by Barnes, John
On July 1, 1974, the Buenos Aires morning newspaper Critica carried a headline that filled half the front page. ‘MURIO’, he is dead. Once again hundreds of thousands of Argentines lined up eight abreast in the winter rain to bid farewell to a Perón. They waited for up to 24 hours for a glimpse of his body which lay in state in the Blue Chamber of Congress, clad in army uniform, medals and sash of office. Men and women burst into tears. There were cries of ‘Adios, mi General’ and ‘Chau, viejo, goodbye old man. And there was repeated chanting of ‘Perón esta presente,’ Perón is here, a rephrasing of the cry that was heard twenty-two years before at Evita’s death.
It was time for her to come home. Perón’s widow, Isabel, now President of Argentina in his place, sent a chartered jetliner for her. But it was a return journey that was almost as strange as the rest of Evita’s odyssey in death. The body was escorted by Isabel’s Social Welfare Minister, Jose Lopez Rega, an astrologer and mystic who claimed daily communication with the Angel Gabriel. When the plane arrived in Buenos Aires, the ever-faithful descamisados were kept at bay outside the airport while Lopez Rega and a dozen bodyguards carrying submachine guns loaded the coffin on a carriage and rushed it off to the presidential residence in Olivos. There it lay alongside Perón’s coffin in the crypt of the presidential chapel while Isabel and Lopez Rega worked on plans to build a giant 160-foot high Altar of the Fatherland that was to be the final resting place for Evita and her General and all the other divisive ghosts in Argentina’s history. A law was signed authorising the return of the bones of the country’s first dictator, Juan Manal Rosas from the catholic cemetery in Southampton. ‘Linked in glory’, read the planned motto, ‘we watch over the destinies of the fatherland. Let no man use our memory to divide the Argentines.’
But it was not to be. Isabel Perón was no Evita. She clung to power for two years with the help of the death squads of the Argentine Anti-Communist Alliance (the Triple A) which her friend Lopez Rega organised to purge her opponents through multiple assassinations. On March 24, 1976, with the country nearing 1,000 per cent inflation and a civil war, the generals seized power again in Argentina. Isabel Perón they goaled. Evita they buried.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Alexander, Robert J. An Introduction to Argentina. New York: Praeger, 1969.
Barager, Joseph R., ed. Why Peron Came to Power: The Background to Peronism in Argentina. New York: Knopf, 1968.
Bruce, James. Those Perplexing Argentines. New York: Longmans, Green, 1953.
Bunge, Alejandro. Una Nueva Argentina. Buenos Aires: Kraft, 1940.
Bunkley, Allison Williams. The Life of Sarmiento. New York: Greenwood, 1952.
Canal Frau, Salvador. Las Poblaciones Indigenas de la Argentina. Buenos Aires: Sudamericana, 1973.
Cooke, John William. La Lucha por la Liberacion Nacional. Buenos Aires: Granica Editor, 1971.
Cowles, Fleur. Bloody Precedent. New York: Random House, 1952.
Duarte, Erminda. Mi hermana Evita. Buenos Aires: Centro de estudios Eva Peron, 1972.
Ferns, H. S. The Argentine Republic 1516-1971. New York: Barnes & Noble Books, 1973.
Fotheringham, Ignacio H. La Vida de un Soldado O Reminiscencias de la Fronteras. Buenos Aires: Circulo Militar, 1970.
Franco, Juan Pablo, and Alvarez, Fernando. Peronismo: Antecedentes y Gobierno. Buenos Aires: Artex, 1972.
Goldwert, Marvin, Democracy, Militarism and National-ism in Argentina, 1930-1966: An Interpretation. Latin American Monographs. Austin, Texas: University of Texas Press, 1972.
Greenup, Leonard and Ruth Robinson. Revolution Before Breakfast: Argentina, 1941-1946. Chapel Hill, N.C.: University of North Carolina Press, 1947.
Herring, Hubert. A History of Latin America. New York: Knopf, 1965.
Hirst, W. A. Argentina. New York: Scribner’s, 1910.
Hudson, W. H. Far Away and Long Ago. Folcroft, Pa.: Folcroft, 1973.
Josephs, Ray. Argentina Diary: The Inside Story of the Coming of Fascism. New York: Random House, 1944.
Lanuza, Jose Luis. The Gaucho. New York: Crown.
Main, Mary Foster (Maria Flores). The Woman with the Whip: Eva Peron. Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday, 1952.
Owen, Frank. Peron, His Rise and Fall. London, Cresset Press, 1957.
Pendle, George. Argentina. London: Oxford University Press, 1963.
Peron, Juan Domingo. La Hora de los Pueblos. Buenos Aires: Norte, 1968.
Rennie, Ysabel F. The Argentine Republic. New York: Macmillan, 1945.
Santander, Silvano. Nazismo en Argentina. Montevideo: Pueblos Unidos, 1945.
Scobie, James R. Argentina: A City and a Nation. New York, Oxford University Press, 1964.
Whitaker, Arthur P. Argentina. Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice-Hall, 1964.
White, John W. Argentina: The Life Story of a Nation. New York: Viking, 1942.
Index
aguinaldo 34
Airoldi, Giuseppina 177
Aloe, Carlos 157, 159, 164
Alonso, Juan Carlos 118
Alvear, Doña Maria Unzue de 80
Amundarain, Rafael 170
Antena newspaper 22
anti-semitism 56, 57
Apold, Raul 170
Ara, Dr Pedro embalms body of Eva, 161, 162, 168, 175
examines body in Madrid 178
Aramburu, General Pedro 176, 177
Arandia, Major Antonio 177
Areilza, Jose Maria de 138
Argentina, history 4, 5, 14, 21,
Argentine Prophylactic League 19
Army, Argentine 4, 43, 44, 70, 133, 148, 149
Arriba Estudiantes, play 16
Arrieto, Major Alfredo 68
Astorga, Saturnino 176
Attlee, Clement 91, 92
Auriol, President Vincent 89
Avalos, General 40, 43, 47, 48
Avellaneda 33, 36, 46, 61, 66, 136
Avenida Nueve de Julio 55
Beagle, H.M.S. 6
Becke, General Carlos von der 39–41
beef 21, 129, 130
Benitez, Father 82, 160, 161, 163, 172
Berne 93
Bertollo, Arturo 103
Bevin, Ernest 92
Bidault, Georges 89
‘Blue Book’ 61, 71
bolas 7, 8
Bolivia 4, 78
Borges, Jorge Luis 1
Borlenghi, Angel C. 104, 165
Bracker, Milton 109, 117, 127, 138
Braden, Spruille 61, 62
Bramuglia, Juan Atilio 82, 94, 137
Brazil 94
Bruce, James 31, 71
Brundage, Avery 136
Buchenwald 56
Buckingham Palace 92, 93
Buenos Aires, passim
Cabanillas, Colonel Hector 177, 178
Cabrero, Delfo 75
Campo de Mayo 42, 43, 48, 134, 149, 150
Campora, Hector 105, 106, 158,
168, 169
capitalism, in Argentina 71, 72
Carillo, Ramon 157, 164
Casa Rosada 27–31, 39, 43, 46–48, 62, 67–69, 73–80, 100, 115, 117, 119, 123, 127, 131, 142, 146, 150, 151, 168, 171–173
Castillo, President Ramon S. 27
Catamarca 74, 146
Cattaneo, Atilio 127
census, national, 1947 76
Cereijo, Ramon 109, 114
Charge of the Brave, The, film 20
chirripos 21
Chivilcoy 11, 12
Churchill, Winston 37
Circulo Militar 44, 51
Circus Cavalcade, film 52
Collar of the Order of San Martin 159
Collier, Bernard 130
Communists 61, 88, 140, 141
Confederacion General del Trabajo (CGT) 34, 48, 69, 111, 112, 114, 141, 142, 147, 150, 152, 158, 162, 166, 168, 174, 175, 177
Congress 106, 108, 113, 114, 158
Constitutional Convention 135
Consultationamong the American Republics with Respect to the Argentine Situation 61
Cordoba 3
3, 38, 57, 111, 130, 139, 146, 173
Corrientes province 33
Cortesi, Arnaldo 29, 51, 56, 60
Cowles, Fleur 115, 116, 119, 125, 126, 146
Critica newspaper 80, 179
Darwin, Charles 6, 7
Dealessi, Pierina 19, 32, 137
Democracia newspaper 75, 117, 129, 131, 153, 160, 174
Democratic Union 55, 57, 59, 60
Dempsey, Jack 1, 23
descamisados 48, 49, 55, 66, 68, 71, 73, 74, 79, 82, 84, 97, 98, 103, 104, 107–111, 114, 116, 117, 130, 131, 133, 145, 147–152, 157, 171, 175, 180
Diario da Noite newspaper 94
Duarte, Arminda, (Eva’s sister) 13, 16, 68
Duarte, Blanca, (Eva’s sister) 13, 16, 68
Duarte, Elisa (Eva’s sister) 13, 15, 68
Duarte, Eva (later Eva Peron) 15, 16
Duarte, Juan, (father of Eva) 11, 12
death of, 13.
Duarte, Juan (Jnr) (brother of Eva) 13, 16, 18
steals money 21
promoted by Eva, 68
goes to Europe with Eva, 82 162
death of, 168–171
Duke of Windsor 72
economy, Argentine 9, 21, 34, 70, 71, 129, 130, 183
Ecuador 109, 115
El Palomar 150
embalming of Eva’s body 161–163
Entre Rios province 57
Epoca, La, newspaper 75, 108
Ernest, Isabel 117
Espejo, Jose 11, 114, 118, 147, 148, 158, 166, 168
estancieros 8
Europe, Eva in 81–94
Evita Immortal, film 168
façon 5
Fangio, Juan 21
Far Away ana Long Ago, book 5
Farrell, President Edelmiro 27, 30, 31, 41, 43, 47–49, 63, 112
Fascism 37, 86
Federation of Labour Unions of the Meat Industry 36
feminism 66, 112
Fierro, Martin 6
Finochietto, Dr Ricardo 161
Firpo, Luis Angel 1, 23
football 147
foreign investment in Argentina 71
Foreign Office, British 93
Franco, Eva 18
Franco, General Francisco 82, 83, 85, 86, 93, 138, 174
Freyre, Jose Maria 68, 168
Gallardo, Alejandro Jorge 57
Gasperi, Alcide de 87, 88
Gaucho Martin Fierro, El, poem 5
gauchos 4, 7, 8, 14
General Confederation of Labour, (see Confederacion General del Trabajo)
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, film 126
Germany 29, 37, 56, 61
Gill, Roberto 22
Grand, Conte 105
Grand Cross of the Order of Isabel the Catholic 82, 83
Griffiths, John D. 103, 104
Grisolia, Estela 13
Grupo de Oficiales Unidos (GOU) 27, 29
Guaycurus Indians 5
Hamburger, Philip 99, 100
Hickens, Ricardo 19
Horn of Plenty, The, play 19
Horsey, William 127
Houssay, Dr Barnardo 75
Hudson, W. H. 5
Ibarguren, Juana (mother of Eva) 11–16, 68, 168
Ibarguren, Maria Eva (later Eva Peron) 9, 11
Ibarra, Jose Maria Velasco 109
Imbert, Colonel Anibal 23, 24, 32
Indians 4–8, 73
Intransigente, El, newspaper 139
Israel 115
Italy, Eva in 85, 89
Ivanissevich, Dr. Oscar 128, 169
Japan 38
Jews, in Argentina 56, 57
Juarez 159
Julio, (Eva’s hairdresser) 161
Junin 15, 18, 68
Kalk, Professor Heinrich 160
Kartulovic, Emilio 20
Kuboc, Milan J. 176
La Boca 33
Lamarque, Libertad 24, 52, 139
land-holding, in Argentina, 14, 61
La Plata 38, 54, 164
Larrauri, Juana 166
Life magazine 139
Life Story of a Nation, book 4
Lima, Admiral Hector Vernengo 40, 43, 44, 47, 48, 51
Lobos 25
Los Toldos 9, 11–15, 19, 21, 82. 88, 148
Love promises, radio play 22
Love was born when I met you, radio play 22
machismo 12
MacLeish, Archibald 9
Madame Sans Gêne, play 18
Madrid 81–84, 98, 178
Magaldi, Agustin 16, 18
Maggi, Maria 3, 177
Marchiniendorena, Miguel 52
Mar del Plata 34, 133, 174
Margueirate, Dr Raul 170
Marino, Cesar 22
Marshall, George 94, 98
Martin Garcia Island 38, 47
Massone, Arnaldo 114
Massone Institute 114
meat packing workers 35, 36, 46
Mendoza 33
Menendez, General Benjamin 150
Mercador, Emir 106
Mercante, Colonel Domingo A. 48, 55, 113, 147
Mexico City 52
middle classes, in Argentina, 38, 44
Miguez, Juan Jose 52
Milan 3, 88, 98, 177, 178
Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare 68
Miranda, Miguel 70, 137, 138
Mitre, Dr. Luis 140
Montevideo 106, 138
Montoneros 8, 179
Mori-Koenig, Colonel Carlos 177
Mortal Kiss, The, play 19
Mosca, Dr Enrique M. 57
Motrico, Count of 138
Mu Mu sweet company 114
Mundo, El, newspaper 75
Mundo, O, newspaper 148
Munoz, Pepita 19
Musocco Cemetery, Milan 3, 177
Mussolini, Benito 37, 38, 86
My Kingdom of Love, radio series, 22
Nacion, La, newspaper 107, 127, 140
Navy, Argentine, 45, 173
Nazism 37, 61, 71
necrophily, in Argentina 3
Neuquen prison 38
newspapers, Argentine 75, 79, 98, 139
Newsweek, magazine 90, 139, 176
New Yorker, magazine 99
New York Herald Tribune, newspaper 28
New York Times, newspaper 29, 39, 51, 56, 60, 84, 109, 117, 127, 138
Nicolini, Oscar 39, 41, 42, 67, 68
Nobel Peace Prize 75
Nobel Prize for Medicine 75
Olivos 1, 30, 40, 43, 155, 157, 159–162, 171, 172, 180
Owen, Walters
Pack, Dr George T. 153
Palacio Unzue 65
pampas 4, 8, 9, 11, 12, 15
Pan-American Games, 1951, 136
Paris 14, 81, 89, 90
Patagonia 4, 26, 35, 147
Paz, Alberto Gainza 79, 80, 140–142
Paz, Oliva 128
Pelliciota, Pascual 18
Perón, Isabel 178, 180
Peronista Feminist Party 113, 146, 154, 155, 164, 165
Perón, Maria Eva Duarte de, birth, 9
childhood, 13–16
decides to become actress, 16
leaves for Buenos Aires, 16
seeks work in Buenos Aires, 18
life as actress, 20
early lovers, 20
first film parts, 20
befriends President Ramirez, 23
meets Colonel Juan Perón, 24, 25
relationship with Perón, 32
acting career, 32
visits workers, 33
outrages officers, 39
controls communications, 39
secures support of Army and Trade Unions for Perón, 41
closes down Buenos Aires newspapers, 42
threatens Police and Navy officers, and gets support of Trade Unions, 45
marries Perón, 51
failure as actress, 52, 54
quarrels with Miguez and Yankelevich, 53
survives train sabotage, 58
enthusiastic reception in Rosario, 58
/> works for feminist cause, 66
promotes family and friends, 68
takes over Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare, 68
assists Indians and inspires march, 73
removes Senator Saadi, 74
leads abuse of Dr. Houssay, 75
controls radio stations and newspapers, 75
forces closure of Sociedad de Beneficiencia, 76
vendetta against La Prensa 79, 80, 140
her revenge against Sociedad de Beneficiencia, 80
leaves for Europe, 80
flies to Spain, 82
decorated by Franco, 82
reception in Spain, 83–85
arrives in Italy, 86
causes riot in Rome, 86
received by Pope Pius XII, 87
bad reception in Northern Italy, 88
in Paris 89–91
her proposed visit to London mis-handled by British Government, 92
bad reception in Switzerland; 93
leaves for West Africa, 94
attends Inter-American Defence Conference in Rio de Janeiro, 94
returns to Buenos Aires, greeted by Perón, 97, 98
encounters opposition, 100, 108
survives conspiracy to murder, 103
secures expulsion of Sammartino from Congress, 105, 106
orders arrest of protesting women, 107
controls Trade Unions, 111, 114
promotes women’s rights and suffrage, 112, 113
forms Perónista Feminist Party, 113
starts Social Aid Foundation, 113
indicts Massone Institute and Mu Mu Sweet company, 114
lavishes money on poor, 115, 118–120
rumours of retirement from public life, 131
opposed by Army, 133
consolidates power, 135
removes Bramuglia, 137
angered by Miranda, 138
humiliates Spanish ambassador, 138
suppresses newspapers, 139, 140
ends strike of railway workers, 141
forces closure of La Prensa 140–142
plans to become Vice-President, 143
nominated for Vice-Presidency, 1951, 148
broadcasts to nation and renounces Vice-Presidency 149
