Río Cuarto, 1903 – Buenos Aires (Argentina), 1970

By: María Seoane

Pedro Eugenio Aramburu was born in Río Cuarto, Córdoba province, on May 21, 1903. He studied at the National Military College and graduated as a second lieutenant in 1922. He later served as the director of the Superior School of War and as the Chief of the Army General Staff. In 1955, he, along with General Eduardo Lonardi and Rear Admiral Isaac Rojas, led the so-called Revolución Libertadora, a military coup that overthrew Juan Domingo Perón. Shortly afterward, Aramburu replaced Lonardi as president and initiated a crackdown on all opposition, particularly targeting Peronism, which was banned.

After facing a military uprising and ongoing resistance from Peronist factions, Aramburu announced elections for the following year in 1957. On May 1, 1958, he handed over the government to the elected duo of Arturo Frondizi and Alejandro Gómez. In 1963, Aramburu made an unsuccessful attempt to return to the presidency, running in the elections as the candidate for the United People’s Union (UPU) in coalition with the Progressive Democracy party. His campaign garnered minimal support.

In 1970, Aramburu’s kidnapping by the Montoneros (Peronist guerrillas) caused a major public outcry. His body was found days later in the province of Buenos Aires.