Fidel Sánchez Hernández

Fidel Sánchez Hernández (July 7, 1917 – February 28, 2003) was a Salvadorean politician who served as President of El Salvador from 1967 to 1972.[1] During his rule, Sánchez Hernández faced war and economic turmoil.

This article uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Sánchez and the second or maternal family name is Hernández.

Fidel Sánchez Hernández
35th President of El Salvador
In office July 1, 1967 – October 15, 1972
Vice President	Humberto Guillermo Cuestas
Preceded by	Julio Adalberto Rivera
Succeeded by	Arturo Armando Molina
Personal details
Born	(1917-07-07)July 7, 1917 El Divisadero, El Salvador
Died	February 28, 2003(2003-02-28) (aged 85) San Salvador, El Salvador
Political party	National Conciliation Party
Profession	Military, politician
Military service
Allegiance	El Salvador
Branch/service	Salvadoran Army
Rank	General
Battles/wars	Football War

Life

Before becoming president, Sánchez Hernández was an army general in El Salvador and had brief stints as a military attaché in Washington (after his participation in the overthrow of José María Lemus in 1960) and in Paris. President Julio Adalberto Rivera promoted him to Minister of the Interior in 1962, and he served in that office until 1967, when he succeeded Rivera to the position of president. He continued Rivera's progressive programs and created a mostly civilian cabinet. The 1967 election was considered one of the few in the period of military domination to have been fairly conducted; the gains made by the opposition (winning a majority of the popular vote) in the legislative and local elections the following year suggested El Salvador was on the road to democratisation, a trend that would not be continued as elections in the 1970s were blatantly rigged.

In July 1969, Sánchez Hernández led the Salvadoran army in its brief but violent Football War against Honduras. He had much success, occupying a large part of that country. But, under a cease-fire agreement arranged by the Organization of American States, Sánchez Hernández agreed to pull his troops out, much to the opposition of many of his military leaders.

The war with Honduras led to much economic distress in El Salvador. Refugees, mostly Salvadorans that resided in Honduras, poured into the country and Honduras closed off trade routes.

Sánchez Hernández remained president until 1972[2] and was succeeded by Colonel Arturo Armando Molina.

On the night of February 28, 2003, Sánchez Hernández, aged 85, died of a heart attack while being taken to a military hospital in El Salvador.

Orders and Decorations

Grand Cross of the Order of Isabella the Catholic

References

1. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2014-08-26. Retrieved 2017-01-13.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
2. "Biografia de Fidel Sánchez Hernández". www.biografiasyvidas.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 2018-07-16.

Political offices
Preceded by Julio Adalberto Rivera	President of El Salvador 1967–1972	Succeeded by Arturo Armando Molina