A dictator's love story before the eyes of the nation: President Juan Peron and the beggar princess Eva Duarte

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

It was a poignant and vivid story of feelings that touched not only the actress and the leader of the country, but also the whole nation. For some, Juan Perón was a dictator, but for Eva Duarte he became the most important and significant person in life. The history of their relationship developed in front of the entire Argentina, and when Evita died, the whole country mourned with Juan Peron. Some citizens voluntarily left a life in which there was no longer Evita.

Thank you for being there …

Before that momentous day, when Eva Duarte and Juan Peron saw January 17, 1944, many events took place in the life of each of them. Both of them had a hard time working their way to success.

After the death of her father, Eva lived very poorly, and at the age of 15 she was already forced to start an independent life away from home. However, she did not complain, but diligently secured her future: she acted in films, and when there were no roles, she posed for men's magazines. And, of course, she did not refuse the help of wealthy patrons, fascinated by her beauty.

In 1943, she had to get rid of an unwanted pregnancy, and she felt the consequences of this event many years later. But at that moment she was only concerned about the lack of work, so the help of another fan, who provided Eva with the opportunity to broadcast "Heroines in History", turned out to be very useful. The girl loved her work, and the poignant stories of great women soon became very popular.

Juan Perón also left his father's house quite early: at the age of 16, he had already become a student of a military school and continued to stubbornly build his military career. Having served to the rank of captain, he became a student at the Military Academy, and then a teacher of strategy and tactics, and became the author of several works on this topic. His first marriage was happy, but lasted only 10 years: his wife Aurelia Tison died of cancer.

The future president of Argentina managed to build a diplomatic career, later took part in the coup in 1943 and became a member of the government.

Eva Duarte and Juan Peron met at an event where they raised funds to help residents of areas affected by the earthquake. The charming actress, who, according to her contemporaries, possessed some incredible energy, won the heart of the future dictator with one single phrase: "Thank you for being there …"

Swift romance

It was on that evening that their first date took place, which resulted in a swift and passionate romance. Eva was completely fascinated by her new acquaintance, successful, influential and strong. However, Juan Peron answered her in full reciprocity. At all events, he began to appear in the company of a young actress. His influence in society grew steadily, but Peron soon found himself behind bars.

While in prison, the politician realized that he could not breathe without his Evita, about which he hastened to inform the girl, promising to marry her immediately after his release. He was released rather quickly thanks to numerous demonstrations and protests from the workers who supported the future ruler. 50-year-old Juan Perón really soon married 26-year-old Evita, and she became not only his faithful wife, but also a companion-in-arms.

She helped him organize an election campaign, campaigned among women. At that time they did not have the right to vote, but they disseminated information to families. A year after Peron took office as president, women were given the opportunity to participate in elections on an equal basis with men.

The dictator and his queen

Evita never sat idly by. She was called the Argentine Madonna and never tired of thanking the people she helped. She listened to ordinary people for hours, she helped them by creating her own charitable foundation. Prior to this, the charitable society, which included mainly oppositionists, refused to elect the first lady as its chairman. At the suggestion of his wife, Juan Peron simply closed one organization, opening another, transferring the broadest powers to it along with the property confiscated from the predecessor.

Eva Duarte has become almost a saint for the poor and at the same time an object of hatred from politicians and aristocrats. They tried to divulge the unsightly facts of the biography of the former model and find her former patrons. Surprisingly, this sweet and fragile woman had not only nerves of steel, but also a very tough character. She was merciless to enemies and ill-wishers and did everything to remove them from office, using her boundless influence on her husband.

She invariably supported her husband, in every possible way strengthened his influence through constant communication with workers, responded to requests for help, held numerous charitable events and emphasized the leading role of her husband. It was an amazing family and political union, where the spouses could not be separated from each other. The people loved their ruler, but the common people loved Evita even more. She was an icon, queen and mother to them.

Cult of personality

Evita was going to take part in the 1951 elections, supporting her husband and at the same time applying for the post of prime minister. Thousands of supporters supported Evita and sincerely wished her the best. However, there is no doubt that she would have achieved her goal. Not long after, Evita announced with tears her refusal to participate in the elections. The reason lay in her poor health, and a later examination revealed an oncological disease of the female organs. Doctors attributed this to the same unsuccessful getting rid of pregnancy, which Evita experienced even before meeting her future husband.

Peron, as he could, protected his wife. No one had the right to inform her about the diagnosis, and the radio was removed from Evita's room and she was not allowed to read the newspapers so that she would not accidentally find out her diagnosis. Even the scales in her room always showed the same weight, and Evita sincerely believed in her recovery.

On the second day after her husband's inauguration, she appeared in public for the last time. It seems that it was then that she uttered her last words, which later became known to the whole world thanks to Madonna, who sang them in the musical: "Don't cry for me, Argentina, I'm leaving, but I leave you the most precious thing I have, Perona." … She left on July 26, 1952.

The strength of the people's love for this woman was so great that Argentina grieved along with Evita's inconsolable husband. So they usually cry only for close people. It was a real cult of personality, and some Argentines even voluntarily left this life, seeing no reason to remain in this world without Evita …

Juan Peron lived for another 22 years and even got married for the third time. But in his heart the image of the Argentine Madonna remained until the end of his days.

Maria Eva Duarte Peron, or simply Evita, as the Argentines affectionately called her, became famous all over the world after the release in 1996 of a Hollywood film starring Madonna. But in Latin America, this woman had become a national idol long before that. Having lived only 33 years, Evita managed to win not only the heart of the President of Argentina, but also the love of millions of its inhabitants. Although she went to her success, as they say, by crooked paths.