Miguel Mariano Gómez
7th President of Cuba
In office
May 20, 1936 – December 24, 1936
Vice PresidentFederico Laredo Brú
Preceded byJosé A. Barnet
(Interim)
Succeeded byFederico Laredo Brú
Personal details
Born(1889-10-06)October 6, 1889
Sancti Spíritus, Spanish Cuba
DiedOctober 26, 1950(1950-10-26) (aged 61)
Havana, Cuba
Political partyLiberal Party
SpouseSerafina Diago
ChildrenSerafina, Graziella and Margarita Gomez y Diago

Miguel Mariano Gómez y Arias (October 6, 1889 – October 26, 1950) was a Cuban politician who served as the seventh President of Cuba for just over eight months in 1936. Compared to other administrations, there was general peace and tranquillity in Cuba during Gómez's brief presidency. It is claimed that he was a talented orator and writer, and the opposite of the typical "man on a horseback"[1] attributed to previous Cuban Presidents with military backgrounds.

Early life

Gómez was born in Sancti Spíritus, the son of Cuba's second president, José Miguel Gómez and philanthropist América Arias. He attended various schools in Cuba (including a Jesuit school in Cienfuegos) and the United States and graduated as a lawyer from University in Cuba. During his youth he attended the coronation of King George V of the United Kingdom in 1911 as a Special Attaché to the Cuban Legation in London. He married Serafina Diago y Cardenas and they had three daughters, Serafina, Graziella and Margarita Gómez y Diago.

Political career

Gómez served several terms in the House of Representatives and in 1926 was elected mayor of Havana. In 1928, constitutional reforms abolished mayoralty of Havana and Gómez went into exile in New York City. He participated in the failed Río Verde armed expedition against the Gerardo Machado government, was imprisoned, and returned to exile. During his exile, early in the 1930s, he participated in a junta of various leaders of different anti-Machado groups which would often meet at the Biltmore Hotel.

After the ousting of Machado on August 12, 1933, Gómez returned to Havana, founded the Republican Action Party, and in 1934 was again elected mayor of Havana. However, he resigned as mayor due to a widespread doctor's strike. From 1933 to 1936 he led an opposition group known as the Marianistas. During this period of time his home was bombed twice, although he was not injured.[1]

Presidency

Following years of political instability, Gómez was elected President of Cuba in the 1936 general elections, and was inaugurated on May 20, 1936. However, he served only until December 24, 1936, when he was impeached by Congress following his vetoing of the Nine Cent Law, a revenue on each 250-pound bag of sugar produced in the country, that was planned to finance the Civic-Rural schools promoted by Fulgencio Batista.

Speaking in December, 1936, towards the end of Gómez's presidency, former President of Cuba, Carlos Hevia, claimed that Batista was trying to force a confrontation with Gómez, stating "A military oligarchy has ruled Cuba for two years. President Gómez has had no real power, but Col Batista now seems to want to attain openly the power he has had all the time behind the scenes. He wants to destroy Gómez by showing him up so that he will have to resign if he is not turned out."[2]

Impeachment

Gómez was initially impeached by the House of Representatives. The counsel for the House of Representatives, which brought the charges against Gómez, included Antonio Martinez Fraga, a Democrat; a Nationalist named Felipe, and Carlos Palma, a Republican. Senator Rivero interrupted the trial when he announced his resignation as secretary of the impeachment tribunal and claimed "the tribunal is prejudiced, the President lacks guarantees for a fair trial."[3]

The Senate trial charged Gómez with "threatening reprisals against members of the Congress of Cuba who opposed his legislative measures."[3] Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Juan Federico Edelman presided over the trial. It was reported that the trial commenced with quick readings of the charges against Gómez followed by a brief defence document in which Gómez denied coercing members of Congress. Gómez claimed that the trial was "a mere political act to depose the President because of orders and pressure from a source known to all",[3] also stating "I hereby protest against this trial as unconstitutional in the sense that I have no guarantee."[3]

The counsel representing Gómez was Jose M. Gutierrez. Gutierrez gave a lengthy defense which was applauded from the galleries, which were filled with spectators. It was reported that Gutierrez accused the army of interfering in civilian politics and promoting the impeachment.[3] Defending Gómez, Gutierrez claimed "Both the Senate and the public know the accusations against the President exist only in the imagination of the Representatives. Public opinion is with the President, who was duly elected by the people." Before the trial opened Gómez told the press "I think the decision is already signed. When one performs one's duty it sometimes makes a painful picture, but it leaves the conscience tranquil."[3]

The trial concluded early on December 24, 1936 when the Senate voted to impeach Gómez by a vote of 22–12. The Senate statement read: "Dr. Miguel Mariano Gómez y Arias, President of the Republic is hereby declared guilty of transgression against the free functioning of the legislative power and is removed from the Presidency of the Republic, quitting that office upon notification."[3]

Following the conclusion of the trial, a Senate committee travelled to the home of Vice President Federico Laredo Bru to notify him that he had become President. Later on in the day crowds gathered at the Presidential Palace cheering for Gómez as he departed to his residence in the Prado area of Havana. Later in the day, from his house, Gómez issued a statement claiming his impeachment was "highly unjust" and a victory for the military, also saying "It has all been useless. Something more is desired: to give orders from Camp Columbia [Army Headquarters] to the [Presidential] Palace."[3] It was reported that Gómez indicated that it would have been more transparent if Batista would have openly entered the Presidential Palace.[3]

Post-presidency

Gómez left Cuba for the United States, but later returned to Cuba in 1939. In 1940, he ran for the mayoralty of Havana again, but lost to Raul Menocal. He then retired from public life and died in Havana in 1950 at the age of 61 following a long illness.

References

  1. 1 2 "Dr. Gomez Dead; Cuban Stateman", The New York Times, October 27, 1950
  2. ↑ "Hevia Sees Gomez Driven", The New York Times, December 18, 1936
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "President Gomez Ousted by the Senate in Cuba For 'Coercing'", The New York Times, December 24, 1936
  • Rulers website
  • Time magazine, November 6, 1950
  • Time magazine, June 1, 1936
  • Otero, Juan Joaquin (1954). Libro De Cuba, Una Enciclopedia Ilustrada Que Abarca Las Artes, Las Letras, Las Ciencias, La Economia, La Politica, La Historia, La Docencia, Y ElProgreso General De La Nacion Cubana - Edicion Conmemorative del Cincuentenario de la Republica de Cuba, 1902-1952. (Spanish)
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