Roberto de la Madrid
Encyclopedia
Roberto de la Madrid Romandia (February 3, 1922 – March 19, 2010) was a Mexican
elected official who served as governor of Baja California
from 1977 to 1983. He was the first American
-born governor of a Mexican state. He was a member of the Institutional Revolutionary Party
(PRI).
De la Madrid was born February 3, 1922, in Calexico, California
, to Mexican parents. He grew up on both sides of the border, attending schools in Tijuana
and San Diego, including Sweetwater High School
in National City
. His American birth made him an American citizen, but he later became certified as a Mexican citizen. He was bilingual and bicultural, and maintained friendships and business activities on both sides of the border.
He was a distributor for Richfield
and Pemex
and was active in Mexican political campaigns. He also appeared in the 1959 Dennis Hopper
film The Young Land
and was listed fifth in the credits; the name of his character was Don Roberto de la Madrid.
In 1973, he was appointed tourism director for the state of Baja California. He later served as one of Baja California's two senators and as director of the national lottery program, appointed by his close friend, President José López Portillo
. In 1977, López Portillo chose him to be the PRI candidate for governor of Baja California after the death of the original candidate. His inauguration in 1977 attracted celebrities from both sides of the border including López Portillo, then-San Diego Mayor (later California governor) Pete Wilson
, and de la Madrid's longtime friend John Wayne
.
News reports at the time spoke of his ambition to be President. He said that he was eligible to be president of either the United States or Mexico, but chose to enter Mexican politics because he figured the odds of becoming president were better in Mexico. By a coincidence of history, unrelated Miguel de la Madrid
became President of Mexico in 1982.
As governor Roberto de la Madrid was credited with "helping foster binational relations, attracting foreign investors and establishing a strong tourism program."
He was married twice, first to Elena Victoria in 1942, with whom he had two children, until her death in 1988, and secondly to the former Regina Johnson in 1998, who survived him. He died March 19, 2010, in Tijuana, at the age of 88.
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...
elected official who served as governor of Baja California
Baja California
Baja California officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Baja California is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is both the northernmost and westernmost state of Mexico. Before becoming a state in 1953, the area was known as the North...
from 1977 to 1983. He was the first American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
-born governor of a Mexican state. He was a member of 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).
De la Madrid was born February 3, 1922, in Calexico, California
Calexico, California
Calexico is a city in Imperial County, California. The population was 38,572 at the 2010 census, up from 27,109 at the 2000 census. Calexico is about east of San Diego and west of Yuma, Arizona...
, to Mexican parents. He grew up on both sides of the border, attending schools in Tijuana
Tijuana
Tijuana is the largest city on the Baja California Peninsula and center of the Tijuana metropolitan area, part of the international San Diego–Tijuana metropolitan area. An industrial and financial center of Mexico, Tijuana exerts a strong influence on economics, education, culture, art, and politics...
and San Diego, including Sweetwater High School
Sweetwater High School (National City, California)
Sweetwater Union High School is a secondary school located in National City, California, United States. Established in 1921, it is one of the oldest high schools in San Diego County...
in National City
National City, California
National City is a city in San Diego County, California. The population was 58,582 at the 2010 census, up from 54,260 at the 2000 census. National City is the second oldest city in San Diego County and has a historic past.-History:...
. His American birth made him an American citizen, but he later became certified as a Mexican citizen. He was bilingual and bicultural, and maintained friendships and business activities on both sides of the border.
He was a distributor for Richfield
Richfield
-Places:United States* Richfield, California* Richfield, Idaho* Richfield, Kansas* Richfield, Minnesota* Richfield, New York* Richfield, North Carolina* Richfield, Ohio* Richfield, Pennsylvania* Richfield, Utah* Richfield, Adams County, Wisconsin...
and Pemex
Pemex
Petróleos Mexicanos or Pemex is a Mexican state-owned petroleum company. As of 2010, with a total asset worth of $415.75 billion, it is the second non-publicly listed largest company in the world by total market value, and Latin America's second largest enterprise by annual revenue as of 2009...
and was active in Mexican political campaigns. He also appeared in the 1959 Dennis Hopper
Dennis Hopper
Dennis Lee Hopper was an American actor, filmmaker and artist. As a young man, Hopper became interested in acting and eventually became a student of the Actors' Studio. He made his first television appearance in 1954 and appeared in two films featuring James Dean, Rebel Without a Cause and Giant...
film The Young Land
The Young Land
The Young Land is a 1959 American Western drama film directed by Ted Tetzlaff starring Patrick Wayne and Dennis Hopper. The cinematography was by Technicolor developer Winton C. Hoch and Henry Sharp. The film was distributed by Columbia Pictures Corporation.It is the third and final of only 3 films...
and was listed fifth in the credits; the name of his character was Don Roberto de la Madrid.
In 1973, he was appointed tourism director for the state of Baja California. He later served as one of Baja California's two senators and as director of the national lottery program, appointed by his close friend, President José López Portillo
José López Portillo
José López Portillo y Pacheco was the President of Mexico from 1976 to 1982.Born in Mexico City, López Portillo studied Law at the National Autonomous University of Mexico before beginning his political career with the Institutional Revolutionary Party in 1959.He held several positions in the...
. In 1977, López Portillo chose him to be the PRI candidate for governor of Baja California after the death of the original candidate. His inauguration in 1977 attracted celebrities from both sides of the border including López Portillo, then-San Diego Mayor (later California governor) Pete Wilson
Pete Wilson
Peter Barton "Pete" Wilson is an American politician from California. Wilson, a Republican, served as the 36th Governor of California , the culmination of more than three decades in the public arena that included eight years as a United States Senator , eleven years as Mayor of San Diego and...
, and de la Madrid's longtime friend John Wayne
John Wayne
Marion Mitchell Morrison , better known by his stage name John Wayne, was an American film actor, director and producer. He epitomized rugged masculinity and became an enduring American icon. He is famous for his distinctive calm voice, walk, and height...
.
News reports at the time spoke of his ambition to be President. He said that he was eligible to be president of either the United States or Mexico, but chose to enter Mexican politics because he figured the odds of becoming president were better in Mexico. By a coincidence of history, unrelated Miguel de la Madrid
Miguel de la Madrid
Miguel de la Madrid Hurtado is a Mexican politician affiliated to the Institutional Revolutionary Party who served as President of Mexico from 1982 to 1988.-Biography:...
became President of Mexico in 1982.
As governor Roberto de la Madrid was credited with "helping foster binational relations, attracting foreign investors and establishing a strong tourism program."
He was married twice, first to Elena Victoria in 1942, with whom he had two children, until her death in 1988, and secondly to the former Regina Johnson in 1998, who survived him. He died March 19, 2010, in Tijuana, at the age of 88.