Adolfo López Mateos
Encyclopedia
Adolfo López Mateos was a Mexican
politician affiliated to the Institutional Revolutionary Party
(PRI) who served as President of Mexico
from 1958 to 1964. As president, he nationalized electric companies, created the National Commission for Free Textbooks (1959) and promoted the creation of prominent museums; such as the Museum of Natural History and the National Museum of Anthropology
in Mexico City. Declaring his political philosophy to be “left within the Constitution,” Lopez Mateos was the first left-wing politician to hold the presidency since Lazaro Cardenas.
, though at a young age his family moved to Mexico City
upon his father's death. Nevertheless, there is a birth certificate and several testimonies archived at El Colegio de México
that place his birth on 10 September 1909 in Patzicía
, Guatemala.
In 1929 he graduated from the Scientific and Literary Institute of Toluca, where he was a delegate and student leader of the Socialist Labor Party. That year he supported the presidential campaign of José Vasconcelos
—opposition candidate— as an orator against the presidential campaign of Pascual Ortiz Rubio
, and filled a number of bureaucratic positions from then until 1941, when he met Isidro Fabela
. Fabela helped him into a position as the director of the Literary Institute of Toluca
after Fabela resigned the post to join the International Court of Justice
. He served until 1952, when he became the Secretary of Labor under president Adolfo Ruiz Cortines
. In 1958, he was elected president of Mexico, and served until 1964. Plagued with migraine
s during his adult life, he was diagnosed with several cerebral aneurysm
s and, after several years in a coma, he died in 1969.
López Mateos was the first chairman of the Organization Committee of the 1968 Summer Olympics
and called the meeting that led to the creation of the World Boxing Council
.
Tackling poverty became one of the priorities of Lopez Mateos’ government, and during his presidency social welfare investments reached an historical peak of 19.2% of total investment. A number of social-welfare programmes for the poor were set up, and existing social-welfare programmes were improved. Health care and pensions were increased, new hospitals and clinics were built, and the IMSS programme for rural Mexico was expanded. A social security institute was established, which provided child care, medical services, and other social services to workers, especially state employees. A 1959 amendment to the Social Security Law also brought part-time workers within the auspices of social security.
A food distribution system was established to provide affordable staples for poor Mexicans and a market for farm produce. The government entered the housing business on a large scale for the first time in Mexican history, with a major programme being initiated to build low-cost housing in major industrial cities with over 50,000 units of low-income housing constructed between 1958 and 1964. One of the largest housing developments in Mexico City housed 100,000 people and contained several nurseries, four clinics, and several schools.
In an effort to reduce illiteracy, the idea of adult education classes was revived whilst a system of free and compulsory school textbooks was launched. Education had become the largest single item in the federal budget by 1963, and there was a renewed emphasis on school construction. Almost every village was assisted in the construction of schools and provided with teachers and textbooks. Free student breakfasts for primary-school pupils were also restored.
An attempt was made at political liberalisation, with an amendment to the constitution that altered the electoral procedures in the Chamber of Deputies by encouraging greater representation for opposition candidates in Congress. In the 1964 elections, for instance, the Popular Socialist Party (PPS) won 10 seats while the National Action Party (PAN) won 20.
The government succeeded in reducing labour unrest by setting up a National Commission for the Implementation of Profit Sharing which apportioned between 5% to 10% of each company’s profits to organised labour. In 1960, Article 123 of the Mexican Constitution was amended to ensure that government employees were protected by minimum-wage legislation. Tight price controls and sharp increases in the minimum wage also ensured that the worker’s real minimum wage index reached its highest level since the presidency of Lazaro Cardenas. State intervention in the economy increased markedly between 1958 and 1964, with the government purchasing controlling stock in a number of foreign industries. The government also purchased the cinema industry, and it was decreed that ticket prices would be affordable for all.
Lopez Mateos welcomed U.S. President John F. Kennedy
to Mexico for a highly successful visit in July 1962.
Lopez Mateos was succeeded as president by the conservative Gustavo Ordaz in 1964.
The Course of Mexican History by Michael C. Meyer and William M. Sherman
Mexico: Lonely Planet Travel Guide (2010)
Mexico and the United States by Lee Stacy
The Mexican profit-sharing decision: politics in an authoritarian regime by Susan Kaufman Purcell
Plaza of sacrifices: gender, power, and terror in 1968 Mexico by Elaine Carey
Medicine in Mexico: from Aztec herbs to betatrons by Gordon Schendel and José Alvarez Amézquita
www.county-data.com
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
politician affiliated to the Institutional Revolutionary Party
Institutional Revolutionary Party
The Institutional Revolutionary Party is a Mexican political party that held power in the country—under a succession of names—for more than 70 years. The PRI is a member of the Socialist International, as is the rival Party of the Democratic Revolution , making Mexico one of the few...
(PRI) who served as President of Mexico
President of Mexico
The President of the United Mexican States is the head of state and government of Mexico. Under the Constitution, the president is also the Supreme Commander of the Mexican armed forces...
from 1958 to 1964. As president, he nationalized electric companies, created the National Commission for Free Textbooks (1959) and promoted the creation of prominent museums; such as the Museum of Natural History and the National Museum of Anthropology
Museo Nacional de Antropología
The Museo Nacional de Antropología is a national museum of Mexico. Located in the area between Paseo de la Reforma and Calle Mahatma Gandhi within Chapultepec Park in Mexico City, the museum contains significant archaeological and anthropological artifacts from the pre-Columbian heritage of...
in Mexico City. Declaring his political philosophy to be “left within the Constitution,” Lopez Mateos was the first left-wing politician to hold the presidency since Lazaro Cardenas.
Life
According to official records, López Mateos was born in Atizapán de Zaragoza, a small town in the state of MéxicoMexico (state)
México , officially: Estado Libre y Soberano de México is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of the United Mexican States. It is divided in 125 municipalities and its capital city is Toluca de Lerdo....
, though at a young age his family moved to Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
upon his father's death. Nevertheless, there is a birth certificate and several testimonies archived at El Colegio de México
El Colegio de México
El Colegio de México, A.C. is a prestigious Mexican institute of higher education, specializing in teaching and research in the social sciences and the humanities...
that place his birth on 10 September 1909 in Patzicía
Patzicía
Patzicía is a municipality in the Chimaltenango department of Guatemala....
, Guatemala.
In 1929 he graduated from the Scientific and Literary Institute of Toluca, where he was a delegate and student leader of the Socialist Labor Party. That year he supported the presidential campaign of José Vasconcelos
José Vasconcelos
José Vasconcelos Calderón was a Mexican writer, philosopher and politician. He is one of the most influential and controversial personalities in the development of modern Mexico. His philosophy of "indigenismo" affected all aspects of Mexican sociocultural, political, and economic...
—opposition candidate— as an orator against the presidential campaign of Pascual Ortiz Rubio
Pascual Ortiz Rubio
Pascual Ortiz Rubio was a Mexican politician. He was born in Morelia, Michoacán as the son of Pascual Ortiz de Ayala y Huerta and Lenor Rubio Cornelis...
, and filled a number of bureaucratic positions from then until 1941, when he met Isidro Fabela
Isidro Fabela
Isidro Fabela Alfaro was a Mexican judge, politician, professor, writer, publisher, governor of the State of Mexico, and delegate to the now defunct League of Nations...
. Fabela helped him into a position as the director of the Literary Institute of Toluca
Toluca
Toluca, formally known as Toluca de Lerdo, is the state capital of Mexico State as well as the seat of the Municipality of Toluca. It is the center of a rapidly growing urban area, now the fifth largest in Mexico. It is located west-southwest of Mexico City and only about 40 minutes by car to the...
after Fabela resigned the post to join the International Court of Justice
International Court of Justice
The International Court of Justice is the primary judicial organ of the United Nations. It is based in the Peace Palace in The Hague, Netherlands...
. He served until 1952, when he became the Secretary of Labor under president Adolfo Ruiz Cortines
Adolfo Ruiz Cortines
Adolfo Ruiz Cortines was President of Mexico from 1952 to 1958, representing the Institutional Revolutionary Party he was one of the oldest presidents of Mexico...
. In 1958, he was elected president of Mexico, and served until 1964. Plagued with migraine
Migraine
Migraine is a chronic neurological disorder characterized by moderate to severe headaches, and nausea...
s during his adult life, he was diagnosed with several cerebral aneurysm
Cerebral aneurysm
A cerebral or brain aneurysm is a cerebrovascular disorder in which weakness in the wall of a cerebral artery or vein causes a localized dilation or ballooning of the blood vessel.- Signs and symptoms :...
s and, after several years in a coma, he died in 1969.
López Mateos was the first chairman of the Organization Committee of the 1968 Summer Olympics
1968 Summer Olympics
The 1968 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XIX Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Mexico City, Mexico in October 1968. The 1968 Games were the first Olympic Games hosted by a developing country, and the first Games hosted by a Spanish-speaking country...
and called the meeting that led to the creation of the World Boxing Council
World Boxing Council
The World Boxing Council was initially established by 11 countries: the United States, Argentina, United Kingdom, France, Mexico, Philippines, Panama, Chile, Peru, Venezuela and Brazil plus Puerto Rico, met in Mexico City on February 14, 1963, upon invitation of the then President of Mexico, Adolfo...
.
Presidency
A wide range of social reforms were carried out during Adolfo Lopez Mateos’ presidency. Land reform was carried out vigorously, with 16 million hectares of land redistributed. The government also cleared and opened up new agricultural lands in the extreme south, which helped to reduce land tension in that part of the country. Public-health campaigns were also launched to combat diseases such as polio, malaria, and tuberculosis. Typhus, smallpox, and yellow fever were eradicated, and malaria was significantly reduced.Tackling poverty became one of the priorities of Lopez Mateos’ government, and during his presidency social welfare investments reached an historical peak of 19.2% of total investment. A number of social-welfare programmes for the poor were set up, and existing social-welfare programmes were improved. Health care and pensions were increased, new hospitals and clinics were built, and the IMSS programme for rural Mexico was expanded. A social security institute was established, which provided child care, medical services, and other social services to workers, especially state employees. A 1959 amendment to the Social Security Law also brought part-time workers within the auspices of social security.
A food distribution system was established to provide affordable staples for poor Mexicans and a market for farm produce. The government entered the housing business on a large scale for the first time in Mexican history, with a major programme being initiated to build low-cost housing in major industrial cities with over 50,000 units of low-income housing constructed between 1958 and 1964. One of the largest housing developments in Mexico City housed 100,000 people and contained several nurseries, four clinics, and several schools.
In an effort to reduce illiteracy, the idea of adult education classes was revived whilst a system of free and compulsory school textbooks was launched. Education had become the largest single item in the federal budget by 1963, and there was a renewed emphasis on school construction. Almost every village was assisted in the construction of schools and provided with teachers and textbooks. Free student breakfasts for primary-school pupils were also restored.
An attempt was made at political liberalisation, with an amendment to the constitution that altered the electoral procedures in the Chamber of Deputies by encouraging greater representation for opposition candidates in Congress. In the 1964 elections, for instance, the Popular Socialist Party (PPS) won 10 seats while the National Action Party (PAN) won 20.
The government succeeded in reducing labour unrest by setting up a National Commission for the Implementation of Profit Sharing which apportioned between 5% to 10% of each company’s profits to organised labour. In 1960, Article 123 of the Mexican Constitution was amended to ensure that government employees were protected by minimum-wage legislation. Tight price controls and sharp increases in the minimum wage also ensured that the worker’s real minimum wage index reached its highest level since the presidency of Lazaro Cardenas. State intervention in the economy increased markedly between 1958 and 1964, with the government purchasing controlling stock in a number of foreign industries. The government also purchased the cinema industry, and it was decreed that ticket prices would be affordable for all.
Lopez Mateos welcomed U.S. President John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
to Mexico for a highly successful visit in July 1962.
Lopez Mateos was succeeded as president by the conservative Gustavo Ordaz in 1964.
Sources
A Traveller's History of Mexico by Kenneth PearceThe Course of Mexican History by Michael C. Meyer and William M. Sherman
Mexico: Lonely Planet Travel Guide (2010)
Mexico and the United States by Lee Stacy
The Mexican profit-sharing decision: politics in an authoritarian regime by Susan Kaufman Purcell
Plaza of sacrifices: gender, power, and terror in 1968 Mexico by Elaine Carey
Medicine in Mexico: from Aztec herbs to betatrons by Gordon Schendel and José Alvarez Amézquita
www.county-data.com
Further reading
- Biography at Mexico Connect
- Biography at Historical Text Archive Biography
- Camp, Roderic A. Mexican Political Biographies. TucsonTucson, ArizonaTucson is a city in and the county seat of Pima County, Arizona, United States. The city is located 118 miles southeast of Phoenix and 60 miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border. The 2010 United States Census puts the city's population at 520,116 with a metropolitan area population at 1,020,200...
, Arizona: University of ArizonaUniversity of ArizonaThe University of Arizona is a land-grant and space-grant public institution of higher education and research located in Tucson, Arizona, United States. The University of Arizona was the first university in the state of Arizona, founded in 1885...
, 1982.