Luis Munoz Marin

José Luis Alberto Muñoz Marín (San Juan, February 18, 1898-Ib., April 30, 1980) was a writer, senator and the first governor of Puerto Rico for 16 years, elected democratically by the residents of said island. He worked with the United States government to obtain a Constitution for Puerto Rico that would create favorable conditions for the island to achieve both economic and political progress.

Political career

Senator

In 1932, he joined the ranks of the Liberal Party and served as editor of the newspaper La Democracia.

In 1937, Muñoz had differences with Liberal leader Antonio Barceló that led to his expulsion from the party. Muñoz and a group of followers then formed the Acción Social Independentista, which later became the Popular Democratic Party (PPD) in 1938.

President of the Senate

Portrait of Luis Muñoz Marín as President of the Senate.

In 1940, the PPD won a surprise majority victory in the Puerto Rican Senate. Muñoz was elected President of that body.

During his term, Muñoz advocated for the rights of the island's working class. Together with Governor Rexford Tugwell and the House of Representatives, he was able to legislate for agricultural and economic reforms. In 1944, the PPD again wins a majority of the seats in the Senate.

In 1947, the United States Congress approved Law 447 that empowered the people of Puerto Rico to elect the governor. A year later, under the presidency of Muñoz of the Senate, Law 53, known as the Gag Law, was approved, unleashing a decade of political repression. This law would help the new governor to exercise his position without fear of getting rid of the political opposition, especially from the pro-independence-nationalist sector. In the general elections of 1948, Luis Muñoz Marín was elected as the first Puerto Rican governor elected by the vote of the people of Puerto Rico, and on January 2, 1949 he officially took office.

His change of position by giving up seeking independence for Puerto Rico earned him the rancor of independence leaders, including Pedro Albizu Campos, who considered him a traitor. The legalized repression through the Gag Law, the perpetuation of the colonial status and the release of Albizu Campos were several of the factors for an armed uprising to be prepared on the Island. On October 30, 1950, a group of nationalist Puerto Ricans, together with the Nationalist Party, organized the Nationalist Revolution. This uprising in arms had the objective of declaring the independence of Puerto Rico, which occurred in Jayuya. In addition, an attack was made on the Governor's mansion-La Fortaleza. Two days later, the Blair House, where US President Harry Truman was staying, and the US Capitol were attacked.

Creation of the Commonwealth

Approved Law 600 by Congress, approved in the referendum by the people of Puerto Rico on June 4, 1951, ordered by the Legislative Assembly of Puerto Rico the elections for delegates to the Constituent Convention and its members elected by the people on August 27, 1951, the Convention formulated the constitution for a political state, created by the people of Puerto Rico based on their natural law, within their union agreement with the United States. The Constituent Assembly approved the Constitution on February 6, 1952. The Puerto Rican state assumed the name of Commonwealth. Once the Constitution was submitted to the consideration of the people, it received its approval in a new referendum on March 3, 1952. Presented to the United States Congress, in accordance with the terms of Law 600, the Congress, through a Joint Resolution (Law 447 of 1952), approved the law and President Harry S. Truman endorsed with his signature a Resolution of Congress and ratified with it the Puerto Rican Constitution on July 3, 1952. On July 25, 1952, Governor Muñoz Marín proclaimed in a public act in San Juan the Constitution of the Commonwealth, where the monostar flag of Puerto Rico was going to be seen for the first time and officially.

Governor

During the government period of 16 years (1948-1964), a development was promoted in the industrial, economic, social and political areas. Three large projects were established for Muñoz which he developed during this period: Operation Bootstrap, Operation Commonwealth and Operation Serenity.

An ambitious industrialization project known as the "Manos a la Obra" project, together with an effective agrarian reform focused on the sugar industry, helped jump-start the island's economy. The project allowed North American companies to build new industries on the island and receive economic subsidies and tax exemptions. This greatly attracted foreign industries that began to boost the economy and provide jobs for Puerto Ricans. Muñoz also launched the "Operation Serenity" project, which focused on promoting the arts and education. Under this project it was formulated to bring a high culture event. During this administration, Pablo Casals was invited to visit Puerto Rico and establish a classical music festival of international impact. In turn, create a Music Conservatory to develop local musicians capable of sustaining the festival that has been known up to now as the Casals Festival.

He was granted the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1963.

It was during this period that relations between several Latin American countries and Puerto Rico became closer. Governor Muñoz Marín cultivated a great friendship with several Latin American democratic leaders such as the President of Costa Rica, José A. Figueres, the President of Colombia, Alberto Lleras Camargo, the Presidents of Venezuela, Rómulo Gallegos and Rómulo Betancourt, and the President of the Republic. Dominican, Juan Bosch, among others. Muñoz was a true connoisseur of the situation in Latin America; and for this reason, various presidents of the United States asked him for advice on what should be the policy of the United States in Latin America.

In 1964, Muñoz decided not to run for governor again. In his place, Secretary of State Roberto Sánchez Vilella ran for and eventually won the governorship.

Retirement, death and legacy

Muñoz Marin Sculpture at the Capitol of Puerto Rico.

After leaving the post of Governor, Muñoz Marín continued in active politics, serving as a senator until 1968. That year, Muñoz had a serious dispute with then-Governor Roberto Sánchez Vilella, who had been Secretary of State and right-hand man in his long rule of 16 years. The Sánchez government was distinguished for being an advanced one in public administration. They were those years of change in the vision of governing. Muñoz, who was still an influential figure in the Popular Party, did not support Governor Sánchez in his desire to run for a second term. Sánchez went on to found his own party, the People's Party, and ran for governor. Many of the Popular Party voters gave their support to Governor Sánchez, causing the Popular Party's first defeat in an election. The decades-long friendship of Muñoz and Sánchez was seriously affected by this event. After the defeat in the 1968 elections, Muñoz traveled throughout Europe and met with political figures of the time. He returned to Puerto Rico in 1972 to promote the candidacy of Rafael Hernández Colón, the new leader of the Popular Democratic Party.

Funeral by Luis Muñoz Marín.

On April 30, 1980, the Vate passed away at the age of 82, after suffering severe complications from a stroke. His funeral was a state event where thousands of Puerto Ricans said goodbye to one of the most controversial figures in Puerto Rican history.

For some, Muñoz never fulfilled the promise of independence for Puerto Rico, but instead cemented the current status of Commonwealth. Others see Muñoz as the person who brought a new era to Puerto Rico, bringing social change and helping to industrialize the island. Muñoz received the Medal of Freedom from President John F. Kennedy and appeared twice on the cover of TIME magazine. The articles called him "...one of the most influential figures of our times, whose works will be remembered for years to come."

His daughter Victoria "Melo" Muñoz Mendoza was also part of Puerto Rican politics and in 1992 she became the first woman in history to run for governor of Puerto Rico, although she was defeated. The island's main airport is named after the first democratically elected Governor of Puerto Rico

Quotes

• "We have in our hand the immense treasure of a seed. According to the sowing and ampanze will be the harvest that now and in the future gather the people who live and then dwell in this land of Puerto Rico. "

• "Parks are the lungs that cities need to breathe."

• "For the fruits to be abundant and good, the tree must be strong. For the tree to be strong, the roots have to be healthy and vigorous. The roots are you..."

• "The intelligence of our people is one of our great natural resources for the development of a civilization every better day."

• "Let every life serve better the nobility of the spirit that animates it, every better hand to the Earth that cultivates, the tool it uses, and so to its justice and freedom of all."

• "I tell the Puerto Rican: Keep the soil of the spirit, which is the origin of everything that lives, change it and mix it with seeds and crops that is a way to make the land better, to make culture better, for the people and for the good life of the people."

Culture

A portrait of Muñoz Marín in oil on canvas, painted by the artist Francisco Rodón (between the years 1974 and 1977) is considered a representative piece of contemporary Puerto Rican art. The National Portrait Gallery (Smithsonian Institute), an institution which hosted the work, tells the story of the United States through the art of portraiture. Joakim Lindengren, an artist in Sweden, made satirical Muñoz Marín comics in the United States of Banana, the graphic novel by Giannina Braschi (Gothenburg, Sweden, 2016). The Muñoz Marín stamp (a red print) was issued on 18 February 1990 as part of the "Greats of Americans" series. A portrait of Muñoz appeared twice on the cover of TIME magazine (June 23, 1958 and May 2, 1949).