Calderón Guardia, Rafael Ángel

Calderón Guardia, Rafael Ángel (räfäel' äng'hel käldārōn' gwär'dēä) [key], 1900–1970, president of Costa Rica (1940–44). A practicing physician, he entered politics in 1934, serving successively as vice president and president of congress (1935–39). He was leader of the Republican, or Calderista, party. As president, he brought Costa Rica into World War II on the Allied side and cooperated closely with the United States. He later served (1966–70) as ambassador to Mexico.

The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2007, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.

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