Somoza and you know, just your entire like reign or neighborhood react to your fathers death?
MD: O well, we was living really when the civil war start, I mean was kina of normal if somebody die every single day for a month, all the September every people, everybody, I mean the Sandinistas really take advantage and of powerful in Managua, and so, because as you can see, I don’t know if you see the history, nine month later they just win the power in July 16 for the next, 79, I mean 1979 so.
CA: Did Somoza do anything about your father’s death since he was part of it.
MD: Yeah, well yes, I mean he was just promised my mother a lot of stuff for us, to help, my mother to grow up because we were aid and all us were really young. My older sister was 18, and all of us were, Patricia was still like 5 years old so everybody were, Patricia was the baby in the family and the older one was 16 and yeah, I mean and Somoza went to the funeral and everything, and promised a lot of help.
CA: Did he ever follow through on that?
MD: No because you know the…
CA: The Sandinista finally took over.
MD: Yeah
CA: Do you think that he would have followed through on that?
MD: Yeah, because when he say something, he always promise, always did always help my , family with my father, my father….
CA: Was he like that with his government too? If he said that he was going to do something and he did it, or?
MD: It all depends, if it was going to ______him.
CA: So as long as it benefitted his family then yeah. Was Somoza a main part of your life not just because of the government like did you see him a lot, or see him personaly a lot or because of your dad or.
MD: No just in general so
CA: What aspects of life were limited during the Somoza regeime….were there, if any, maybe not to you but to other people you heard about, you probably weren’t limited to much right because you were so connected to the government.
MD: Yeah so was, I mean point of view I like, on that side I can not see the real thing so.
CA: Did you hear about any people like around you or like that, around you know complaining about limiting something
MD: Well you can hear the news all the time complain about Somoza , its in madrone, that mean like Somoza is a robber, and he just stole everything and just United States, I heard a lot of complain about it so but, it never touch me, because I was a little kid by that time, but I mean, I don’t know really exactly.
CA: Do you feel that the country, Nicaragua, was more prosperous and just better under the
Somoza regime or the Sandinista regime.
MD: Well it’s a different, it is compelty different but I back of those days, then now I mean with
Somoza it has the 100% the support of the United States, With the Sandinista, they no have the support, however through all this time there have been a lot of changes, and, France Germany have been helping Nicaragua and that’s what…
CA: During the Sandia regeime? MD: Yeah, so know now there is a lot of technology, the Japan really and put a lot of stuff, effort in some business there to try to make money for them and opening exchange with technology so there is a like I say different time and different interest from another country and so but…
CA: But over all do you think that the country would have been better off in the long run with the Somoza regime or the Sandinista Regime.
MD: Hard to tell and…
CA: Just some parts would have been better …
MD: Yeah, some parts, it will be, the same I think.
CA: What types of people like Somoza I mean probably the
MD: The conservative.
CA: O okay the conservative, and what type of people didn’t like him besides the poor.
MD: Even the people who was just the Chamorro, with I don’t know if Kimberly told you, the
Chamorros…
CA: O that’s one of the richest families there right?
MD: Because I mean the one they don’t like the Sandinista o so the one that no like Somoza?
Because I mean they just want to be fighting who has more power here, or so yes, it power.
CA: So he felt threatened by people who had a lot of money?
MD: Yes. CA: So was the entire government basically based on getting money
MD: Yeah it was based on the money it was a basked on the powerful, and they have the money, the Chamorro have the money to just I mean, to adversitment, for here we are and how good we could be and this and that, it the same thing.
CA: So there were people even though they were benefitting from the Somoza regeime who didn’t like him?
MD: Yeah, definitely
CA: If they did get more money than Somoza then would they be likely to become the next dictator or leader of Nicaragua do you think, or do you think that is why Somoza felt threatened because they had the ability to advertise what he was doing?
MD: He will really be depend what that happening at that time, But like Chamorro was a journalist and tried to put all the crap, all the ______Somoza may try to show to the people because he wants to be in the power. I don’t know if I answer your question.
CA: No yeah, that helps. Lets see, sorry I’m just going through my questions. Did religion paly a major role either the Somoza or Sandinista. If so which one was more.
MD: Yeah with Somoza most of the people the I mean, I will say the because every grow up in
Catholic so it will, it really was the way to doma-…
CA: Dominate?
MD: Yeah, so and everything is bad, everything if you just getting against to the government, so have to pray for this and that and actually for the revolution and the civil wars the religion was determinant to help the Sandinista win the power, yes, because all the father the priests, really help all the Sandinista to stay in the church and that way the Somoza didn’t take, because they respect to much, the religion. So, the religion play, was play, really big role by that time. Ad now it changing because people feeling like you know,
CA: Overwhelmed or?
MD: No, hopeless, and so now people are refugee in the new religion like protestant and just believe in god and no car going around, so.
CA: So now they are free to believe in what ever they want or?
MD: Yeah they are free even though the Communist they no believe in that so but they no waste a lot of…
CA: Did the Communist allow them to do that or?
MD: Yeah because they no decelerate, Communist is completely 100%, still the, still a lot of private school with I taught for 7 years, where I went to school it the same thing so they have no change about that.
CA: So was there like you know not a draft but the same idea during the Somoza regeime since the military was so important during it, were people like forced into the Army?
MD: Yeah, they no force them, they now force it, the Sandinista was the one who force them to go when you are age 16 by the law you have to go, serves to the country
[brake for food]
MD: It’s a like that. CA: So you were just talking about the Somoza, I had to start this back up, You were just talking about the Somoza,
MD: [laughs] Somoza, most people traditional people say Somoza was good, better then the
Sandinista even though he was Dictator or whatever the people want to call because the people like to steal things from the country, but he let people do it to so it was equal but with the
Sandinista, the Sandinista are tight, so they steal for them but nobody else
CA: O geez yeah, and when you say steal do you mean just like money or goods or…
MD: Money, the money whatever the natural resource we have in my Country and so alike everybody thinking Somoza just sold Nicaragua to the United States, the beginning like, you can see in the history, Nicaragua is the only country in America Latina who the first president, was
William Walker, is from the United States and so that’s, but a lot of people are really disappointed because now they are thinking I mena through the the year we are getting more poorer and there is nothing to do and anybody want to business in Nicaragua.
CA: So right now your Countries economic status is declining your saying?
MD: Yes, completely, lately there is no offor, nobody want to invest money in Nicaragua…
CA: So there is no competition.
MD: Yeah there is no, we have a lot of professional people because the Sandinista did something good they make a law and the people have to go to the school, by the law, so there is a lot of professional, hundred professional, but they no have job. There is no government, and even though they have been creating university I mean all through the country but there is no job.
Why you have to I mean. Exactly- and how you can give motivation to the youth because… CA: There is nothing to work for!
MD: Yeah you have to make the offer because when I ended, I mean [slaps hands down on lap] there is nothing to do!
CA: Do you think that is the Sandinista’s fault or just something that kind of happened because you know the US is in a …
MD: I guess because the Sandinista fault because with the Sandinista if you are not in a community with them and are not in agreement with they belief the spat you like contra because this is the label
CA: Yeah the warrior people, the soldiers right?
MD: Yeah, you are contra or you are pro-American or something like that you like Imperio
Elitsmo or something like that, so you are no in their play even though there is a lot of play
[laughs] and then you are not one of the players.
CA: So at when did the decline start from what you can remember, just pretty much when the
Sandinista started just slowly started declining or a little but after the Sandinistas took power ,
MD: Was a little bit after the Sandinistas, ever since the United States just block everything, when I live and was in my Country there wasn’t any toilet paper , yeah there wasn’t any toilet paper anywhere,
CA: Not even for sale? Not even for sale anywhere?
MD: No! we had to use the news paper [both laugh] in the city but if you go farther than the city in the country in my grandmothers farm you see the corn when they now have… CA: O they use the corn husks! [both laugh]
MD: Yeah! Because you had to create things because there is no way so, The Sandinista have to give you a ticket ,and with the ticket you are allowed howmany in your family, for example you have 3 in your family and so 3 pounds of rice, for a week and so you would just have to …
CA: Ration it yeah.
MD: Yeah.
CA: Do you think that the Sandinistas were trying to at least help or are they were just sitting back while the decline is happening.
MD: Well tried to help with the philosophy of communist
CA: Whole yeah.
MD: But it doesn’t work I mean now the, it doesn’t work at all, otherwise look Cuba it doesn’t work, it doesn’t work the philosophy is gone, but they still believe in and they just try,
Venezwela, and that crazy people to try to do it, but it doesn’t work.
CA: So like a dictatorship would have defiantly been better even if you were in the lower class, just for the Country as a whole?
MD: I think so because I mean …
CA: This obviously isn’t working.
MD: Yeah, and because if you can see we have been suffering for 40 years, but with Somoza it was a dictator, but I mean with all that philosophy the country still worse then ever. Because if you can see on the record it is the second poor Country in the world!
CA: Really! The second, o geez! That’s really bad!
MD: Yeah it is! It sucks, It really sucks .
CA: So its right behind Hadi? Wow I didn’t realize it was that bad, is it bad all over Nicaragua cause I mean we were talking about the 3 rich families is it pretty much all of Nicaragua or is it segregated into regions
MD: Right now I would say in Nicaragua there is a maybe 5% rich and 95% poor.
CA: Exrtream poor? Like you were saying or?
MD: Poor really poor.
CA: So what kind of Conditions did they live under? Like you were saying they don’t have toilet paper obviously and the the food stamps.
MD: Well in the past but now because they are more open with the United States because they have more. But if you no have dollar then you lost.
CA: But they have a different currency there though right?
MD: Yeah Cordor.
CA: Okay.
MD: But now the dollar and the Cordor are I mean you can just deal with them like normal.
CA: Yeah because we were talking about before the exchange people on the street that are waiving the money. MD: Yeah they waiving the money and you can buy the dollar and you can sell your dollars so.
CA: Is it a place where you have to watch out for your belongings.
MD: Well like I said, I don’t the communist really work because I mean you feeling really unsecure because people, there is no job so people are just want something for, even though they are professionals jobs ,and they have to feed their family, they steal things, they see you look nice and they think to stole your stuff.
CA: O geez , does race play a big part lke the color of your skin stuff like that in he Country?
MD: Not really I mean we don’t believe most people are.
CA: I mean not racism but like are white people considered a higher class or something than people who have like a darker skin or is it?
MD: No the issue there is not really, only the people who live in the Atlantic, yeah the Atlantic part, in the costa they don’t like the metico like me or white people, but the white issue is different I mean you can.
CA: It’s pretty accepted to be any color?
MD: O well of cource if they see you have blue eyes they think o that yo ucna be rich yo ucna be not.
CA: Was there a particular leader, because you know there were 3 Somozans, I guess that’s how you say it…
MD: Somoza? CA: Yeah, was their one particular, person, Anastio or one of his brothers or…
MD: Well Anastasio Somoza was I mean has the father, was the father president, Luis Somoza yeah, I forgot the name of the other one…
CA: Yeah I think that it was Anastasio again.
MD: Anastasio was the one who was killing parawhite, he kill with the bazooka, you know, everybody believe the Sandinista send to kill him there.
CA: Did the Sandinistas have weapons like that to or were they just equipped with whatever they would find? Like did they have big weapons lke bazookas and stuff like that
MD: By that time yeah they did, because they stole it from Somoza! But it like I say, they come to my house, kill my father, and stole all the gun my father have, and so that is the way they get it.
CA: Did they steal anything else, were you there when they came in?
MD: Yeah I was a little kid.
CA: Do you remember them like coming in and...
MD: I remember…
CA: Did they take everything in the house?
MD: They took the all the uniform they look for all the money and they look for all the…
CA: Did they find any money?
MD: They found some money. Yeah. They found some money, they found some key for they cars, they took it yeah they just came and they took everything, I mean most of value, they thought they can have it, they took a lot of food, because my father used to buy the food in the hundred pounds…
CA: O so he used to buy it in bulk. Like going to Costco or something like that [both chuckle].
MD: Exactly because we were 8 my father always buy huge there is room.
CA: Better then going to the store yeah [both laugh].
MD: Yes, so they stole everything.
CA: Yeah that is so interesting, because you know textbooks and everything, because I had to do a paper before this to get background information and stuff like that, they don’t really talk about how horrible it was the rise of the Sandinistas they kind of make the Sandinistas seem like ooo yeay they’ve finally taken power there helping us and stuff like that it makes it, it really shows how they got the power and it’s such a corrupt way to get it…
MD: But that was the way they did and beside that now they don’t’ care if you have knowledge or study or whatever they think o you are my friend and you believe in my philosophy yeah you can be the most highest execute even though you don’t have the knowledge we are going to teach you there is no way.
CA: So even though they make people go to school you don’t that they care about the education.
MD: They no care about the education they oo we will train you and you can be the most highest execute and dealing with whatever.
CA: They funny thing is with communism is that you still make the same amount of money! MD: The same thing happen with Antonio, what knowledge Antonio
CA: The what?
MD: Antonio Ortega, it’s a stupid.
CA: Yeah, it doesn’t really make sense to me either.
MD: And then you know…
CA: Becaue usually dictators are seen as horrible person but obviously it would be way better then this so.
MD: They they are smart and they no-
CA: Control the country.
MD: Exactly, they what’s going on all the thing that they no like, for example the people from my country they just have knowlage over people from cuba because I mean they will be
______to them but so, I mean
CA: So for education during the Somoza regeime I know you were saying that…
MD: Somoza didn’t care because it wasn’t convenient for him he was a dictator so they don’t care about the education but they no make any law about the education but if you live in the city of course you have all the chance to go to.
CA: But even without the laws were there still a lot of people still going to school and getting a good education and stuff like that?
MD: Yeah well if you have money. Yeah. CA: O well so [both chuckle]. So were there even regular schools even they didn’t have a like public school where you can just go and…
MD: Well they have money for public school most the kids even though I remember when I was,
I have a friend in the public school they say to me that then yeah under Somoza, I was in first grade, when I remember that
CA: Did they have a good amount of schools and stuff like that or was it just you know known schools through out the country.
MD: No they have a lot of public schools like, the distance you have from one school to another, yes a lot of schools. Yeah.
CA: So do you think that under the Somoza regieme that people were more intelligent or less intelligent, I mean, I don’t mean to you know say…
MD: I guess, in Somoza it’s the traditional way to thinking and the way to-
CA: In the schools they taught the traditional way?
MD: Yeah, it’s traditional way and the way they teach us was by memorize, the Sandinista all the time the way the teach people is to like analyze every single thing that’s why they just try to all the University was on there favor because they tried to claim, I mean people the youth the same way they think.
CA: When you came to the US was it, first of all was it just you and did you do it because you wanted to get out of Nicaragua or you just wanted to get to the US or you wanted to make more money or … MD: O no I have my ant who olive here.
CA: Wait when did she move to the US.
MD: O she move, because her father was in the father in the Army too with my father, and the father sent her to study and she got married and she establish her life her and so she offered me to move up, and by that time I have emotional problem with my marriage and that’s what it was.
CA: Was another incentive to be able to make more money in the US then Nicaragua or to escape Nicaragua because-
MD: By that time it was emotional problem.
CA: So you just wanted to get away form your husband.
MD: Yeah, beause he became one of the Sandinista’s.
CA: O he did!
MD: Yeah.
CA: Did he know that your father was in the Somoza government?
MD: He knew it, and he was happy, and I said how you can be married with somebody who is happy because…
CA: So that was the problem for the marriage?
MD: One of the main problem we have, yeah.
CA: Do you think that he was maybe trying to help the Sandinistas at all, I mean he was a. MD: He went far he became really powerful.
CA: I mean was he really part of the Sandinistas when you started dating and when you married him or just?
MD: No not at all, was just after the marriage about 3 years after, Yeah.
CA: During the Somoza regime were there aspects of life that you had to do like in the Somoza regime you have to go to school and during the Somoza regime you had to be Christian was there anything else you had to or had to be?
MD: You have to go to the church every Sunday.
CA: Every Sunday. So the churches were just packed every Sunday.
MD: Yeah were packed for all the people in, yes, and _____ Monday through Friday as a kid you have to go to the school in the city.
CA: For the Sandinistas right?
MD: No in the traditional way with Somoza you have to go to school if you are in the family a like mother, my father, my brother, we have to go [Corbin sneezes] bless you, because my father was with Somoza and so I mean, parents feeling how there kid can do you know. Because, in my family, out of family it was really not their….
CA: Priority?
MD: Yeah, to go to school they don’t care, I mean the parents, if the kids say I don’t want to go to school there is no law to be obligated that the parent to make the kid go to school but with my father and his friends I mean it’s my kid, just go and finish the high school and go study this and that, I mean just trying about what their kid doing.
CA: After the finished high school in Nicaragua would to they go to college somewhere else rather then Nicaragua or would they stay in Nicaragua mostly?
MD: If you have enough money, for example my older sister the one Kimberly met, I mean
Roxanna, she just came to here through the Louisiana she went there.
CA: So by the way I should have asked this at the beginning but what are your sisters names and like how old are they?
MD: O my sister name, the older one I think she is 53, my second oldest sister is, well my older one is ______Soccorro the second older is 53, my borther who is living near Jose is a year older then me he is 48 I think I am 47 my other sister who live clsot ot my older brother
______and she is 45, and my other sister who lives in Germany and married with a German,
Yeah she has her family there, and so she is 40 and my brother is 38.
CA: Geez you’ve got a big family [laughs].
MD: Yeah.
CA: How many people is that? That’s like 8 or 9 geez yeah.
MD: 8 yeah. We are 8 plus my mother and my father we are ten so.
CA: What was your mothers name?
MD: Rita.
CA: Rita? Okay. During the Somoza Regime was like the public welfare, just like the public uses and stuff, like were the libraries in good shape were the roads in good shape and stuff like that? Were just the general aspects of life in pretty good shape? Did he like give back to the community?
MD: Well certain, for example where Somoza live it was nice, but as you go farther…
CA: So it just kind of radiated?
MD: Yeah, you know the street didn’t even have…
CA: It was just a dirt road.
MD: Yes exactly, yeah.
CA: So when you came to America was it hard to make the transition or was it kind of easy and how did it compare to Nicaragua.
MD: Well it was hard because I mean I just came with emotional problem, it was then that I realize that my x-husband was serving to the Sandinistas that when he didn’t feel for me the father that my father was in the other government and even though they kill my father and though it wasn’t him it was part of his belief.
CA: Same stuff he believed in yeah.
MD: Yeah so it was, with all this emotional I didn’t speak any English at all it couldn’t go even the same day to the McDonalds to have, to ask for a Hamburger because I didn’t know how to talk even though I have some money in my pocket [both laugh]!
CA: You can’t do anything! So how did you get over that? How did you… MD: Well I just, and my aunt help me and I______....
CA: O yeah because she had been there.
MD: Yeah because she knew how to speak English and she study here so that….
CA: Is that the main way you learned English because you speak pretty well English so, pretty good English so…
MD: Well also she send me to the school I mean.
CA: Do you remember where that was and what it was called?
MD: This a school the sun school.
CA: The sun school? Huh, where is that is that around here?
MD: D.C.
CA: O it is so…
MD: yeah it’s S-A-N-S, Sans School.
CA: O okay
MD: Yes, it a really well known for all the immigrant to teach english, and after that, I ena later on I just went to the community college NOVA in Alexandria
CA: How was that, the, Nova?
MD: Well just harder of course because the English was harderand after that I just get some credit and I apply for exam and try to do the test because I am a teacher in elementary school so…
CA: What jobs have you held not only in the US but in Nicaragua, like what jobs have you done?
MD: Okay, I was working with the, I mean later on when I grew up and I have my degree in education that I just help with the education in the government and they just give me, and with the Sandinista they just give me, even though I was the daughter of one of they don’t like and they kill they use my knowledge, and I led them to use my knowledge because they thought I was smart and they just sent me to out of the country, to study education and see how education was.
CA: When you were in college or just schooling in general did you start hearing about Nicaragua and schooling in general did you hear about Nicaragua and think o that’s not right, like have you ever read things in text books or stuff like that, because you know from what I have read it is kind of different from the first hand perspective which is you know really good because that’s the reason that oral history is so good. Have you ever read something and just not felt like it was not really telling the truth or something like that you know about Nicaragua, or about the
Somozas or the Sandinistas?
MD: Yeah, I know I mean a lot of writing, people, even though you hate Somoza, you hate
Somoza , so with the Sandinista, but with the Sandinista there is a lot of history they make it up.
CA: The Sandinistas made it up?
MD: Yeah, so…
CA: Was there like book burnings or anything or anything extreme like that, like how did they rewrite history?
MD: Like they would say o the health in Nicaragua is good, it help keep the this and that but it’s not true.
CA: So it’s kind of like the corrupt businesses in America where they make up profits and stuff.
MD: Yeah it’s the same thing, so like I say with the health they supposed to help all the seniors because you know they don’t have-
CA: Senior citizens you mean?
MD: Yeah, I mean but they don’t help the way that they promise to them. With..
CA: But in the record it says they dud?
MD: For example if you have any illness or disease and you go to the hospital there, forget it, you just sort of die a week, a moth later, because all the medication is cost a lot of money. If you don’t have health insurance, If you don’t have any type of health insurance forget it. Your done.
CA: So it really is just based on, do you think it has gotten more based on money as the years have gone on even from Somoza?
MD: Yes!
CA: O geez yeah because that is one of the underlying factors that a lot of people said was so bad about Somoza that it was all based about money, but apparently it is getting worse so.
MD: It’s the same and worse. It’s the same thing and the worse. Because even though with
Somoza all the people who give service as the doctor, was really a doctor but now if you are in your second year in college, you are all ready to just in the clinic to helping people with any illness. They just try to like I said try to learn with the real people it’s not right.
CA: Do you thin that most of the, if any citizens of Nicaragua, do you think that they like the
Sandinistas or do they not like them?
MD: They divide. Because-
CA: Like 50 50 or just…
MD: Maybe now by this time because they see all the poor…
CA: They are starting to realize how bad it is?
MD: The realize its bad we need a change like everybody else, but, they disappointment with a lot of things they really disappointed. They saw all the Ortegas have money and out of the country, you just selling the idea to fight for the poor people, why you have all the money out of the country? Hello! Come on! They are disappointment.
CA: Do you think there is hope for it though? Do you think anything in particular would help?
MD: Just change the government, but who’s the right one you know.
CA: So do you think that if the US were to come in there and enforce a….
MD: I guess people will respond.
CA: In a good way or bad way?
MD: In a good way.
CA: They would? MD: Because its so far a lot of stuff.
CA: So a lot of people are really-
MD: And of course there will be a lot of people who will be in favor of the one they have now, even though they have no knowledge, and I mean close to the Sandinisa people who were…
CA: So it’s kind of like Iraq. Do you think there would be a war that broke if they try to help even if it was in a good was to try and enforce.
MD: There are some like guns or something.
CA: How would you feel if the US decided to keep troops there, even if it was temporary but it, you know, maybe for a while like 10 years or something, how would you feel about that?
MD: I will be where I live [both laugh] Hello! Come on! So I can’t say yeah.
CA: So you wouldn’t really care about that?
MD: No, well, I will feel that he people have hope have dreams in their life and so with now all the dreams all the like I say the lot of professional, like okay what is your dream to become a professional and have a family and this and that, but what if you are a professional with no job what is your dream.
CA: Yeah, that makes sense. Well with the communism, do you think that, cause obviously people don’t want to be the doctor because they get paid like a garbage man, are there people, obviously there has to but mean do they have trouble finding people for like the higher, for like the jobs that would normally be higher paying? And like higher education needed for it
MD: For example, like the Mcgreggor the Mcholovie the ______they have their own people, the people like the country and just to work with them and just make their own business and done. They just ______and they don’t care what’s going on around so all the offer they have as a professional if offered by the government and they pay you really bad. And so who really can really pay you as a professional really well, but they have their own people there is no chance so.
CA: You have 2 daughters right?
MD: Yeah.
CA: What are their names?
MD: Hali and Bausti
CA: Hali is here so.
CA: Hali and, both in the US?
MD: Yeah.
CA: What do they do now
MD: Well Bausti just finish last year she just…
CA: She finished college?
MD: Yes she finish college and remains the same computer, she really smart, and Hali just study criminology-
CA: Criminology?
MD: Yeah she will be finish next year. CA: Do you know what she wants to be, like does she want to be a police officer or a lawyer or…
MD: Well she was in the Marines for 6 months but she broke her leg so…
CA: Did she decide to leave after that, not go back or did she like the marines?
MD: O they give here 2 years to see if she really want-
CA: But she doesn’t have to go back after that?
MD: But they say she have to be in the reserve or something
CA: O okay. Is there anything that you wanted to talk about that we didn’t get to?
MD: Lets see, well we just talking about the bad economy in Nicaragua, so when the Sandinista win the power there was a lot of people form Europe to help Nicaragua and there a lot of people from France, Germany and Italy who came to Nicaragua and really help with the industry and a lot with the economic the, education, with, the health, with people with medication and the really get a lot of Nicaraguan women fall in love with them a lot, Nicaragua created another so…
CA: Society?
MD: Society I mean all over the world and in Europe so.
CA: So foreign aid was really a key factor in Nicaragua’s development?
MD: Yeah was, completely.
CA: It still is do you think?
MD: No anymore but in the past. CA: Just during the Somoza past or…
MD: No, during the Sandinistas because everybody really want to know about Anoniel about whats going on yeah.
CA: About the what, I’m sorry?
MD: Yeah.
CA: What did you say at the beginning there about the what?
MD: About Somoza?
CA: Yeah, you were saying about the, I just didn’t understand the one word you said.
MD: O well they make a new, it like a new society to with those new people with different beliefs and they don’t believe in god they just believe in what Guatemala-
CA: In what, I’m sorry?
MD: In what the Sandinista believe.
CA: O okay, so-
MD: It’s like the, I mean Antoniel brought a lot of Cubans with a lot of knowledge, because
Cuba has a lot of people, a lot of good knowledge in different areas, I mean doctors, a lot of technology, even though they don’t have a lot of technology but they-
CA: Nicaragua doesn’t have technology you mean?
MD: No Cuba, they brought a lot of people, a lot of smart people, and so, and most of them were men, I mean especially in the army most of them were men and a lot all those men really, really make another type of so….
CA: Society. [both laugh] it’s a hard English word!
MD: It is! It is for me. And make a lot of kid with a lot of women. There is
CA: There is ______+ women?
MD: There is a lot of, I will tell you about the 10 percent of Nicaragua-
CA: The what? O 10 percent okay.
MD: 10 percent, in the 80s, they are Cuban, Nicaraguan Cuban there was born in Nicaragua with
Nicaraguan women but the men are from Cuba yeah so, and now they are like Bausti age, alike
Kimberly age
CA: So it’s kind of like the same thing, you know the baby boom generation?
MD: Yeah it is a baby boom [slight laugh] ______+ but with different race like Nicaragua I mean Cuba or the part of Europe I mean alike Germany, France, Czechoslovakia, Russia, all the part of that.
CA: That reminds me too is there any like health insurance in, and was there to in the Somoza regime, and Sandinistas now.
MD: Well with the Sandinistas now it like if you are poor you just…
CA: You just kind of stay there…
MD: Now you will be dead. Because…
CA: So there is no really hope if you get sick? It’s just a horrible thing? MD: No, it’s a horrible thing because you will be in the public health with no hope and they can’t give like nothing, nobody, but if you have money-
CA: So it wasn’t like that during Somoza?
MD: No, no matter what if you’re a citizen or whatever you go to the hospital and they will give you, and it is a good doctor, who really know but now they have a lot, bunch of doctors with no knowledge.
CA: Cause they have to go all the way through the school just for the same pay right?
MD: Yeah.
CA: Yeah geez, so the health at least was much better during the Somoza…
MD: Yes it was, even though the Sandinista ______about how they have more doctor the quality and the quantity is different.
CA: How was the pay when Somoza was leader for most jobs including higher paying jobs was it, you know did they get good money for what they did, or was it worth what they did?
MD: Well yeah because I mean everybody when Somoza, everybody want to be a doctor or lawyer or something because you got a lot of money, but now everybody can be a doctor or lawyer or whatever and never will have money.
CA: Alright well thank you very much for doing the interview and if you have any questions you can call me any time and…
MD: Okay, great things will be helpful for you. CA: O it defiantly will [both laugh].
MD: It was great. Time Indexing Recording Log
Minute Mark Topics presented in order of discussion in recording
5 The money in her family's bank account was frozen
10 Somoza promised help to Ms. Benevidez after her father died
15 The role of money in the Somoza Government
20 Nicaragua's economic status is declining because there is no competition
25 Nicaragua is the second poorest country in the world, 5% are rich but the other
95% are in extreme poverty
30 The difference between how the Sandinista are portrayed in textbooks vs. what
actually happened.
35 Ms. Benevidez decided to move to the U.S. Mainly because she wanted to get
away from her husband who became part of the Sandinista
40 The obstacles that Ms. Benevidez had to overcome once she reach the U.S.
45 The problems with the Sandinista medical system
50 Bausti must be in the army reserve.
55 The Sandinista medical system was extremely expensive so it was not accessible
to most of the country. Interview Analysis
When interviewing Maria Benavidez for the Oral History I found out that Oral History is such an important part of learning what actually happened during a time period because, if one just reads text books then they do not get the full picture on the subject being researched. The interview had strengths and weaknesses, such as biases both from Maria and myself. As soon as we got to the in depth question I realized how much different the first hand perception is from other sources such as textbooks. In fact I found parts of the interview that were completely contradictory of what was said, or implied in textbooks and such.
Oral history is history from a first hand perspective. I believe that oral history is the best way to completely understand a subject. This is because it gives real life experiences of what actually happened. Textbooks leave out so much information, emotion and insight on a subject that you can only get from a first hand experience. Textbooks may also leave out things to make a certain government or people look better, nobler, or more caring then they really were. But if someone lived through the experience they can give information on what really happened. Many things or acts might also be left under wraps that would not be known unless someone experienced it.
We first started off the interview with some basic questions such as where she grew up and where she went to school. Then we moved into more in depth questions about her father’s role in the Somoza Government and her opinion of Somoza. Then we moved on to what Somoza was like as a leader. Then we compared and contrasted the Somoza and Sandinista government and she voiced her opinion of both. We finished off with various subjects that were brought up, such as what schooling was like under each government, the economic status of the country under each Government, why she immigrated to America, and the role of foreign influence on
Nicaragua.
Maria had some strengths and weaknesses as an interviewee. One of her strengths was that she was very connected to Somoza government. She was able to gain a very in depth perspective of the Somoza government because her father was so connected to the government.
She was able to observe him in a way that many people were not. Another strength of Maria as interviewee was that she was able to experience not only the Somoza regime but also the
Sandinista. So she was able to see what life was like under both governments.
However she also had some weaknesses as an interviewee. One of these was the fact that she was rich and connected to the government during the Somoza Regime, which makes all the difference. This is because Somoza favored people in his circle and the rich immensely. For example schooling was usually just for the rich so she had no problem going to school but people who were poorer might have not even been able to go. Another weakness was the fact that her father was killed by the Sandinista in front of her eyes, and the Sandinista took everything away from her and her family so she obviously would dislike them.
I had some weaknesses as and interviewer. I could have prepared more questions for starters. I felt as though I was just running through the questions even with follow up questions so it would have been better if I had prepared more questions. I was also not always as specific in my questioning as I could have been. So sometimes she felt it hard to understand the question or what I was asking. I also could have shown her some research or charts that I had found rather then just tell her about what I had researched.
During the interview I learned many things that were stated differently in the books and articles that I researched. For example, almost all of the information that I got from the books and online sources had an underlying tone stating that Somoza was a cruel dictator that did not care about anyone but himself/ and was just destroying Nicaragua. But Maria showed me a different side of the story that I had not seen before. She explained how Somoza was actually fairy compassionate, and helped the country more than he is credited.
Another things in the interview that was contradictory to the research I had done was that the Sandinistas rise to power is much crueler than one is lead to believe from textbooks and online sources. Most information on the rise of the Sandinista Government seem to completely omit the fact that Sandinistas broke into peoples house killed anyone who was connected to the
Somoza Government at all, then proceeded to take all of the money, food or anything of value form that household. Maria said that, “They found some money. Yeah. They found some money, they found some key for they cars, they took it yeah they just came and they took everything, I mean most of value, they thought they can have it, they took a lot of food, because my father used to buy the food in the hundred pounds…” This is completely different then what people are led to believe the Sandinista Government was like.
What I have learned from this experience that you can you not always trust what you read in textbooks. In this particular situation many of the books and online articles viewed Somoza a horrible person and only focused on the negative aspects of the Somoza regime. But though this interview I found that not all of the people in Nicaragua hated him. Also many of the textbooks never really focused on the negative aspects of the rise of the Sandinista Government, how the robbed and pillaged peoples homes and killed many people associated with the Somoza
Government. I learned that to really understand what happened in history one must gain a full knowledge on the subject from listening to first hand experiences because these experiences, while they may be biased just like textbooks, reveal what really happened and show the emotion of what was going on during that time. Also because history could have been re-written literally by a certain government, we can never be sure that the textbook is 100% accurate. Works Cited
Booth, John A. The End and the Beginning. Boulder : Westview Press, 1982.
Calhouns, C H. “ SOMOZA ‘WARNING,’ OF PLOTS ASSAILED .” New York Times 17 Oct. 1948.
ProQuest Historical Newspapers. ProQuest. 14 Dec. 2008
DeYoung, Karen. “Somoza’s Nicaragua .” Washington Post 17 Oct. 1974. ProQuest Historical
Newspapers. ProQuest. 14 Dec. 2008
Macaulay, Neil. The Sandino Affair. 1967. 4th ed. Chicago: Quadrangle Books, 1998.
Mathey, Kosta. “An Appraisal of Sandinista Housing Policies.” Latin American Perspectives 17.3
(1990): 76-99. JSTOR. 8 Dec. 2008
Nicaragua a Country Study . Ed. James D Rudolph. Washington DC: United States Governemnt , 1982.
Nicaragua A Revolution Under Siege . Ed. Richard Harris and Carlos M Vilas. London: Zed Books Ltd.,
1985.
Schutz, Jorian Polis. “The Impact of the Sandinistas on Nicaragua .” Unpublished diary. 1998. 8 Dec.
2008
“The Somoza Dynasty .” Nica Land. 14 Dec. 2008
“The Somoza Dynasty .” University of Pittsburg . Nov.-Dec. 2004. 14 Dec. 2008
“Timeline: Nicaragua.” Timeline. stanford.edu. 9 Dec. 2008
Zimmermann, Matilde. Sandinista Carlos Fonseca and the Nicaraguan Revolution . Durham and
London: Duke University Press, 2000.