Colombia: The Heritage of Lleras Camargo

While two constitutional Presidents in Latin America have left office in the face of a coup in recent months, another steps down this week in more auspicious circumstances. Colombia’s Alberto Lleras Camargo. 56, the quiet Liberal statesman who has saved his violently partisan country from civil war, completes his full four-year term. When he leaves, he will pass on the seal of presidential office to a man who, under other circumstances, might be his most dangerous enemy−Guillermo Leon Valencia, a Conservative.

Architect of Union. Lleras started out as a reporter for Bogota’s prestigious El Tiempo, but soon gravitated to politics. At the age of 24, he was El Tiempo’s editor in chief; two years later, at 26, he had become speaker of the Chamber of Deputies; by age 30, he was Minister of the Interior. In 1945, when President Alfonso Lopez resigned in a dispute with Congress, Lleras. by then Foreign Minister, was tapped to serve out the term.His next job was in Washington, as head of the ineffectual Pan American Union. During seven years, Lleras, almost singlehanded, transformed it into today’s far stronger Organization of American States, whose charter he largely wrote.

Home again in 1957, leading the battle against Army Dictator Gustavo Rojas Pinilla, Lleras persuaded leather-tough Conservative Boss Laureano Gomez to form a coalition, and out of this alliance between historic foes came Colombia’s unique National Front pact, under which both parties agreed to alternate the presidency for 16 years. Soon after, a coordinated popular uprising by Liberals and Conservatives swept Rojas out of office. The choice for President: Lleras Camargo, the only man on whom both strong-minded parties could agree.

Approval at the Polls. Senseless murder by bandits continues to plague the backlands, but the National Front has sharply reduced the random political assassinations between Liberals and Conservatives, which once threatened ultimate chaos. When election time came round again last May, the Front won an almost 2 to 1 endorsement at the polls. Colombia’s voters approved the nation’s new economic stability; they accepted Lleras’ austerity for the sake of attracting foreign investment. The national debt has been cut, dollar reserves are up. An ardent champion of the Alliance for Progress, Lleras has pushed through land reform, higher income taxes, the first civil service in the history of Colombia. Though the Communists rail, he stands firm against Castro and flatly tells his people: “The new Cold War theater is clearly our hemisphere.”

Visibly tired and frankly ready to be relieved of his demanding job (he has been counting the days by crossing them off on his desk calendar), Lleras plans to take a rest, then visit the U.S. with his wife for a medical check (he suffered a mild heart attack four months ago). After that, he may accept an offer to be editor of Bogota’s new Liberal newspaper. La Tarde, and will enjoy the opportunity “to read a book in peace once again.” Says Lleras: “The most important thing my successor will possess is having gained office in a true and open election.” In Latin America that is quite a heritage for a departing President to leave behind.