Rómulo Betancourt

President of Venezuela

Rómulo Ernesto Betancourt Bello 22 February 1908 Guatire, Miranda state, Venezuela

28 September 1981(1981-09-28) (73) New York City, United States

19 October 1945 – 17 February 1948

President of Venezuela Not to be confused with Rómulo Escobar Bethancourt, the Panamanian politician. Rómulo Ernesto Betancourt Bello (22 February 1908 – 28 September 1981; Spanish pronunciation:  ), known as "The Father of Venezuelan Democracy", was the 47th and 54th President of Venezuela, serving from 1945 to 1948 and again from 1959 to 1964, as well as leader of Acción Democrática, Venezuela's dominant political party in the 20th century. Betancourt, one of Venezuela's most important political figures, led a tumultuous career in Latin American politics. Periods of exile brought Betancourt in contact with various Latin American countries as well as the United States, securing his legacy as one of the most prominent international leaders to emerge from 20th-century Latin America. Scholars credit Betancourt as the Founding Father of modern democratic Venezuela.