text: Leonel Antonio Fernandez Reyna, b. December 26, 1953 in Santo Domingo, Dom. Rep.  He was elected President in 1996 as a candidate from the Dominican Liberation Party, which he joined in 1973.\n\nHe's married to Dr. Margarita Cedeno, with whom he has one daughter; he has 2 other children form a previous marriage.\n\nIn 1962 he moved to NYC with his parents where he began his formal studies.   Upon return to Dom. Rep., he studied law at the Universidad Autonoma de Santo Domingo.  In 1978, he received his JD, "magna cumlaude;" his dissertation: "The Crime of Public Opionion."\n\nHe holds several honorary doctorates, including one from Harvard and another from Seton Hall.