Manuel Ávila Camacho

President of Mexico

24 April 1897 Teziutlán, Puebla, Mexico

13 October 1955(1955-10-13) (58) Huixquilucan, State of Mexico, Mexico

1 December 1940 (1940-12-01 )  – 30 November 1946 (1946-11-30 )

52nd president of Mexico In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Ávila and the second or maternal family name is Camacho. Manuel Ávila Camacho (Spanish pronunciation:  ; 24 April 1897 – 13 October 1955) was a Mexican politician and military leader who served as the President of Mexico from 1940 to 1946. Despite participating in the Mexican Revolution and achieving a high rank, he came to the presidency of Mexico because of his direct connection to General Lázaro Cárdenas and served him as a right-hand man as his Chief of his General Staff during the Mexican Revolution and afterwards. He was called affectionately by Mexicans "The Gentleman President" ("El Presidente Caballero"). As president, he pursued "national policies of unity, adjustment, and moderation." His administration completed the transition from military to civilian leadership, ended confrontational anticlericalism, reversed the push for socialist education, and restored a working relationship with the US during World War II.