René Barrientos

President of Bolivia

30 May 1919 Tarata, Cochabamba, Bolivia

27 April 1969(1969-04-27) (49) near Arque, Bolivia

6 August 1966 – 27 April 1969

47th President of Bolivia In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Barrientos and the second or maternal family name is Ortuño. René Barrientos Ortuño (30 May 1919 – 27 April 1969) was a Bolivian military officer and politician who served as the 47th President of Bolivia twice nonconsecutively from 1964 to 1966 and from 1966 to 1969. During much of his first term, he shared power as co-president with Alfredo Ovando from 1965 to 1966 and prior to that served as the 30th Vice President of Bolivia in 1964. General Barrientos came to power after the 1964 Bolivian coup d'état which overthrew the government of Paz Estenssoro. During his three-year rule, Barrientos and the army suppressed leftist opposition to his regime, including a guerrilla group led by Che Guevara in 1967.