Carlos Andres Perez, twice Venezuela’s President in 1974 and
1989 died yesterday at 88. A controversial figure, CAP, as he
was known, was twice in exile as a young Adeco activist in 1948
and the 1950′s and was in charge of the fight against guerrillas
during Romulo Betancourt’s presidency from 1959 to 1964, first
as a Director General of the Ministry of Interior and Justice
and later as Minister. He developed an image of being tough
during this time. When the 1973 Presidential campaign arrived,
Romulo Betancourt quickly said he would not be a candidate,
leaving the field open for CAP. It was the first multimedia
electoral campaign in Venezuela’s history with CAP projecting an
energetic image (he was a tireless worker), visiting all corners
of the country and defeating Lorenzo Fernandez of the incumbent
COPEI party. Once elected, CAP was dramatic the first few months
of his presidency, nationalizing oil and iron his first day in
power, benefiting from the sharp rise in oil prices. But CAP,
like most Venezuelan