Jacobo Arbenz

About

Politician and military officer who was the President of Guatemala from 1951 to 1954. He was ousted in a coup d'état engineered by the United States government and CIA because they saw his policy of land reforms as a threat to their economic holdings in the country.

Before Fame

He hoped to study Economics in college, but after his family went bankrupt, he couldn't afford to attend university.

Trivia

After being elected president he set land reform as his central goal, as only 2% of the population owned 70% of the land.

Family Life

He was married to Maria Cristina Villanova until his death.

Associated With

Fidel Castro offered him a place in Cuba after he was ousted from political office.