Abelardo L. Rodríguez
   HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

Abelardo Rodríguez Luján, commonly known as Abelardo L. Rodríguez (; 12 May 1889 – 13 February 1967) was the Substitute
President of Mexico The president of Mexico ( es, link=no, Presidente de México), officially the president of the United Mexican States ( es, link=no, Presidente de los Estados Unidos Mexicanos), is the head of state and head of government of Mexico. Under the Co ...
from 1932 to 1934. He completed the term of President
Pascual Ortiz Rubio Pascual Ortiz Rubio (; 10 March 1877 – 4 November 1963) was a first Mexican President of Mexico from 1930 to 1932. He was one of three Mexican presidents to serve out the six-year term (1928–1934) of assassinated president-elect Álvaro O ...
after his resignation, during the period known as the
Maximato The ''Maximato'' was a transitional period in the historical and political development of Mexico from 1928 to 1934. Named after former president Plutarco Elías Calles's sobriquet ''el Jefe Máximo'' (the maximum leader), the ''Maximato'' was ...
. Former President
Plutarco Elías Calles Plutarco Elías Calles (25 September 1877 – 19 October 1945) was a general in the Mexican Revolution and a Sonoran politician, serving as President of Mexico from 1924 to 1928. The 1924 Calles presidential campaign was the first populist ...
(''El Jefe Máximo'') then held considerable de facto political power, without being president himself. However, Rodríguez was more successful than Ortiz Rubio had been in asserting presidential power against Calles's influence. To date, Rodríguez is the only Mexican to have been brigadier general, president, and governor of two different states.


Early life

Rodríguez was born on 12 May 1889, to a poor family in San José de Guaymas,
Sonora Sonora (), officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Sonora ( en, Free and Sovereign State of Sonora), is one of the 31 states which, along with Mexico City, comprise the Administrative divisions of Mexico, Federal Entities of Mexico. The state is d ...
. His parents were Nicolas Rodriguez Campos and Petra Luján. Besides Abelardo, they had multiple children: Jose, Maria, Fernando Feliciano, Catalina, Eduardo, Virginia, Manuela, Nicolas, Catarina, and Jose Maria. Due to poverty, young Abelardo rarely wore shoes. When he was eleven years old, he briefly attended school in Nogales, Arizona. There, he was attacked by two older American boys named Owen Walker and Don Herrera, due to anti-Mexican sentiment. He was in line one day, when Herrera got in front of him and Walker behind. Herrera gave Rodríguez a sharp shove, throwing Rodríguez on top of Walker, who had a knife in his hand. Walker slashed Rodríguez through his left cheek, making an incision, at least six centimeters (2.3 inches), from the mouth upwards. Later, as a young man, Rodríguez returned to Arizona to take his revenge. However, he found that Walker had died in a farming accident, and that Herrera had moved to California with his family. After reflecting on Walker's tragic death, Rodríguez reconsidered and dropped his bid for revenge. Rodríguez never finished his primary studies. Instead, he dropped out after the 4th grade to begin working, in order to help his family. However, he vowed to educate himself. As a young man he worked at his brother's hardware store, at a copper mine in
Cananea Cananea is a city in the Mexican state of Sonora, Northwestern Mexico. It is the seat of the Municipality of Cananea, in the vicinity of the U.S−Mexico border. The population of the city was 31,560 as recorded by the 2010 census. The pop ...
, and as a professional baseball player in Nogales, Sonora. He worked briefly worked at an iron manufacturer in
Los Angeles Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world' ...
, California while attempting to pursue a career as a singer. After failing as a singer in Los Angeles, he returned to Mexico. In Sonora, he briefly worked for the South Pacific Railroad, before being discharged. Due to his red-green
color blindness Color blindness or color vision deficiency (CVD) is the decreased ability to color vision, see color or differences in color. It can impair tasks such as selecting ripe fruit, choosing clothing, and reading traffic lights. Color blindness may ...
, he had failed his test to become a railroad conductor. In 1912, he became a police commander in Nogales, Sonora.


Military career

Rodríguez joined the
Mexican Revolution The Mexican Revolution ( es, Revolución Mexicana) was an extended sequence of armed regional conflicts in Mexico from approximately 1910 to 1920. It has been called "the defining event of modern Mexican history". It resulted in the destruction ...
as a Lieutenant on 1 March 1913. He joined the irregular Second Battalion of Sonora, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Orozco. Rodríguez chronicled his military experience in his 1962 autobiography.


Northern skirmishes

He experienced his first combat on 24 August 1913, at Cruz de la Piedra, Sonora. There, the Second Battalion forces ambushed a train carrying
Federal Army The Mexican Federal Army ( es, Ejército Federal), also known as the Federales in popular culture, was the military of Mexico from 1876 to 1914 during the Porfiriato, the long rule of President Porfirio Díaz, and during the presidencies of Franci ...
troops from
Mexico City Mexico City ( es, link=no, Ciudad de México, ; abbr.: CDMX; Nahuatl: ''Altepetl Mexico'') is the capital and largest city of Mexico, and the most populous city in North America. One of the world's alpha cities, it is located in the Valley o ...
, led by General Girón. The ''Norteños'' massacred the ''Federales'' and killed General Girón. In late 1913 Rodríguez fought at
Los Mochis Los Mochis () is a coastal city in northern Sinaloa, Mexico. It serves as the municipal seat of the municipality of Ahome. As of the 2010 census, the population was 362,613, which was 61 percent of the municipality's population. Los Mochis is th ...
and then at
Sinaloa de Leyva Sinaloa de Leyva () is a town in the Mexican state of Sinaloa. Its geographical location is . The town was founded on 30 April 1583 as Villa de San Felipe y Santiago de Sinaloa by Don Pedro de Montoya. In 1585 the second foundation of the town ...
. On 1 October 1913, in Sinaloa de Leyva, he received his promotion to Second Captain. On 14 October 1913, he helped take
Culiacán Culiacán, officially Culiacán Rosales, is a city in northwestern Mexico, the capital and largest city of both the Culiacán Municipality and the state of Sinaloa. The city was founded on 29 September 1531, by the Spanish Conquistadores, con ...
. On 1 March 1914, he was appointed Second Paymaster. The Second Battalion was incorporated into the irregular Fourth Battalion of Sonora, which was part of the escort of General
Venustiano Carranza José Venustiano Carranza de la Garza (; 29 December 1859 – 21 May 1920) was a Mexican wealthy land owner and politician who was Governor of Coahuila when the constitutionally elected president Francisco I. Madero was overthrown in a February ...
.


Shooting incident and prison

In June 1914, the Fourth Battalion was at
Durango City Durango City (, stp, Korian), officially Victoria de Durango is the capital and largest city of the Mexican state of Durango. The city, which is located in Northern Mexico has a population of 654,876 as of the 2015 census, and sits at an altitud ...
in the State of Durango. There, Rodríguez was insulted by Captain Pedro Almada, who was his superior. The incident was unprovoked, and occurred at a dinner, at a long table in front of many officers. Rodríguez responded by standing, drawing his pistol, and firing one shot at Captain Almada's forehead. He missed, and the bullet hit a wall behind the Captain. On 16 June 1914, Rodríguez was arrested for insubordination and sent to the Durango State Penitentiary. On 24 June 1914, Rodríguez was released from prison. A law intern, Jesús Dorador Ibarra, had been able to verify that due to his salary as paymaster, Rodríguez had actually assimilated the rank of first captain, and therefore, there was no insubordination. A judge revoked the arrest warrant, and Rodríguez was free. On the day of his release, he was visited by Captain Pedro Almada. They forgave each other and became friends.


Entering Mexico City

Rodríguez re-joined the Fourth Battalion of Sonora, and continued serving under General Carranza. On 17 July 1914, Rodríguez received his official promotion to first captain. On 20 August 1914, Carranza and the Fourth Battalion entered Mexico City, and General Carranza assumed the provisional presidency of the Republic. In late 1914, the irregular Fourth Battalion of Sonora was incorporated into the Northwest Army Corps of the
Constitutional Army The Constitutional Army ( es, Ejército constitucionalista; also known as the Constitutionalist Army) was the army that fought against the Federal Army, and later, against the Villistas and Zapatistas during the Mexican Revolution. It was formed ...
, led by General Alvaro Obregón. On 21 December 1914, Rodríguez was promoted to major, while on the railroad above Mexico City. On 10 May 1915, the Constitutional Army commanded by General Obregón left Mexico City. They were headed to defeat the army of General Francisco "Pancho" Villa. After some light combat, the Constitutional Army arrived at Celaya.


Battle of Celaya

The Constitutional Army fought the
Battle of Celaya The Battle of Celaya, 6–15 April 1915, was part of a series of military engagements in the Bajío during the Mexican Revolution between the winners, who had allied against the regime of Gen. Victoriano Huerta (February 1913-July 1914) and then ...
against Villa's
División del Norte The División del Norte was an armed faction formed by Francisco I. Madero and initially led by General José González Salas following Madero's call to arms at the outbreak of the Mexican Revolution in 1910. González Salas served in Francisc ...
. The battle lasted from 6 to 15 April 1915. During this battle, Rodríguez was shot through the root of his right ear, while manning a machine gun. The Constitutional Army won the battle. On 25 April 1915, Rodríguez was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel. In June 1915, during fighting against Villa's forces near León, Guanajuato, Rodríguez was shot in the thigh. He was sent to
Guadalajara Guadalajara ( , ) is a metropolis in western Mexico and the capital of the list of states of Mexico, state of Jalisco. According to the 2020 census, the city has a population of 1,385,629 people, making it the 7th largest city by population in Me ...
for surgery to remove splintered bone fragments. After healing, he rejoined the Constitutional Army and fought remnants of Villa's forces at
Aguascalientes Aguascalientes (; ), officially the Free and Sovereign State of Aguascalientes ( es, Estado Libre y Soberano de Aguascalientes), is one of the 32 states which comprise the Political divisions of Mexico, Federal Entities of Mexico. At 22°N and ...
and
Saltillo Saltillo () is the capital and largest city of the northeastern Mexican state of Coahuila and is also the municipal seat of the municipality of the same name. Mexico City, Monterrey, and Saltillo are all connected by a major railroad and highwa ...
. On 1 March 1916, Rodríguez was promoted to colonel. On 2 June 1916, Rodríguez took charge of the Second Infantry Brigade of the First Northwest Division of the Constitutional Army. The brigade consisted of six mostly Yaqui battalions.


Yaqui Campaign

In 1917, Rodríguez joined General
Plutarco Elías Calles Plutarco Elías Calles (25 September 1877 – 19 October 1945) was a general in the Mexican Revolution and a Sonoran politician, serving as President of Mexico from 1924 to 1928. The 1924 Calles presidential campaign was the first populist ...
at his headquarters in Empalme, Sonora. They were tasked with subduing the indigenous
Yaqui The Yaqui, Hiaki, or Yoeme, are a Native American people of the southwest, who speak a Uto-Aztecan language. Their homelands include the Río Yaqui valley in Sonora, Mexico, and the area below the Gila River in Arizona, Southwestern United Stat ...
in Sonora, who rejected the authority of the federal government in Mexico City. The campaign used three flying columns: one under the command of General Arnulfo R. Gómez, one under the command of Colonel Jesús Aguirre, and the third under the command of Rodríguez (the Second Infantry Brigade). The campaign lasted three or four years, from 1917 to around 1920. During this time, Rodríguez was promoted to general.


Baja California Expedition

Rodríguez was promoted to the rank of brigadier general, on 21 May 1920, while in Mexico City. He then held the position of chief of the Presidential Guards from 21 June to 20 July 1920. On 21 July 1920, Rodríguez was appointed head of a 6,000-man expeditionary column in charge of expelling Colonel Esteban Cantú from Baja California. The column was supported by a gunboat. Cantú had ignored the federal government, disobeyed orders, and acted independently. So President
Adolfo de la Huerta Felipe Adolfo de la Huerta Marcor (; 26 May 1881 – 9 July 1955) was a Mexican politician, the 45th President of Mexico from 1 June to 30 November 1920, following the overthrow of Mexican president Venustiano Carranza, with Sonoran generals ...
and Calles responded by dispatching Rodríguez to oust Cantú. But Cantú went into exile in Los Angeles, before Rodríguez arrived from Mexico City with his forces. Later, in 1926 Rodríguez would allow Cantú to re-enter Baja California. Cantú returned to Mexicali, where he ventured into private business and continued to serve as a public official. He died in Mexicali in 1966.


Military commander of the North Territory of Baja California

Rodríguez became military commander of the North Territory of Baja California in 1921, after discharging Cantú's troops. During that period he closed most casinos and bars in the border town of
Tijuana Tijuana ( ,"Tijuana"
(US) and
< ...
, which had flourished under Cantú as a destination for North American vice tourism. However, these would soon be allowed to re-open.


Governor of the North Territory of Baja California (1923-1929)

In 1923, Rodríguez became Governor of the North Territory of Baja California. He continued his role as Military Commander, while acting as Governor of that state. Rodríguez served as Governor of the North Territory of Baja California until 31 December 1929.


Vice

Like his predecessor Colonel Esteban Cantú, Rodríguez personally benefited from Tijuana's
vice A vice is a practice, behaviour, or habit generally considered immoral, sinful, criminal, rude, taboo, depraved, degrading, deviant or perverted in the associated society. In more minor usage, vice can refer to a fault, a negative character tra ...
industry, due to its close proximity to San Diego and Los Angeles during
Prohibition Prohibition is the act or practice of forbidding something by law; more particularly the term refers to the banning of the manufacture, storage (whether in barrels or in bottles), transportation, sale, possession, and consumption of alcoholic ...
. In addition to legitimate investments in the private sector, Rodríguez grew wealthy through the sale of licenses associated with vice tourism, as well as illicit enrichment through the sale of alcohol and his involvement in the traffic of opium. According to Francisco Cruz, Rodríguez learned the drug trafficking business from Cantú. During his tenure as governor, Rodríguez made money from the opium, liquor, gambling, prostitution, and the tourist industry. At first, the money that came from these illicit ventures came mainly from the proceeds from the alcohol and opium trades. Besides granting concessions to liquor and gambling establishments, Rodríguez also became a major partner of US entrepreneurs who were involved in these activities.


Agua Caliente Casino and Hotel

Rodríguez was involved in the development of the
Agua Caliente Casino and Hotel The Agua Caliente Casino and Hotel is a now-defunct resort that operated from 1928 to 1935. Although the casino and hotel were closed, the racetrack continued to operate for many years. The original grandstand structure was destroyed by fire in 1 ...
. This vast resort attracted wealthy Americans, Hollywood stars, and an elite global clientele. The Agua Caliente was built at a cost of $10 million by the Agua Caliente Company, which was formed by North American investors Baron H. Long, Wirt G. Bowman and James N. Crofton. The fourth equal partner was Governor Rodríguez, who owned 25%. Since the Americans could not own Mexican land, Rodríguez purchased the land upon which the resort was built, at the site of a hot springs. The contract for the construction was awarded to Rodríguez's brother Fernando L. Rodríguez. According to ''Satan's Playground'' author Paul J. Vanderwood, Rodríguez used taxpayer money to construct and outfit the enterprise. The resort brought in enormous sums of money. After visiting the casino, one ''
Los Angeles Times The ''Los Angeles Times'' (abbreviated as ''LA Times'') is a daily newspaper that started publishing in Los Angeles in 1881. Based in the LA-adjacent suburb of El Segundo since 2018, it is the sixth-largest newspaper by circulation in the Un ...
'' reporter concluded that "there isn't another place on the continent, outside of a US Mint, where you can see so much money piled up before your eyes at one time. Its only rival in the world is Monte Carlo." The resort operated from 1928 to 1935.


Business interests

During his time as governor, Rodríguez also had success making legitimate investments in the private sector. He established the Pesquera del Pacifico fish and shellfish cannery in El Sauzal, outside Ensenada. He invested in an airplane manufacturing company in Baja California. He also formed an oil company to search for petroleum in Baja California, although this endeavor ultimately proved fruitless.


Autonomy and wealth

Due to the remote nature of Baja California, and his close connection to the rulers in Mexico City, Rodríguez enjoyed considerable autonomy during his tenure in Baja California. He had served as an officer under Obregón during the Mexican Revolution, and they'd both been wounded at the Battle of Celaya, Later, Rodríguez lent Obregón a significant amount of money to help him defeat
Adolfo de la Huerta Felipe Adolfo de la Huerta Marcor (; 26 May 1881 – 9 July 1955) was a Mexican politician, the 45th President of Mexico from 1 June to 30 November 1920, following the overthrow of Mexican president Venustiano Carranza, with Sonoran generals ...
. Thus, President Obregón allowed Rodríguez to continue his operations in the vice industry. And during the
Maximato The ''Maximato'' was a transitional period in the historical and political development of Mexico from 1928 to 1934. Named after former president Plutarco Elías Calles's sobriquet ''el Jefe Máximo'' (the maximum leader), the ''Maximato'' was ...
, Governor Rodríguez continued to enjoy the same autonomy, because of his close alliance and personal friendship with Calles. By the late 1920s Rodríguez was the richest man in Baja California, due to his control over the border vice industry. By the time Rodríguez became president in 1932, he had over US$12 million deposited in banks in Los Angeles, New York City, and London.


San Diego house

In 1926, while still Governor of Baja California, Rodríguez and his wife Aída Sullivan Coya purchased a newly built Spanish Colonial home at 4379 North Talmadge Drive in the Talmadge Park Neighborhood, in San Diego, California. The house was designed by architect
Louis John Gill Louis John Gill (May 9, 1885 – August 19, 1969) was a San Diego-based architect and the nephew and one-time business partner of another famous San Diego architect, Irving Gill. The San Diego Historical Society calls Louis Gill "one of San Dieg ...
. Rodríguez probably used the home as a part-time retreat during his presidential term (1932-1934). However, this is not known for certain. The couple sold the home in 1940, and the house still exists today.


Public works

Taxes from the regional vice businesses helped the Baja California government fund public works and supported industries such as aviation and agriculture. The taxes earned as a result of vice also supported education and the arts. During the Rodríguez administration, Baja California was one of just two entities in Mexico with an elementary educational system that satisfied 100% of the needs of the population, for free. The Alvaro Obregón Elementary School in Tijuana was built at the end of the Rodríguez administration, and it was among the best in the country. Inaugurated in 1930, the school is now the IMAC - Casa de la Cultura Tijuana.


Escobar Rebellion

In 1929, Rodríguez was invited to join the proposed
Escobar Rebellion The Escobar Rebellion was a conflict in northern Mexico in 1929 during the Maximato, between the government forces of President Emilio Portes Gil and rebel forces under the command of General José Gonzalo Escobar. After some initial success in t ...
of General
José Gonzalo Escobar General Don José Gonzalo Escobar (1892–1969) was an officer in the Mexican Army and leader of the failed Escobar Rebellion in 1929, which challenged the political power of Plutarco Elías Calles . Military career Escobar was born in Mazatlán ...
. This turned out to be a mistake for Escobar. Rodríguez declined, and also gave Calles advance warning of the rebellion, allowing Calles and President Emilio Portes Gil to jointly defeat Escobar. Thus, Rodríguez demonstrated his loyalty to Plutarco Elias Calles.


Post-governorship

On 31 December 1929, Rodríguez resigned as Governor of the North Territory of Baja California.


European travels

In early 1930, Rodríguez and his family traveled to Europe. There, Rodríguez studied accommodation systems for troop units and military camps. They remained in Europe for about 10 months, before moving to Rodríguez's ranch at El Sauzal, outside Ensenada.


Federal Cabinet positions (1931-1932)

In 1931, Rodríguez was called to Mexico City to serve in the cabinet of new President Ortiz Rubio. From October 1931 to January 1932, Rodríguez was Undersecretary of War & Navy. From January 1932 to July 1932 he was Secretary of Industry, Commerce & Labor. From August 1932 to September 1932 he was Secretary of War & Navy.


Substitute president (1932-1934)


Election

President Ortiz Rubio was determined to resign because of conflicts with Calles. Thus, the question of succession was vital. Ortiz Rubio signed his resignation on 2 September 1932, and it was conveyed to Congress the next day. Despite the resignation, the presidential cabinet met, significantly, at the home of former President Calles in Cuernavaca. The President of the PNR, General Manuel Pérez Treviño, would convey names of those whom Calles had made known would be acceptable: Finance Minister
Alberto J. Pani Alberto José Pani Arteaga (12 June 1878 – 25 August 1955) was a prominent politician, Mexican civil engineer, and expert in economic policy, who during the post-revolutionary period held various important positions. Among these were Secretary ...
, General Joaquín Amaro, and General Abelardo L. Rodriguez. Pani bowed out and suggested that Calles choose Rodríguez. However, four candidates were presented to Congress, with the name of General Juan José Ríos, Secretary of the Interior, added to the other three. A groundswell of support gave the presidency to Rodríguez, who was named by Congress as President of Mexico on 4 September 1932. Thus, the Rodríguez presidency took place during the last two years of the
Maximato The ''Maximato'' was a transitional period in the historical and political development of Mexico from 1928 to 1934. Named after former president Plutarco Elías Calles's sobriquet ''el Jefe Máximo'' (the maximum leader), the ''Maximato'' was ...
.


Cabinet

Rodríguez's
cabinet Cabinet or The Cabinet may refer to: Furniture * Cabinetry, a box-shaped piece of furniture with doors and/or drawers * Display cabinet, a piece of furniture with one or more transparent glass sheets or transparent polycarbonate sheets * Filing ...
included Emilio Portes Gil, who had served as interim president from 1928 to 1930. Unlike the cabinet of his predecessor Ortiz Rubio, with excessive changes of personnel, Rodríguez's cabinet was more stable.


Asserting power

During Rodríguez's presidency, Calles was at first widely considered as de facto leader of the Republic. The Mexican press still called Calles ''El Jefe Máximo de la Revolución'' (The Supreme Chief of the Revolution). The American press called him the "Strong Man of Mexico". Thus, many North American observers saw Rodríguez as a weak political puppet of the Maximato (Calles). And this view is often shared by contemporary historians. For instance, in ''The Course of Mexican History'', Sherman and Meyer deride Rodríguez as "a man with less administrative talent than relish for power, as puppet number three of the Maximato". However, unlike Portes Gil and Ortiz Rubio, Rodríguez was a friend and ally of Calles. Thus, Professor Jürgen Buchenau asserts that overall, due to Calles's declining health, and Rodríguez's own private wealth and astute political maneuvering, Rodríguez was actually able to reclaim a significant degree of political power for the Executive office during his tenure. According to a US Military Attache report from 1932, Calles felt he was leaving the Government in safe, capable hands with Rodríguez. Outside observers help corroborate these views. For instance, the Mexico City newspaper and magazine publisher Felix S. Palavicini referred to President Rodríguez as the "Mexican Roosevelt" because the Rodríguez administration closely paralleled that of American President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Palavicini stated in January 1934 that President Rodríguez was making extraordinary efforts to educate the Mexican people, and that the minimum wage law was greatly reducing poverty. And according to Col. Ed Fletcher, the San Diego real estate developer and politician, President Rodríguez was one of the strongest presidents in Mexico's history. Fletcher stated that "President Rodríguez is developing Mexico in a commercial and cultural way." It's true that Calles still had considerable sway over some of Rodríguez's ministers, who often consulted with Calles before affecting policy. And rogue Finance Minister
Alberto J. Pani Alberto José Pani Arteaga (12 June 1878 – 25 August 1955) was a prominent politician, Mexican civil engineer, and expert in economic policy, who during the post-revolutionary period held various important positions. Among these were Secretary ...
attempted to temper Rodríguez's adoption of deficit spending and objected to the government's anticlerical tendencies. As a result, Rodríguez forced Pani's resignation from the cabinet. To appease Calles, who objected to the ousting of Pani, Rodríguez appointed Calles as Finance Minister. Calles' health, which had never been particularly good, declined significantly during the Rodríguez presidency. In 1932 doctors discovered that Calles was suffering from a combination of arthritis, arteriosclerosis, and chronic intestinal disease caused by poor diet. Thus, his bad health and advancing age increasingly detracted from his attention to political issues. As a result of his health, he did not spend much time in Mexico City. During the Rodríguez presidency, Calles actually vacationed for months at a time at President Rodríguez's ranch in El Sauzal, Baja California, and at Calles' daughter-in-law's beach cottage in El Tambor, Sinaloa. To compound Calles's health woes, his young second wife, Leonor Llorente de Calles, was diagnosed with a brain tumor in spring 1932. She died in Mexico City a few months later, after a failed surgery. "Calles's health and state of mind constituted the
Achilles heel An Achilles' heel (or Achilles heel) is a weakness in spite of overall strength, which can lead to downfall. While the mythological origin refers to a physical vulnerability, idiomatic references to other attributes or qualities that can lead to ...
of this powerful leader." Eventually, Calles bought a ranch in
Cuernavaca Cuernavaca (; nci-IPA, Cuauhnāhuac, kʷawˈnaːwak "near the woods", ) is the capital and largest city of the state of Morelos in Mexico. The city is located around a 90-minute drive south of Mexico City using the Federal Highway 95D. The na ...
, about 50 miles south of Mexico City, where he spent most of his time. Rodríguez dealt competently with the public perception that, although he was president, Calles was still in charge. For instance, in March 1934, US President
Franklin Roosevelt Franklin Delano Roosevelt (; ; January 30, 1882April 12, 1945), often referred to by his initials FDR, was an American politician and attorney who served as the 32nd president of the United States from 1933 until his death in 1945. As the ...
wrote Calles a letter "congratulating him on the peace and the growing prosperity of Mexico". The letter was to be delivered at a luncheon that Calles was hosting for
Josephus Daniels Josephus Daniels (May 18, 1862 – January 15, 1948) was an American newspaper editor and publisher from the 1880s until his death, who controlled Raleigh's ''News & Observer'', at the time North Carolina's largest newspaper, for decades. A D ...
, the new US ambassador to Mexico. Rodríguez was told of the luncheon at Calles' Cuernavaca ranch, to which many Mexican and foreign dignitaries had already been invited. The information was provided to Rodríguez by
José Manuel Puig Casauranc José Manuel Puig Casauranc (31 January 1888 – 5 May 1939) was a Mexican politician, diplomat and journalist who served as Secretary of Public Education, Secretary of Industry, Commerce and Labor, Secretary of Foreign Affairs and federal leg ...
. When he heard of it, Rodríguez was adamant that the lunch be cancelled, since Calles was "simply a private citizen". It was not the prerogative of an ex-president to host such an event. Guests were disinvited on the pretext that Calles had taken ill. "The President maintained that if any such luncheon were to be given it should be given by him, and that if a message should come from President Roosevelt it should come to the President of Mexico." The Roosevelt letter to Calles was eventually delivered. Calles replied that although he held Roosevelt in very high regard, he was not part of the current President's administration. After the letter incident, US Ambassador Daniels made another misstep by calling Calles the "Strong Man of Mexico" in an interview with the Mexican newspaper ''El Nacional''. Rodríguez called Daniels out for this gaffe, with the ambassador subsequently claiming that he had been misquoted. Daniels later wrote in his memoirs that Daniels, Calles, and Puig Casauranc "knew that the man (Rodríguez) in
Chapultepec Castle Chapultepec Castle ( es, Castillo de Chapultepec) is located on top of Chapultepec Hill in Mexico City's Chapultepec park. The name ''Chapultepec'' is the Nahuatl word ''chapoltepēc'' which means "on the hill of the grasshopper". The castle has s ...
(the official presidential residence) was the President of Mexico".


Relations with the United States

Rodríguez was fluent in English, and owned a home in San Diego. He'd spent some time working in Los Angeles before the Mexican Revolution. He later became wealthy due to his dealings with North American business partners, in Tijuana. And his second wife was from Chicago. Thus, he was quite pro-American. One of Rodríguez's first acts was to define the Mexican government's attitude toward the US. He said, "My policy toward the United States will consist of continuing the relations of friendship which have existed." In January 1933, the US Military Attache in Mexico, Robert E. Cummings, observed that: "General Rodríguez is doing a good job as President and is assuming more and more the responsibilities and decisions, which were formerly left to General Calles during the Ortiz Rubio administration." And US Ambassador Reuben Clark reported that the peso had strengthened with Rodriguez, indicating the confidence in him in financial circles and that the policy of the United States was one of cordial friendship.


Education

Rodríguez's government organized the Council of Primary Education in the Federal District and created cultural missions in rural areas. He also established agricultural schools and regional farm schools, as well as schools for teacher education. He also established the Technical Council of Rural Education.
Narciso Bassols Narciso Bassols García (October 22, 1897 – July 24, 1959) was a Mexican lawyer, socialist politician, ambassador to France, the Soviet Union, and the United Kingdom, and professor of law at the National University of Mexico. He co-founde ...
was Minister of Education and pursued a policy that took control of education out of the hands of Mexican states and put it under federal control. At issue was the continued influence of the Catholic Church on students. Under Bassols, the proposition that the education should explicitly advocate socialism was to be official policy, and he moved to embed that in the Mexican Constitution. Many parents objected to sex education in the schools, and there was considerable resistance from the Church. Bassols increased teachers' salaries and sought to undermine the influence of teachers' groups. Rodríguez shifted Bassols from Education to the high-level post as Minister of the Interior, and Baddols then resigned. Rodriguez feared the potential of strong moves against the Catholic Church of causing problems for his successor as president.


Relations with the Catholic Church

Under Interim President Emilio Portes Gil, the Roman Catholic Church in Mexico and the Mexican government had come to an agreement that would end the
Cristero War The Cristero War ( es, Guerra Cristera), also known as the Cristero Rebellion or es, La Cristiada, label=none, italics=no , was a widespread struggle in central and western Mexico from 1 August 1926 to 21 June 1929 in response to the implementa ...
in 1929. The Catholic Church was displeased that there were continued anti-Catholic moves in parts of the country, especially Jalisco and Chiapas. Pope
Pius XI Pope Pius XI ( it, Pio XI), born Ambrogio Damiano Achille Ratti (; 31 May 1857 – 10 February 1939), was head of the Catholic Church from 6 February 1922 to his death in February 1939. He was the first sovereign of Vatican City from ...
issued an encyclical that objected to Mexican legislation detrimental to Catholic clergy. Rodríguez strongly objected to the encyclical as full of falsehoods and "would incite the clergy to disobey the Mexican rulings". The Vatican's representative in Mexico, Apostolic Delegate Archbishop
Leopoldo Ruiz y Flóres Leopoldo Ruiz y Flóres (13 November 1865 – 12 December 1941) was a Mexican prelate of the Catholic Church who served as Archbishop of Morelia from 1911 until his death in 1941. He was previously Bishop of Léon from 1900 to 1907 and Archbishop ...
, tried to say that the Mexican government had misunderstood the Pope's message. Congress demanded his expulsion, and he was put on a plane. Ruiz y Flores then called on Mexican Catholics not to be members of the PNR since it was socialistic and atheistic, and he called for action by the Catholic faithful. "Each Catholic should be converted into a school of Christian doctrine–into a real apostle—and we shall see that the persecution is converted into blessings from Heaven." The strongly anticlerical-Calles, whose policies while president had provoked the Cristero War, called for the expulsion of the papal representative as well as the archbishop of Mexico. The papal representative was already outside the country and would be arrested if he returned. Rodríguez authorized Portes Gil, then Minister of the Interior, to draw up a recommendation, which he could discuss with Calles. Steps were taken against the high clerics, but there was no uprising of Catholics against the government, despite clerical calls for one.


Agriculture, labor, and industry

The government issued the Agrarian Code, which brought together scattered legislation on agrarian matters. Rodríguez renewed efforts to distribute landed estates into the hands of peasants, which had slowed under the Calles administration. Rodríguez promoted the activities of the National Agricultural Credit Bank. President Rodríguez was responsible for many programs devised to help Mexican workers survive the Great Depression. In August 1933 he urged Mexican manufacturers and farmers to align with his plan to establish a minimum wage. Through the minimum wage law for Mexican workers, he aimed to intensify Mexico's industrial development and make the nation less dependent on international trade. The law took effect on 1 January 1934, and it was set at between one peso and three pesos daily, depending on the type of work and the region of Mexico. In August 1934, President Rodríguez stated that his minimum wage law had benefited 2.5 million agricultural and industrial workers, and increased the public's purchasing power by 1.5 million pesos daily since it took effect, for a projected total increase of 547,000,000 pesos by the end of 1934. He created the Department of Labor and promoted the trade union movement and protected the workers against management. He established regulations of the Federal Board of Conciliation and Arbitration were issued and created the Federal Office of Labor Defense, of Agencies of Placements, of Dangerous and Unhealthy Work, of Labor Hygiene, of the Federal Labor Inspection and of Preventive Measures of Accidents. He was a supporter of co-operativies, which he considered would distribute the national wealth to be distributed more evenly, and he pressed Congress to issue the Cooperatives Act. Important for future actions on Mexico's petroleum industry was Rodríguez's creation of a private company, Petromex, tied to the government and guarded supply for domestic use and could compete with foreign investors in the industry.


Infrastructure

Calles had initiated an ambitious program of road building, which continued in the 1930s under Rodríguez. Roads were would link important centers within Mexico as well as with the United States in the north and Guatemala in the south. They would also connect between remote areas of Mexico and the larger nation. Road building was a form of state building. Construction on the
Pan-American Highway The Pan-American Highway (french: (Auto)route panaméricaine/transaméricaine; pt, Rodovia/Auto-estrada Pan-americana; es, Autopista/Carretera/Ruta Panamericana) is a network of roads stretching across the Americas and measuring about in to ...
saw progress, with a map issued in 1933 showing the route.


Law

During his presidency, he improved the organization and operation of common justice, issuing the Organic Law of the District and Territorial Courts. The federal codes were reviewed and the Federal Law on Criminal Procedures was issued. He organized the Office of the Attorney General, determining the functions of the Federal Public Ministry, which carried out the study of the Law of Protection and issued the Personal Identification, Nationality and Naturalization, Foreign Service and General Mercantile Companies. He also implemented laws related to private charity and monopolies. He issued the Limited Liability and Public Interest Corporation Law. He enacted the Code of Military Justice.


Economy and finance

He established the National Economic Council and created the National Financial bank. He founded the Bank of the Pacific, the Mexican Bank of the West, and the Central Mexican Credit. He reformed the Law of Secretaries of State, transforming the Department of Commerce, Commerce and Labor into the Secretariat of the National Economy, which was responsible for establishing the bases of state interventionism and the managed economy.


Post-presidency

On 30 November 1934, Rodríguez peacefully passed power to Cárdenas. He then returned to private life. As a reformer, Cárdenas outlawed gambling and closed all the casinos in the north, including the famed Agua Caliente Casino and Hotel. This deprived Rodríguez (and Calles) of a significant source of income.Schantz, Eric M. "Behind the Noir Border: Tourism, the Vice Racket, and Power Relations in Baja California's Border Zone, 1938-65" in ''Holiday in Mexico: Critical Reflections on Tourism and Tourist Encounters'', Berger, Dina and Andrew Grant Wood, ed. Durham: Duke University Press 2010, pp. 131-32, p. 141. However, by this time, Rodríguez was already one of the richest men in Mexico.


Travel and life abroad

Rodríguez and his wife, Aída Sullivan, traveled the world for several years after the presidency, partly to avoid political intrigue. They visited the United States, Canada, Europe, North Africa, Turkey, India, China, Japan, the Philippines, Hawaii, New Zealand, Australia, Cuba, Panama, and Guatemala. The couple lived in
London London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...
, England, from 1936 to 1937. Afterwards, Rodríguez traveled extensively through Russia with his personal secretary Alfonso Verdugo. While in Russia, Rodríguez studied the Soviet political system in great depth. Later, he wrote about what he saw there in his autobiography. After touring Russia, Rodríguez returned to Mexico in 1938.


Business interests

In 1938, Rodríguez and Sullivan moved to their sprawling ranch on the Pacific Coast, at El Sauzal in Baja California. During this time, Rodríguez invested his wealth into various productive industries. He primarily focused on shrimping, fishing and sea products packing. In 1939, Rodríguez built the Pesquera de Topolobampo in
Topolobampo Topolobampo () is a port on the Gulf of California in northwestern Sinaloa, Mexico. It is the fourth-largest town in the municipality of Ahome (after Los Mochis, Ahome, and Higuera de Zaragoza), reporting a 2010 census population of 6,361 inhabit ...
, Sinaloa. At the time, it was the largest shrimp-freezing plant in the world. In September 1940, he warned President Cárdenas of the dangers of renewing Japanese shrimping concessions in Mexican waters. He convinced Cárdenas that a 100% Mexican shrimping industry was safer, and so the Japanese lost the concession. Rodríguez was key in helping to build this industry domestically, and he became involved in various seafood companies like Compañía Productos Marinos de Guaymas, S.A. In 1942, he became the owner and operator of the 50,000-watt XERB radio station in
Rosarito Rosarito is a coastal city in Playas de Rosarito Municipality, Baja California, situated on the Pacific Coast of Mexico. As of 2010, the city had a population of 65,278. Located south of the US-Mexico border, Rosarito is a part of the greater S ...
.


World War II

Mexico declared war on the Axis powers on 22 May 1942. Although the country's combat role was limited, Mexico did aid the Allies with air squadrons like the Aztec Eagles. Mexico also helped defend the Gulf of Mexico. During the war, Rodríguez was appointed commander of the Gulf of Mexico Military-Naval Zone. This was the most important military zone in the country, due to constant incursion by Nazi submarines. As commander, he took steps to protect the Gulf from German U-boats. In July 1942, he ordered the arrest of two Nazi spies in the State of
Veracruz Veracruz (), formally Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave (), officially the Free and Sovereign State of Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave ( es, Estado Libre y Soberano de Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave), is one of the 31 states which, along with Me ...
. Both were suspected of signaling Nazi submarines. One of the Germans was found in a house on the beach with radio sets, code books, and firearms. The other, Gerhard Wilhelm Kunze, was a former leader of the
German American Bund The German American Bund, or the German American Federation (german: Amerikadeutscher Bund; Amerikadeutscher Volksbund, AV), was a German-American Nazi organization which was established in 1936 as a successor to the Friends of New Germany (FoN ...
. Both spies were sent to the US to face trial for espionage. Mexico's major contribution to the war effort was a steady supply of raw materials for US industry. Thus, during the war, Rodríguez also served as chief supervisor of the Mexican government's intensified farm-factory production program. In 1943, the US government provided drug plant seeds to the Mexican Department of Agriculture. This joint agriculture program supplied the war effort with plants used for legal drug production. Rodríguez personally donated land and labor to this drug plant-producing program.


Governor of Sonora

In 1943, he was elected
governor of Sonora List of governors of the Mexican state of Sonora since 1911: *2021–present Alfonso Durazo *2015–2021 Claudia Pavlovich Arellano *2009–2015 Guillermo Padrés Elías *2003–2009 Eduardo Bours Castelo *1997–2003 Ar ...
. While in office, he taxed Chinese casinos and "recreation centers", a euphemism for
opium dens An opium den was an establishment in which opium was sold and smoked. Opium dens were prevalent in many parts of the world in the 19th century, most notably China, Southeast Asia, North America, and France. Throughout the West, opium dens were ...
. The income allowed the government to avoid taxing "productive enterprises". Rodríguez himself had become a wealthy man, largely from vice income.


Infrastructure

In his position as governor of Sonora, his entrepreneurial energy and futuristic vision stand out, and he was the initiator of the modernization of Sonora, being an important manager in the construction of state infrastructure on which agricultural development was based. Under his administration, the Municipal Palace of Hermosillo and the Bank of Mexico building were built. Rodríguez also approved numerous drainage systems, dams, and municipal markets. In 1947, the Hermosillo-Nogales highway and the Benjamín Hill-Puerto Peñasco section of the Sonora-Baja California Railroad were completed. Rodríguez approved the project for the construction of a thermoelectric plant in the Port of Guaymas.


Education and philanthropy

During his tenure, he increased teachers' salaries and declared the construction of 186 new school buildings, 11 expanded schools, and 145 school rebuilds. Rodríguez also actively promoted university education in Sonora. The Museum and Library of the
University of Sonora The University of Sonora (:es:Universidad de Sonora, Universidad de Sonora, abbreviated as Unison) is a public university in the northwestern state of Sonora, Mexico that has a strong research program. The university was founded in 1942 and is c ...
were built during his administration. It is estimated that half of the construction cost for the museum and library came out of his personal pocket. He was convinced that education was the main weapon to combat inequality. In 1946 he and his wife Aída Sullivan brought together a committee of distinguished businessmen and prominent members of Sonoran society. Their goal was to solicit donations and allocate funds, in order to grant scholarships to low-income students from the State of Sonora. The committee proposed that the aggregate donations be invested, and that the investment returns would provide the funds to support the students. Rodríguez and Sullivan made a personal donation of 1 million pesos (US$47,989), thus endowing the initial assets and establishing the
Fundación Esposos Rodríguez
' (The Rodriguez Couple Foundation). Over the years, the foundation has seen exponential growth in the number of scholarship holders who receive support. The foundation currently supports more than 5,500 students at different levels of education.


Post-governorship

Rodríguez resigned from his governorship in April 1948, citing health issued caused by diabetes.


Business interests

Rodríguez returned to his work in business. On 1 January 1950, he was appointed general manager of a large meat-packing firm in Sonora called Frigorífico y Empacadora S.A. In 1950, he became co-owner of a shrimp-freezing plant in El Golfo de Santa Clara,
Sonora Sonora (), officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Sonora ( en, Free and Sovereign State of Sonora), is one of the 31 states which, along with Mexico City, comprise the Administrative divisions of Mexico, Federal Entities of Mexico. The state is d ...
. In 1953, he built the Hotel Garci Crespo, a huge spa resort in Tehuacan, Puebla.


Film industry

Rodríguez became involved in the Mexican film industry during the
Golden Age of Mexican Cinema The Golden Age of Mexican cinema ( es, Época de Oro del Cine Mexicano) is a period in the history of the Cinema of Mexico between 1930 and 1969 when the Mexican film industry reached high levels of production, quality and economic success of its ...
. In 1950, he was appointed director general & chairman of the board of the Crédito Cinematográfico Mexicano, S.A. This government-sponsored film trade financial house was responsible for advancing the Mexican film industry, domestically and abroad. Rodríguez became a leading movie exhibitor and producer. He owned a Mexican film distribution company called Distribuidora Mexicana de Películas, S.A. He also owned over 100 movie theaters in Mexico. In 1953, he helped modernize these theaters by installing
CinemaScope CinemaScope is an anamorphic lens series used, from 1953 to 1967, and less often later, for shooting widescreen films that, crucially, could be screened in theatres using existing equipment, albeit with a lens adapter. Its creation in 1953 by ...
technology. By 1954, Rodríguez had become known internationally as a film tycoon. He had acquired eleven top cinema houses in Mexico City, including Cine Opera, Cine Florida, Cine Colonial, Cine Chapultepec, and Cine Mariscala. He also owned the controlling interest in Mexico City's largest theater, the 6,500-seat Cine Coloso. Moreover, Rodríguez owned several provincial theaters. Along with his North American business partner Theodore Gildred Sr., Rodríguez was the owner of Tepeyac Studios in Mexico City. Nearly 150 films were shot there, including Luis Buñuel's classic ''
Los Olvidados ''Los olvidados'' (, Spanish: ''The Forgotten Ones''; known in the United States as ''The Young and the Damned'') is a 1950 Mexican teen crime film directed by Luis Buñuel. It was filmed at Tepeyac Studios and on location in Mexico City. Produ ...
'' (1950). Tepeyac Studios also produced the award-winning film ''Robinson Crusoe'' (1954), and parts of the film were shot there. Directed by
Luis Buñuel Luis Buñuel Portolés (; 22 February 1900 – 29 July 1983) was a Spanish-Mexican filmmaker who worked in France, Mexico, and Spain. He has been widely considered by many film critics, historians, and directors to be one of the greatest and m ...
, two versions of the film were created, one in English and one in Spanish. The film was a critical and commercial success, and it was distributed in Mexico by Rodriguez's film distribution company. In 1954, Rodríguez made a deal with
20th Century Fox 20th Century Studios, Inc. (previously known as 20th Century Fox) is an American film production company headquartered at the Fox Studio Lot in the Century City area of Los Angeles. As of 2019, it serves as a film production arm of Walt Dis ...
to produce CinemaScope movies in Mexico. Tepeyac Studios closed down permanently in 1957.


Personal life

Rodríguez married three times. In 1917, he married Luisa Montijo of Guayamas. They had a son named Abelardo Luis (Rod) Rodríguez Montijo, who lived to be one hundred years old. But the couple was incompatible, so they soon separated by mutual agreement. The second marriage was to Eathyl Vera Meier of
Chicago (''City in a Garden''); I Will , image_map = , map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago , coordinates = , coordinates_footnotes = , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name ...
, Illinois. They were married in Calexico in August 1921. Meier suffered from depression, which only got worse when she lost their daughter, who was born prematurely. Meier committed suicide at the Hotel Belmar in
Mazatlán Mazatlán () is a city in the Mexican state of Sinaloa. The city serves as the municipal seat for the surrounding ''municipio'', known as the Mazatlán Municipality. It is located at on the Pacific coast, across from the southernmost tip of ...
on 25 September 1922. In February 1924, Rodríguez married Aída Sullivan Coya of
Puebla Puebla ( en, colony, settlement), officially Free and Sovereign State of Puebla ( es, Estado Libre y Soberano de Puebla), is one of the 32 states which comprise the Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided into 217 municipalities and its cap ...
. He was thirty-four years old, she was nineteen. They had three sons named Juan Abelardo, Fernando Julio, and Abelardo S. They also had multiple grandchildren. His marriage to Sullivan was quite stable and lasted over forty years, up until Rodríguez's death.


''Honoris causa''

On 15 June 1951, Rodríguez received an honorary Doctor of Law degree from the
University of California, Berkeley The University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley, Berkeley, Cal, or California) is a public land-grant research university in Berkeley, California. Established in 1868 as the University of California, it is the state's first land-grant u ...
. His son Abelardo S. graduated from UCB on the same day, with a degree in business administration.


Autobiography

Rodríguez wrote a 445-page autobiography in 1962. The ''Autobiografía de Abelardo L. Rodríguez'' was published by the Senate of the Mexican Republic, Commission of Libraries and Editorial Affairs.


Family tragedy

A family tragedy affected Rodríguez deeply in later years. In 1964, his 39-year-old son Juan Abelardo and his daughter-in-law, Janine Ratliff died in a plane crash. The couple had four young children, whom Sullivan and Rodríguez took into their care and raised.


Death

General Abelardo L. Rodríguez died at Scripps Clinic in
La Jolla La Jolla ( , ) is a hilly, seaside neighborhood within the city of San Diego, California, United States, occupying of curving coastline along the Pacific Ocean. The population reported in the 2010 census was 46,781. La Jolla is surrounded on ...
, California, on 13 February 1967. He is buried at the Panteón Municipal Delegación Sauzal. This cemetery is located at El Sauzal de Rodríguez in the
Ensenada Municipality The municipality ( es, link=no, municipio) of Ensenada is the fourth-largest municipality in Mexico with a land area of in 2020, about the same size as Hidalgo state and larger than five Mexican states. Located offshore, Cedros Island and Guad ...
, in Baja California. Aída Sullivan Coya was buried next to him after she died in 1975.


Recognition

Abelardo L. Rodríguez's legacy includes a number of landmarks throughout Mexico. These include: Baja California *
General Abelardo L. Rodríguez International Airport General Abelardo L. Rodríguez International Airport ( es, Aeropuerto Internacional General Abelardo L. Rodríguez) or simply Tijuana International Airport ( es, Aeropuerto Internacional de Tijuana), , in Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico, is Mex ...
,
Tijuana Tijuana ( ,"Tijuana"
(US) and
< ...
*Abelardo L. Rodríguez Dam & Reservoir,
Tijuana River , name_etymology = , image = Presa Tij 1.jpg , image_size = , image_caption = Dam on the Tijuana River in Mexico. , map = Tijuana River Basin.svg , map_size = 250 , map_caption ...
*General Abelardo L. Rodríguez Street, Colonia Jardines de Rubi, Tijuana *Abelardo L. Rodríguez Public Park, Colonia Centro Playas,
Rosarito Rosarito is a coastal city in Playas de Rosarito Municipality, Baja California, situated on the Pacific Coast of Mexico. As of 2010, the city had a population of 65,278. Located south of the US-Mexico border, Rosarito is a part of the greater S ...
*Abelardo L. Rodríguez Street, Colonia Ampliación Mazatlán, Rosarito *El Sauzal de Rodríguez,
Ensenada Municipality The municipality ( es, link=no, municipio) of Ensenada is the fourth-largest municipality in Mexico with a land area of in 2020, about the same size as Hidalgo state and larger than five Mexican states. Located offshore, Cedros Island and Guad ...
*Hacienda Abelardo L. Rodríguez, Ensenada Municipality Sonora *Monument of Abelardo L. Rodríguez,
Hermosillo Hermosillo (), formerly called Pitic (as in ''Santísima Trinidad del Pitic'' and ''Presidio del Pitic''), is a city located in the center of the northwestern Mexican state of Sonora. It is the municipal seat of the Hermosillo Municipality, Her ...
*Abelardo L. Rodríguez Boulevard, Hermosillo *Statue of Abelardo L. Rodríguez, Museum of the University of Sonora 1942, Hermosillo *Abelardo L. Rodríguez Reservoir, Hermosillo Mexico City * Abelardo L. Rodríguez Market, El Centro Histórico *Abelardo L. Rodríguez Street, Colonia Deportivo Pensil *Abelardo L. Rodríguez Street, Colonia Presidentes *General Abelardo L. Rodríguez Street, Colonia Presidentes de México *Abelardo L. Rodríguez Street, Colonia Jalalpa Calzada *Abelardo Rodríguez Street, Colonia Miguel Hidalgo *Jardín de Niños Abelardo L. Rodríguez,
Iztapalapa Iztapalapa () is a borough (''demarcación territorial'') in Mexico City, located on the east side of the entity. The borough is named after and centered on the formerly independent municipality of Iztapalapa, which is officially called Iztapalapa ...
State of Mexico *Abelardo L. Rodríguez Street, Colonia General Vicente Villada, Nezahualcóyotl *Abelardo L. Rodríguez Street, Delegación Capultitlán,
Toluca Toluca , officially Toluca de Lerdo , is the States of Mexico, state capital of the State of Mexico as well as the seat of the Municipality of Toluca. With a population of 910,608 as of the 2020 census, Toluca is the fifth most populous city in M ...
*General Abelardo L. Rodríguez Street, Delegación Capultitlán, Toluca Aguascalientes *Abelardo L. Rodríguez Dam & Reservoir,
Aguascalientes City (''Virtue in the Water, Fidelity in the Heart'') , image_skyline = AGUASCALIENTES CITY.jpg , imagesize = , image_caption = Clockwise from top: Temple of Saint Anthony of Padua, San Antonio de Padua Church, L ...
Colima *Colonia Abelardo L. Rodríguez, Manzanillo Morelos *Village of Abelardo L. Rodríguez Nuevo León *Escuela Primaria Presidente Abelardo L. Rodríguez,
Monterrey Monterrey ( , ) is the capital and largest city of the northeastern state of Nuevo León, Mexico, and the third largest city in Mexico behind Guadalajara and Mexico City. Located at the foothills of the Sierra Madre Oriental, the city is anchor ...
Veracruz *Colonia Abelardo L. Rodríguez,
Orizaba Orizaba () is a city and municipality in the Mexican state of Veracruz. It is located 20 km west of its sister city Córdoba, and is adjacent to Río Blanco and Ixtaczoquitlán, on Federal Highways 180 and 190. The city had a 2005 census ...


Image gallery


See also

*
List of heads of state of Mexico The Head of State of Mexico is the person who controls the executive power in the country. Under the Political Constitution of the United Mexican States, current constitution, this responsibility lies with the President of Mexico, President of the ...


References


Further reading

* Buchenau, Jürgen. ''Plutarco Elías Calles and the Mexican Revolution''. Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield 2007. * Camp, Roderic Ai. ''Mexican Political Biographies''. 2nd edition.
Tucson , "(at the) base of the black ill , nicknames = "The Old Pueblo", "Optics Valley", "America's biggest small town" , image_map = , mapsize = 260px , map_caption = Interactive map ...
,
Arizona Arizona ( ; nv, Hoozdo Hahoodzo ; ood, Alĭ ṣonak ) is a state in the Southwestern United States. It is the 6th largest and the 14th most populous of the 50 states. Its capital and largest city is Phoenix. Arizona is part of the Fou ...
:
University of Arizona The University of Arizona (Arizona, U of A, UArizona, or UA) is a public land-grant research university in Tucson, Arizona. Founded in 1885 by the 13th Arizona Territorial Legislature, it was the first university in the Arizona Territory. T ...
, 1982. * Cline, Howard F. ''The United States and Mexico''. Cambridge: Harvard University Press 1953. * De Parodi, Enriqueta. ''Abelardo L. Rodríguez: Estadista y benefactor''. Mexico City: Gráfica Panamericana, S. de R.L. 1957. * Dulles, John W. F., ''Yesterday in Mexico: A Chronicle of the Revolution, 1919-1936''. Austin: University of Texas Press 1961. * Durante de Cabarga, Guillermo. ''Abelardo L. Rodríguez: El hombre de la hora''. Mexico City: Ediciones Botas 1933. * Feller, A.H. ''The Mexican Claims Commissions, 1923-34''. New York: Macmillan 1935. * Gaxiola, Francisco Javier Jr. ''El Presidente Rodríguez''. Cultura 1938. * Krauze, Enrique, ''Mexico: Biography of Power''. New York: HarperCollins 1997. * Rodríguez, Abelardo Luján (1928). ''Memoria administrativa del gobierno del Distrito Norte de la Baja California: 1924-1927'' (in Spanish). Mexicali, Baja California: S/N. pp. 211–249.
OCLC OCLC, Inc., doing business as OCLC, See also: is an American nonprofit cooperative organization "that provides shared technology services, original research, and community programs for its membership and the library community at large". It was ...
427531964. * Rodríguez, Abelardo L.,
Autobiografía de Abelardo L. Rodríguez
'. Mexico City: Senado de la República, Comisión de Biblioteca y Asuntos Editoriales 1962. ISBN 970727019-5 * Uribe Romo, Emilio. ''Abelardo L. Rodríguez: De San José de Guaymas al Castillo de Chapultepec; Del Plan de Guadalupe al Plan Sexenal''. Mexico City: Talleres Gráficos de la Nación 1934.


External links



Accessed 16 April 2005. {{DEFAULTSORT:Rodriguez, Abelardo L. Presidents of Mexico Governors of Baja California Governors of Sonora Mexican Secretaries of Economy Mexican Secretaries of Defense Institutional Revolutionary Party politicians Mexican generals People of the Mexican Revolution People from Guaymas Politicians from Sonora 1889 births 1967 deaths 20th-century Mexican politicians