Fidel Sánchez Hernández

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Fidel Sánchez Hernández
35th President of El Salvador
In office July 1, 1967 – October 15, 1972
Vice President
Preceded by	Julio Adalberto Rivera
Succeeded by	Arturo Armando Molina
Personal details
Born	(1917-07-07)July 7, 1917 El Divisadero, El Salvador
Died	February 28, 2003(2003-02-28) (aged 85) San Salvador, El Salvador
Political party	National Conciliation Party
Spouse(s)
Profession	Military, politician
Military service
Allegiance	El Salvador
Branch/service	Salvadoran Army
Rank	General
Battles/wars	Football War

Fidel Sánchez Hernández (July 7, 1917 – February 28, 2003) was a Salvadoran military officer and politician who served as President of El Salvador from 1967 to 1972.^[1] During his rule, Sánchez Hernández faced war and economic turmoil.

Military career[]

Before becoming president, Sánchez Hernández was an army general in El Salvador and had brief stints as a military attaché in Washington (after his participation in the overthrow of José María Lemus in 1960) and in Paris. President Julio Adalberto Rivera promoted him to in 1962, and he served in that office until 1967, when he succeeded Rivera to the position of president.

Presidency[]

He continued Rivera's progressive programs and created a mostly civilian cabinet. The 1967 election was considered^{[by whom?]} one of the few in the period of military domination to have been fairly conducted; the gains made by the opposition (winning a majority of the popular vote) in the legislative and local elections the following year suggested El Salvador was on the road to democratization, a trend that would not be continued as elections in the 1970s were blatantly rigged.^{[according to whom?]}

In July 1969, Sánchez Hernández led the Salvadoran Army in its brief but violent Football War against Honduras. He had much success, occupying a large part of that country. But, under a cease-fire agreement arranged by the Organization of American States, Sánchez Hernández agreed to pull his troops out, much to the opposition of many of his military leaders.^{[citation needed]}

The war with Honduras led to much economic distress in El Salvador. Refugees, mostly Salvadorans that resided in Honduras, poured into the country and Honduras closed off trade routes.^{[citation needed]}

Sánchez Hernández remained president until 1972^[2] and was succeeded by Colonel Arturo Armando Molina.

Death[]

On the night of February 28, 2003, Sánchez Hernández, aged 85, died of a heart attack while being taken to a military hospital in El Salvador.

Orders and Decorations[]

Grand Cross of the Order of Isabella the Catholic

References[]

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