CubaHeadlines: Rafael Leónidas Trujillo
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Rafael Trujillo
Rafael Leónidas Trujillo Molina, nicknamed "El Jefe", was a Dominican military officer and dictator who ruled the Dominican Republic from August 1930 until his assassination in May 1961. He was the country's 36th and 39th president, from 1930 to 1938 and from 1942 to 1952 respectively. He was also the country's first generalissimo, its de facto most powerful position at the time, from 1930 until h…
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politics · Dictator of the Dominican Republic from 1930 to 1961 · politician · military officer · dictator · also Rafael Trujillo, Rafael L. Trujillo, Rafael Leónidas Trujillo, Trujillo
Born 24 October 1891 · Died 30 May 1961 · Q152474
43 published statements · 0 followers
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2026· 2 entries
Public attention spiked: 3,583 Wikipedia readers in one day, 4× the usual 892, with 3 article edits. Editors noted: Added "... in the Dominican Republic ..." because the very next sentence says up to 35,000 were killed in Haiti, and that is clearly a separate thing.
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2025· 2 entries
BroadwayWorld: La caída de Rafael Trujillo at Teatro Círculo
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BroadwayWorld: LA CAÍDA DE RAFAEL TRUJILLO To Be Presented By Teatro Círculo
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1967· 1 entry
President Joaquín Balaguer launched military strikes against illegal logging
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1962· 1 entry
The younger Kaplan was convicted of killing Vidal, in Mexico City
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1961· 5 entries
Died 1961-05-30.
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“Opis: napis, który został wyryty z inicjatywy dominikańskich adwokatów i sędziów na cokole jednego z ponad 300 pomników, które kazał sobie za życia postawić Trujillo; prawnicy dokonali tego zgodnie z życzeniem Trujilla.”
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Logging resumed in the Dominican Republic
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“Opis: żałobny komunikat wygłoszony przez radio dominikańskie w dniu 31 maja 1961.”
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“Opis: instrukcja dla spiskowców mających zabić Rafaela Leonidasa Trujillo.”
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1960· 2 entries
The abduction and disappearance in New York City of the Basque exile Jesús Galíndez in 1956, and the murder of Spanish writer José Almoina in Mexico, also in 1960
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Eroded relations between the Dominican Republic and the international community and ushered in OAS sanctions and economic and military assistance to Dominican opposition forces
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1959· 1 entry
Awarded National Order of Merit Carlos Manuel de Céspedes (1959).
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1957· 1 entry
Awarded Grand Cross of the Civil Order of Alfonso X the Wise (1957).
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1954· 2 entries
Awarded Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (1954).
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Awarded Collar of the Order of Isabella the Catholic (1954).
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1952· 2 entries
Under pressure from the Organization of American States, he ceded the presidency to his brother, Héctor
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“Opis: w 1952 w siedzibie ONZ przyjmując Trujillo na dziesięć minut u siebie miało miejsce wyliczanie przez mistrza ceremonii tytułów Trujillo, których było tak wiele, że ich wypowiedzenie zajęło… 10 minut.”
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1947· 3 entries
Awarded Grand Cross of the Order of Charles III (1947).
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Dominican exiles, including Juan Bosch, had concentrated in Cuba
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Worked out of the Casas Reales, the colonial-era Viceregal center of administration
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1942· 1 entry
Career landmark: President of the Dominican Republic (1942–1952).
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1941· 1 entry
Lescot, who had received financial support from Trujillo, succeeded Vincent as President of Haiti
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1940· 1 entry
An agreement was signed and Trujillo donated 26,000 acres (110 km2) of his properties for settlements
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1938· 1 entry
But citing the US example of two presidential terms, he stated, "I voluntarily, and against the wishes of my people, refuse re-election to the high office
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1937· 3 entries
17,000 to 35,000 Haitians were killed by the Dominican Army under Trujillo's orders in the infamous Parsley massacre, which continues to affect Dominican-Haitian relations
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Trujillo met Lina Lovatón Pittaluga, an upper-class debutante with whom he had two children, Yolanda in 1939, and Rafael, born on 20 June 1943
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By 1937 Trujillo's annual income was about $1.5 million ($34 million in 2025); at the time of his death the state took over 111 Trujillo-owned companies.
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1936· 1 entry
At the suggestion of Mario Fermín Cabral, the Congress of the Dominican Republic voted overwhelmingly to change the name of the capital from Santo Domingo to Ciudad Trujillo
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1934· 3 entries
Trujillo, who had promoted himself to generalissimo of the army, was up for re-election
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Georges Marion was called from Paris to perform three urologic procedures on Trujillo
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Banned the slash-and-burn method of clearing land for agriculture, set up a forest warden agency to protect the park system, and banned the logging of pine trees without his permission
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1933· 1 entry
And again in 1935, Trujillo met the Haitian President Sténio Vincent to settle the border issue
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1930· 3 entries
Career landmark: President of the Dominican Republic (1930–1938).
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“Opis: komentując wygraną Rafaela Trujillo w wyborach z 1930, w których dostał więcej głosów… niż liczba ludzi elektoratu.”
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When his gang, The 42, led by Miguel Angel Paulino, drove through the streets in their red Packard, the carro de la muerte ("car of death")
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1923· 1 entry
Was promoted to major and appointed Inspector of the 1st military district
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1919· 1 entry
And assigned to the San Pedro de Macorís garrison; he was later promoted to captain in 1922 while stationed in San Francisco de Macorís and given command of the National Guard 10th Company
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1918· 1 entry
With the help of his employer along with US Major James J
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1916· 1 entry
The United States began its occupation of the Dominican Republic following 28 revolutions in 50 years
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1897· 1 entry
At the age of six, Trujillo was registered in the school of Juan Hilario Meriño
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1891· 1 entry
Born 1891-10-24.
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