Joaquín Balaguer

Joaquín Antonio Balaguer Ricardo (1 September 1906 – 14 July 2002) was a Dominican politician, scholar, writer, and lawyer who was the 41st, 45th and 49th president of the Dominican Republic, serving three non-consecutive terms from 1960 to 1962, 1966 to 1978, and 1986 to 1996. He previously served as the 24th vice president under President Héctor Trujillo from 1957 to 1960. His enigmatic, secretive personality was inherited from the Trujillo era, as well as his desire to perpetuate himself in power through rigged elections and widespread human rights violations. He was considered to be a caudillo.