Ferdinand Marcos
Overview
Ferdinand Emmanuel Edralin Marcos, Sr. (September 11, 1917 – September 28, 1989) was a Filipino
Filipino people
The Filipino people or Filipinos are an Austronesian ethnic group native to the islands of the Philippines. There are about 92 million Filipinos in the Philippines, and about 11 million living outside the Philippines ....

 leader and an authoritarian President of the Philippines
President of the Philippines
The President of the Philippines is the head of state and head of government of the Philippines. The president leads the executive branch of the Philippine government and is the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines...

 from 1965 to 1986. He was a lawyer, member of the Philippine House of Representatives (1949–1959) and a member of the Philippine Senate (1959–1965). He was the Senate President
President of the Senate of the Philippines
The President of the Senate of the Philippines, or more popularly known as the Senate President, is the presiding officer and the highest ranking-official of the Senate of the Philippines. He/she is elected by the entire body to be their leader...

 from 1963–1965.

While in power he implemented wide-ranging programs of infrastructure development and economic reform.
Quotations

You are repetitious and dumb.

at a press conference in Hawaii, when asked about secret Swiss bank accounts, 1987

I claim the right not to incriminate myself.

at a press conference with government lawyers, Hawaii, when questioned about invoking the 5th amendment repeatedly, 1987

"Hey, what's the name of that nice young girl, my loyalist supporter?" I said, Mr. President, her name is Annie Ferrer. "Will you give that girl my regards and kisses?" he asked. I said yes, of course--it was really strange.

Cynthia Sycip, "Interview with an ex-Dictator", 1987

My countrymen, as of the twenty-third of this month, I signed Proclamation 1081 placing the entire Philippines under Martial Law.

Televised speech on the proclamation of Martial Law (September 21, 1972)

No matter how strong and dedicated a leader may be, he must find root and strength amongst the people. He alone cannot save a nation. He may guide, he may set the tone, he may dedicate himself and risk his life, but only the people may save themselves.

Address at the launching of the Mabuhay Ang Pilipino Movement, Malacañang (30 November 1972)

Of what good is democracy if it is not for the poor?

"Notes on the New Society of the Philippines" (1973)

The foundation upon which our nation stands is much richer and firmer than the sympathies that may occasionally divide us. And we never know this more truly than in Christmas time. In good times or in bad, under clear skies or under the shadow of uncertainty, the Christmas message is the imperishable one of joy, hope and brotherhood.

Christmas message to overseas Filipinos (25 December 1979)

I was reminded as I was reviewing my life, that I have been in too many conflicts, too many wars, political battles, military battles, civil strifes in government. And always one lesson stands out and that is, those whom you fight most passionately often turn out to be your best friends.

Extemporaneous speech at the Sixth Centennial Celebration of Islam in the Philippines (10 June 1980)

 
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