An old friend once said to me that in Argentina “it is rare for a non-Peronist president to finish a full term”. The remarked surprised me at first but then I thought of the late Juan Domingo Perón (1895-1974) who served as Argentina’s president three times. His final term was short-lived due to his death on July 1, 1974, in Buenos Aires. Today the country is under the leadership of Javier Milei who famously raised a chainsaw on the campaign trail as he promised to slash government spending. Time will tell if Milei’s approach is the right course, but no leader can move Argentina forward without acknowledging the influence of Perón. This biography was on the list of recommendations I regularly receive and immediately caught my attention. And what I found is a well-researched, well-written and engaging account of Perón’s life and the turbulent political history of Argentina. 

During one of my visits to Argentina, I had the opportunity to witness a discussion regarding Perón’s legacy. The participants were people I met through a mutual friend and had come over for dinner. The conversation quickly grew tense with both sides digging into their respective positions. As the only American in the group, I realized that it was imperative for me to listen and refrain from speaking. I was in their country and needed to hear their history as they knew it. And I saw firsthand how Perón had shaped the lives and minds of Argentines decades after his passing. Of course, the discussion was far from the final analysis on the legacy of Juan Perón. But it did provide me with crucial insight, and I relied on those memories as I began to read this definitive biography. 

Although I strongly recommend some research into Perón’s presidency beforehand, it is not required to enjoy this book. The author provides a discussion of Argentine history which readers will find fascinating. Included in the discussion is the election of Hipólito Yrigoyen (1852-1933), who famously became known as “the father of the poor” and the first democratically elected president. As the story moves forward, we are introduced to the Perón family and patriarch Mario Tomás Perón. The story is typical of South America at that time but when Juan decides on a military career over medicine or law, his life and that of Argentines was destined for change. There is nothing about military career which stands out in the book, but he did find time for love and walks down the aisle with Aurelia Tizón (1908-1938) in 1929. Their union is happy but short-lived, and her death serves as an eerie premonition for what would later come in 1952. 

Perón moves through the ranks steadily but before he reaches the pinnacle, the world is forced to confront the growing Nazi threat from the Third Reich in Berlin. The outbreak of World War II set the world ablaze, but it also placed Argentina in a difficult position. The information contained here is crucial for it explains the long and difficult path Argentina and America have traveled together. Neutrality, escaping Nazi leaders and the looming Cold War stirred tensions between the two nations. Page provides a wealth of information to provide the reader with a thorough picture of what happened and why. Further, the impact of former U.S. Ambassador to Argentina Spruille Braden (1894-1978) cannot be overlooked. His battles with Perón are a significant aspect of the relationship between Washington, D.C. and Buenos Aires. 

In 1945, both Germany and Japan surrendered ending World War II. On the domestic front, Perón’s had ascended to the leadership position of the nation and his changes once again when Maria Eva Duarte de Perón (1919-1952) enters the story and becomes the most popular First Lady in Argentina’s history. On her own, Eva Perón is a fascinating figure, and there are books, a play, and a movie about her life. However, the focus here is on Juan and his rise to power. We do learn about their private life, and the dedication Eva had for him. Although it is not clear when she developed the condition that claimed her life, there are clues in the story. But what is definite is that both Juan and Eva both knew that something was terribly wrong with her health. The author explains the developing tragedy with the right amount of tact, making sure to keep Juan as the focus of the book but giving enough attention to Eva’s struggles with her own mortality. Readers who want to know more about her life will find ‘Evita: The Real Life of Eva Perón ‘ by Nicholas Fraser and Marysa Navarro to be a fair starting point. We can see that the end is coming and the final scene in her life plays out as one would expect, devastating Juan and the nation. But there is more to her death and the movement of her casket post-mortem between multiple countries is a surreal and nightmarish story on its own as readers will learn. 

Though in mourning, Juan’s problems were only beginning, and domestic tensions continue to brew. The buildup of the opposition forces to Perón’s reign is captivating, and the stage is soon set for his exile which lasted an overwhelming seventeen years. His defiance and exodus play out like a major motion picture with suspense, tragedy and emotions running rampant. But what Argentines could not have known was that Perón would come back and take control of the country. His time in exile is equally fascinating, and we follow him through South America, the Caribbean, and Spain where he established long-term residency. In each country, Perón is a guest but also witness to history as coups and political violent take place time after time necessitating a quick exit by the former Argentine president. Students of Latin American history will find this section of the book to be intriguing and Venezuela stands out due to current day events. 

Perón’s time in Spain is uneventful, however he soon finds third wife Isabel Martínez de Perón, who is still alive today. Their marriage provided Juan with a boost in image which had been severely damaged through the scandal involving teenager Nelly Rivas (1939-2012). Perón denied any improper behavior regarding their relationship but as shown in the book, there was more to the story. You can be the judge. Isabel’s entry in the picture sealed any hope of Rivas finding her way to Juan and the “Conductor” as Perón was informally known, set his sights on his native land and the throne he once claimed. And thus, the stage is soon set for his triumphant return to Argentina. But before I go further, it is necessary to mention a figure in the story whose name is still obscure. When I read of José López Rega (1916-1989) I could not recall any information I had previously come across to explain his role. However, Page solves that issue and Rega’s involvement in the life of Juan and Isabel is both mystifying and absurd. He was a character out of central casting, but his influence could not be denied. His rise and fall are covered here and provide an interesting and unbelievable sub-story to the main narrative. 

The return of Perón to Argentina plays out as readers will expect, with flair and drama. But what is more important are the incidents which took place preceding his return and allowed for his next presidency. Anyone who knows Argentine politics will understand the short-lived tenures of numerous presidents and military rule to stabilize the country. Page does not go into the “disappeared” which is a dark and unsettling time in Argentina’s history. But as someone who has visited the country, those who were taken in the 1970s never to be seen again have not been forgotten, and the era continues to haunt the nation. The downfall of presidents, military actions and vitriol used by political candidates provides a roller coaster ride that the author takes us through. The story is surreal at times but also a reminder of the fragility of democracy. Argentines who lived through these times have stories they can tell you, and the emotion with which they speak will say more than their words. 

After making his return to Argentina and the presidency, Perón’s life moves toward its conclusion as his health issues become more frequent and serious in nature. Curiously, the Central Intelligence Agency had been keeping reports on the matter and their findings are included in the story. It will be clear to readers that the end is coming and that Perón is slipping away. And on July 1, 1974, the finale plays out bringing the conductor’s life to an end. However, stepping in to fill the void is wife Isabel who becomes the next president. Her time in office is short-lived and a coup forces her into exile as well marking the end of the Perón presidency. And like a house of cards, those close to him fall out of favor and make their exit from the stage. Perón was gone but Argentina was nowhere close to a strong democracy and would go through political and social unrest more than once which threatened to turn the country on its head. Today Argentina is once again at a crossroads but hopefully this is the right turn to move forward and put the errors of the past to rest. If you want to know about Juan Perón, the charismatic yet unorthodox former leader of Argentina, this is must-read. 

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0BWRJ1Z69
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Open Road Media (April 4, 2023)