Manuel Urrutia Lleó
| Manuel Urrutia Lleó | |
|---|---|
Manuel Urrutia
|
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| 15th President of Cuba | |
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In office January 3, 1959 – July 18, 1959 |
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| Preceded by | Carlos Modesto Piedra |
| Succeeded by | Osvaldo Dorticós Torrado |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
December 8, 1901 Yaguajay, Las Villas, Cuba |
| Died | July 5, 1981 (aged 79) Queens, New York, United States |
| Political party | Independent (Liberal) |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
Manuel Urrutia Lleó (December 8, 1901 – 5 July 1981) was a liberal Cuban lawyer and politician. Urrutia campaigned against the Gerardo Machado government and the second presidency of Fulgencio Batista during the 1950s, before serving as president in the first revolutionary government of 1959. After only seven months, Urrutia resigned his position due to a series of disputes with revolutionary leader Fidel Castro and emigrated to the United States shortly after.
Born in Yaguajay, Las Villas, Cuba, he was a leading figure in the civil resistance movement against Batista's government during the Cuban Revolution. He was the agreed choice for the future president among Fidel Castro's 26th of July Movement as early as April 1958.
In 1957, Urrutia had presided in court over a case in which members of the movement had been charged with "anti-government activities." He ruled that the defendants had been acting within their rights.
A year later, Urrutia visited the US to gain support for the revolution, successfully lobbying for a halt of weapons shipments to Batista's forces. It was considered that the choice of Urrutia, an educated liberal and Christian, as president would be welcomed by the US.
The Cuban Revolution gained victory on January 1, 1959, and Urrutia returned from exile in Venezuela to take up residence in the presidential palace. Urrutia's new revolutionary government consisted largely of Cuban political veterans and pro-business liberals including José Miró, who was appointed as Urrutia's prime minister.
Once in power, Urrutia swiftly began a program of closing all brothels, gambling outlets and the national lottery, arguing that these had long been a corrupting influence on the state. The measures drew immediate resistance from the large associated workforce. The disapproving Castro, then commander of Cuba's new armed forces, intervened to request a stay of execution until alternative employment could be found.
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