Daniel Oduber Quirós
Encyclopedia
Porfirio Ricardo José Luis Daniel Oduber Quirós (1921 - 1991) served as President
of
Costa Rica
from 1974 to 1978. Early in his career he worked as a lawyer.
In 1945 he went to Canada to study philosophy at McGill University, graduating with
a Master of Arts. In 1948 he returned to Costa Rica and participated in the revolution
led by José Figueres Ferrer
. When their faction won, he was named Secretary General
of the Second Republic of Costa Rica. Some time later he travelled to Paris, where he
continued his philosophical studies at the Sorbonne. While in France he married
Marjorie Elliot Sypher, daughter of Canadian diplomats.
After returning to Costa Rica, he worked in national politics, working with the Figueres presidency campaign and becoming an ambassador in Europe.
He was elected president in 1974. His government was very socially focused, dealing
heavily with working class issues. He worked on raising the quality of life of
rural areas and bettered pricing for agricultural products. A lot of attention was
given to reforestation and the preservation of natural resources. On the international
front, his government was popular amongst the Central American nations. During his term
in office, Oduber granted legal status to the communist
party (1975) and restored consular relations with Cuba
(1977).
He sided and worked with Presidents Jimmy Carter
and Omar Torrijos
to defend
Panama's sovereignty.
The airport located near Liberia
, Daniel Oduber International Airport, was named in his honor. There is a full statue of him in San Jose, the capital of Costa Rica.
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
of
Costa Rica
Costa Rica
Costa Rica , officially the Republic of Costa Rica is a multilingual, multiethnic and multicultural country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the east....
from 1974 to 1978. Early in his career he worked as a lawyer.
In 1945 he went to Canada to study philosophy at McGill University, graduating with
a Master of Arts. In 1948 he returned to Costa Rica and participated in the revolution
led by José Figueres Ferrer
José Figueres Ferrer
José María Hipólito Figueres Ferrer , served as President of Costa Rica on three occasions:1948–1949, 1953–1958, and 1970–1974....
. When their faction won, he was named Secretary General
of the Second Republic of Costa Rica. Some time later he travelled to Paris, where he
continued his philosophical studies at the Sorbonne. While in France he married
Marjorie Elliot Sypher, daughter of Canadian diplomats.
After returning to Costa Rica, he worked in national politics, working with the Figueres presidency campaign and becoming an ambassador in Europe.
He was elected president in 1974. His government was very socially focused, dealing
heavily with working class issues. He worked on raising the quality of life of
rural areas and bettered pricing for agricultural products. A lot of attention was
given to reforestation and the preservation of natural resources. On the international
front, his government was popular amongst the Central American nations. During his term
in office, Oduber granted legal status to the communist
Communism
Communism is a social, political and economic ideology that aims at the establishment of a classless, moneyless, revolutionary and stateless socialist society structured upon common ownership of the means of production...
party (1975) and restored consular relations with Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
(1977).
He sided and worked with Presidents Jimmy Carter
Jimmy Carter
James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...
and Omar Torrijos
Omar Torrijos
Omar Efraín Torrijos Herrera was the Commander of the Panamanian and National Guard and the de facto leader of Panama from 1968 to 1981...
to defend
Panama's sovereignty.
The airport located near Liberia
Liberia, Costa Rica
Liberia is the capital and largest city of Guanacaste province, Costa Rica, located northwest of the national capital, San José.-Summary:With more than 35,000 inhabitants, Liberia is the regional hub of the Costa Rican northwest. The city center features a modern church, as many Costa Rican towns...
, Daniel Oduber International Airport, was named in his honor. There is a full statue of him in San Jose, the capital of Costa Rica.