Guillermo León Valencia
Encyclopedia
Guillermo León Valencia Muñóz (April 27, 1909 – November 4, 1971) was a Colombian lawyer and statesman, who served as President of Colombia
from August 7, 1962 to August 7, 1966.
, Cauca
on April 27, 1909, to Colombian poet and politician Guillermo Valencia
, and his wife Josefina Muñóz. He finished his secondary studies
at the Seminario de Popayán, and graduated as a lawyer from the University of Cauca
in 1926, this same institution would later confer on him a Doctorate Honoris Causa in 1956. On January 31, 1931 he married Susana López Navia, a 20 year old secretary with whom he had four children: Pedro Felipe, Alma, Ignacio, and Diana.
and the Assembly of Cauca
. Later he was also elected to the City Council of Bogotá
and worked as diplomat for Colombia to the United Nations
and was appointed Colombia's Ambassador to Spain
by President Laureano Gómez Castro. In 1949 he was appointed by President Mariano Ospina Pérez
as Colombian Minister of Foreign Affairs
but declined the offer; Valencia however accepted to become Minister of Foreign Affairs on May 25, 1953 during the remainder of the administration of Roberto Urdaneta Arbeláez
until General Rojas Pinilla took over.
During the transitional government of the Military Junta
that took power after the coup d'état that deposed General Gustavo Rojas Pinilla
, Valencia was considered to succeed the Junta, but as the political accords of the time prescribed, a member of the Colombian Liberal Party
should succeed the Junta Militar, and thus, Valencia had to wait until the following election. Effectively, in 1962, Valencia was nominated by the Colombian Conservative Party
as candidate for the presidency. During the elections of 1962, Valencia faced in opposition the liberal Alfonso López Michelsen
, but won the election with 1,636,081 votes over the 625,630 votes received by López.
, launched the construction of Ciudad Kennedy
, a project of 200,000 affordable homes for lower income citizens.
President of Colombia
The President of Colombia is the head of state and head of government of the Republic of Colombia. The office of president was established upon the ratification of the Constitution of 1819, by the Congress of Angostura, convened in December 1819, when Colombia was part of "la Gran Colombia"...
from August 7, 1962 to August 7, 1966.
Personal life
Valencia was born in PopayánPopayán
Popayán is the capital of the Colombian department of Cauca. It is located in southwestern Colombia between Colombia's Western Mountain Range and Central Mountain Range...
, Cauca
Cauca Department
Cauca is a Department of Colombia. Located in the south-western part of the country, facing the Pacific Ocean to the west, the Valle del Cauca Department to the north, Tolima Department to the northeast, Huila Department to the east and the Nariño Department to the south, covering a total area of...
on April 27, 1909, to Colombian poet and politician Guillermo Valencia
Guillermo Valencia
Guillermo Valencia Castillo was a Colombian poet and translator. He was the father of Guillermo León Valencia , Colombian president during 1962-1966....
, and his wife Josefina Muñóz. He finished his secondary studies
Secondary education
Secondary education is the stage of education following primary education. Secondary education includes the final stage of compulsory education and in many countries it is entirely compulsory. The next stage of education is usually college or university...
at the Seminario de Popayán, and graduated as a lawyer from the University of Cauca
University of Cauca
TheUniversidad del Cauca is a public institution of higher education among the 10 best universities in the country, currently in the process of institutional certification and accreditation CNA. Located in the city of Popayán, capital of the department of Cauca, Colombia...
in 1926, this same institution would later confer on him a Doctorate Honoris Causa in 1956. On January 31, 1931 he married Susana López Navia, a 20 year old secretary with whom he had four children: Pedro Felipe, Alma, Ignacio, and Diana.
Political career
Valencia was elected to the city council of PopayánPopayán
Popayán is the capital of the Colombian department of Cauca. It is located in southwestern Colombia between Colombia's Western Mountain Range and Central Mountain Range...
and the Assembly of Cauca
Cauca Department
Cauca is a Department of Colombia. Located in the south-western part of the country, facing the Pacific Ocean to the west, the Valle del Cauca Department to the north, Tolima Department to the northeast, Huila Department to the east and the Nariño Department to the south, covering a total area of...
. Later he was also elected to the City Council of Bogotá
Bogotá
Bogotá, Distrito Capital , from 1991 to 2000 called Santa Fé de Bogotá, is the capital, and largest city, of Colombia. It is also designated by the national constitution as the capital of the department of Cundinamarca, even though the city of Bogotá now comprises an independent Capital district...
and worked as diplomat for Colombia to the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
and was appointed Colombia's Ambassador to Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
by President Laureano Gómez Castro. In 1949 he was appointed by President Mariano Ospina Pérez
Mariano Ospina Pérez
Luis Mariano Ospina Pérez was a Colombian engineer and political figure, member of the Colombian Conservative Party. He served as President of Colombia between 1946 and 1950.- Biographic data :...
as Colombian Minister of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Colombia)
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also known as the Chancellery, is the national executive ministry of the Government of Colombia responsible for the foreign relations of Colombia through its diplomatic missions abroad by formulating foreign policy relevant to the matters of the State, it is...
but declined the offer; Valencia however accepted to become Minister of Foreign Affairs on May 25, 1953 during the remainder of the administration of Roberto Urdaneta Arbeláez
Roberto Urdaneta Arbeláez
Roberto Urdaneta Arbeláez was a Colombian Conservative party politician who served as President of Colombia from November 1951 until June 1953, while President Laureano Gómez was absent due to health issues.- Biographic data :...
until General Rojas Pinilla took over.
During the transitional government of the Military Junta
Military junta
A junta or military junta is a government led by a committee of military leaders. The term derives from the Spanish language junta meaning committee, specifically a board of directors...
that took power after the coup d'état that deposed General Gustavo Rojas Pinilla
Gustavo Rojas Pinilla
Gustavo Rojas Pinilla was a Colombian politician, military officer, General of the Army and President of Colombia between 1953 and 1957.- Biographic data :...
, Valencia was considered to succeed the Junta, but as the political accords of the time prescribed, a member of the Colombian Liberal Party
Colombian Liberal Party
The Colombian Liberal Party is a center-left party in Colombia that adheres to social democracy and social liberalism.The Party was founded in 1848 and, together with the Colombian Conservative Party, subsequently became one of the two main political forces in the country for over a century.After...
should succeed the Junta Militar, and thus, Valencia had to wait until the following election. Effectively, in 1962, Valencia was nominated by the Colombian Conservative Party
Colombian Conservative Party
The Colombian Conservative Party , is a conservative political party in Colombia. The party was unofficially founded by a group of Revolutionary Commoners during the Revolutionary War for Independence from the Spanish Monarchy and later formally established during the Greater Colombia...
as candidate for the presidency. During the elections of 1962, Valencia faced in opposition the liberal Alfonso López Michelsen
Alfonso López Michelsen
Alfonso López Michelsen was a Colombian politician, lawyer and journalist. Lopez Michelsen was President of Colombia from 1974 to 1978. He was the son of Alfonso López Pumarejo, who was also president of Colombia from 1934 to 1938, and once again from 1942 to 1945...
, but won the election with 1,636,081 votes over the 625,630 votes received by López.
Presidency
Valencia committed his administration to substantial economic and social reforms. In the economic front he created the Junta Monetaria (Federal Reserve), doubled the production of electric power and promoted oil drilling and the export of crude oil. In matters of social reform, his administration increased the national budget for education by 20%, and under the auspice of the government of the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, launched the construction of Ciudad Kennedy
Kennedy (Bogotá)
Kennedy, or Ciudad Kennedy, is the eighth locality of Bogotá, capital of Colombia. It is located in the south-west of the city and is the most populous of all localities being home to 14% of the city's residents.- Borders :...
, a project of 200,000 affordable homes for lower income citizens.