Arturo Frondizi
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Arturo Frondizi Ercoli (October 28, 1908 - April 18, 1995) was the President of Argentina between 1 May 1958 and 29 March 1962 for the Radical Civic Union.
A member of the left wing of the Radical Party, he defeated Radical Party rightist Ricardo Balbín to become President. His Presidency was marked by austerity measures which caused civil unrest and rapid industrialisation.
He attempted to lift a ban on Peronist parties and met with Che Guevara. This caused the military to withdraw its support and he was forced from office.
By 1962, his economic policies had paid off and he had gained a large amount of support from the once prosperous middle class. However, Peronists feared a communist coup and sided with the military. During the Cuban Missile Crisis matters came to a head with communist elements and radical leftists within his own party demanding action in support of Cuba. Frondizi stayed neutral and while at a Pan American summit was deposed by a military coup in support of the United States.
His supporters claim that his presidency allowed Argentina to survive 30 more years of military and Peronista rule without a total economic collapse.
| Preceded by: Pedro Eugenio Aramburu | President of Argentina 1958–1962 | Succeeded by: José María Guido |