Roberto Rexach Benítez
Encyclopedia
Roberto Rexach Benítez (born December 18, 1929 on New York City
) is a Puerto Rican
politician, and former Senator and Representative
. Rexach Benítez served as the tenth President of the Senate of Puerto Rico
from 1993 to 1996. He also served as a member of the Puerto Rico House of Representatives from 1973 to 1976, under the Popular Democratic Party
(PPD) and as a member of the Senate (1985-1998) under the pro-statehood New Progressive Party
(PNP).
Prior to his legislative career, he was the first director of the University of Puerto Rico at Arecibo
(1967-1970) and University of Puerto Rico at Humacao
(1961-1967).
to Puerto Rican
parents. He was raised in Puerto Rico, studying elementary school in Juncos
and Arecibo
. He graduated from high school in Río Piedras
.
In 1951, Rexach Benítez received his Bachelor's degree
in Social Science from the University of Puerto Rico
. A year later, he finished his Master's degree
in Political Science from the University of Maryland
. He also completed two years of studies at the University of Puerto Rico School of Law.
in 1958. That same year, he was appointed Aide to the Dean of Administration. From 1961 to 1967, he served as Director and Dean of the Humacao Regional Universitary College
. After that, he worked at the same position at the Arecibo Regional Universitary College
until 1970.
. Some years later, he joined the opposing party, the New Progressive Party
. In 1980, he worked as an aide to the President of the University of Puerto Rico
, and from 1981 to 1985, he worked as an adviser to Governor Carlos Romero Barceló
.
In 1984, Rexach was elected as Senator At-large at the general elections
. After being sworn in, he was chosen as his party Speaker. In 1988, he was reelected and ratified as Speaker of the PNP Minority. He was again reelected at the 1992 elections
, and was chosen President of the Senate by his fellow senators. He was sworn in as such on January 11, 1993 and stayed in that position unti 1996 when he was reelected as Senator At-large.
newspaper. He has also written several books and essays. Some of them are:
He lives in Arecibo, Puerto Rico
with his wife, attorney Ada Urdaz.
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
) is a Puerto Rican
Puerto Rican people
A Puerto Rican is a person who was born in Puerto Rico.Puerto Ricans born and raised in the continental United States are also sometimes referred to as Puerto Ricans, although they were not born in Puerto Rico...
politician, and former Senator and Representative
Representative
Representative may refer to:*Representation*Legislator, someone who is part of a legislature*House of Representatives*Representative sample in statistics...
. Rexach Benítez served as the tenth President of the Senate of Puerto Rico
Senate of Puerto Rico
The Senate of Puerto Rico is the upper house of the Legislative Assembly of Puerto Rico, the territorial legislature of Puerto Rico. The Senate is composed of 27 senators, representing eight constituent senatorial districts across the commonwealth, with two senators elected per district; an...
from 1993 to 1996. He also served as a member of the Puerto Rico House of Representatives from 1973 to 1976, under the Popular Democratic Party
Popular Democratic Party of Puerto Rico
The Popular Democratic Party of Puerto Rico is a political party that supports Puerto Rico's right to self-determination and sovereignty, through the enhancement of Puerto Rico's current status as a commonwealth....
(PPD) and as a member of the Senate (1985-1998) under the pro-statehood New Progressive Party
New Progressive Party of Puerto Rico
The New Progressive Party of Puerto Rico is a political party that advocates for Puerto Rico's admission to the United States of America as the 51st state...
(PNP).
Prior to his legislative career, he was the first director of the University of Puerto Rico at Arecibo
University of Puerto Rico at Arecibo
The University of Puerto Rico at Arecibo is a state university located in the municipality of Arecibo, Puerto Rico and is part of the University of Puerto Rico system...
(1967-1970) and University of Puerto Rico at Humacao
University of Puerto Rico at Humacao
The University of Puerto Rico at Humacao is a state university located in the municipality of Humacao, Puerto Rico...
(1961-1967).
Early years and studies
Rexach Benítez was born on December 18, 1929 in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
to Puerto Rican
Puerto Rican people
A Puerto Rican is a person who was born in Puerto Rico.Puerto Ricans born and raised in the continental United States are also sometimes referred to as Puerto Ricans, although they were not born in Puerto Rico...
parents. He was raised in Puerto Rico, studying elementary school in Juncos
Juncos, Puerto Rico
Juncos is one of the 78 municipalities of Puerto Rico located in the eastern central region of the island, south of Canóvanas and Carolina; southeast of Gurabo; east of San Lorenzo; and west of Las Piedras. Juncos is spread over 9 wards and Juncos Pueblo...
and Arecibo
Arecibo, Puerto Rico
Arecibo is a municipality in the northern midwest coast of Puerto Rico and located by the Atlantic Ocean, north of Utuado and Ciales; east of Hatillo; and west of Barceloneta, and Florida. Arecibo is spread over 18 wards and Arecibo Pueblo...
. He graduated from high school in Río Piedras
Río Piedras, Puerto Rico
Río Piedras is a district of San Juan, Puerto Rico. Founded in 1714, it has been the home of the University of Puerto Rico's main campus since 1903, earning the town the popular name of Ciudad Universitaria...
.
In 1951, Rexach Benítez received his Bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in Social Science from the University of Puerto Rico
University of Puerto Rico
The University of Puerto Rico is the state university system of Puerto Rico. The system consists of 11 campuses and has approximately 64,511 students and 5,300 faculty members...
. A year later, he finished his Master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
in Political Science from the University of Maryland
University of Maryland
When the term "University of Maryland" is used without any qualification, it generally refers to the University of Maryland, College Park.University of Maryland may refer to the following:...
. He also completed two years of studies at the University of Puerto Rico School of Law.
Professional career
Rexach Benítez worked as a professor of Political Science at the University of Puerto RicoUniversity of Puerto Rico
The University of Puerto Rico is the state university system of Puerto Rico. The system consists of 11 campuses and has approximately 64,511 students and 5,300 faculty members...
in 1958. That same year, he was appointed Aide to the Dean of Administration. From 1961 to 1967, he served as Director and Dean of the Humacao Regional Universitary College
University of Puerto Rico at Humacao
The University of Puerto Rico at Humacao is a state university located in the municipality of Humacao, Puerto Rico...
. After that, he worked at the same position at the Arecibo Regional Universitary College
University of Puerto Rico at Arecibo
The University of Puerto Rico at Arecibo is a state university located in the municipality of Arecibo, Puerto Rico and is part of the University of Puerto Rico system...
until 1970.
Political career
In 1973, Rexach Benítez was elected to the House of Representatives under the Popular Democratic PartyPopular Democratic Party of Puerto Rico
The Popular Democratic Party of Puerto Rico is a political party that supports Puerto Rico's right to self-determination and sovereignty, through the enhancement of Puerto Rico's current status as a commonwealth....
. Some years later, he joined the opposing party, the New Progressive Party
New Progressive Party of Puerto Rico
The New Progressive Party of Puerto Rico is a political party that advocates for Puerto Rico's admission to the United States of America as the 51st state...
. In 1980, he worked as an aide to the President of the University of Puerto Rico
University of Puerto Rico
The University of Puerto Rico is the state university system of Puerto Rico. The system consists of 11 campuses and has approximately 64,511 students and 5,300 faculty members...
, and from 1981 to 1985, he worked as an adviser to Governor Carlos Romero Barceló
Carlos Romero Barceló
Carlos Antonio Romero Barceló is a Puerto Rican politician who served as the fifth Governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the second governor to be elected from the New Progressive Party and also Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico from 1993 to 2001, making him one of the more successful...
.
In 1984, Rexach was elected as Senator At-large at the general elections
Puerto Rican general election, 1984
General elections were held in Puerto Rico on 6 November 1984. Rafael Hernández Colón of the Popular Democratic Party was elected Governor, whilst the PPD also won a majority of seats in the House of Representatives and the Senate. Voter turnout was 88.9%.-Governor:-Resident Commissioner:-House of...
. After being sworn in, he was chosen as his party Speaker. In 1988, he was reelected and ratified as Speaker of the PNP Minority. He was again reelected at the 1992 elections
Puerto Rican general election, 1992
General elections were held in Puerto Rico on 3 November 1992. Pedro Rosselló of the New Progressive Party was elected Governor, whilst the PNP also won a majority of seats in the House of Representatives and the Senate. Voter turnout was between 82% and 84%.-Governor:-Resident Commissioner:-House...
, and was chosen President of the Senate by his fellow senators. He was sworn in as such on January 11, 1993 and stayed in that position unti 1996 when he was reelected as Senator At-large.
Later years
After retiring from politics, Rexach Benítez has served as an educational consultant. He also writes a weekly column for El VoceroEl Vocero
El Vocero is a Puerto Rican newspaper that is published in San Juan.Published since 1974, El Vocero was at first the third of the four largest Puerto Rico newspapers, trailing El Mundo and El Nuevo Día and leading The San Juan Star in sales...
newspaper. He has also written several books and essays. Some of them are:
- "Un sistema de elecciones primarias para Puerto Rico" (1954)
- "Pedro Albizu Campos, leyenda y realidad" (1959)
- "Puerto Rico, un pueblo en la encrucijada" (1964)
- "La educación universitaria, lujo o necesidad"
He lives in Arecibo, Puerto Rico
Arecibo, Puerto Rico
Arecibo is a municipality in the northern midwest coast of Puerto Rico and located by the Atlantic Ocean, north of Utuado and Ciales; east of Hatillo; and west of Barceloneta, and Florida. Arecibo is spread over 18 wards and Arecibo Pueblo...
with his wife, attorney Ada Urdaz.
External links
- Biografía de Roberto Rexach Benítez on SenadoPR