Rafael L. Trujillo M., born October 24, 1891; Dominican strongman who ruled his country with iron hands for over 30 years. Over the years, Dominicans have had a love/hate relationship with this charismatic leader. On one hand, he was instrumental in bringing greater economic progress to his people by paying off the national debt, implementing balanced budgets, and regaining control of Dominican Customs, previously under American authority. He brought up the value of the Dominican Peso on par with the US Dollar, and implemented a plan of infrastructural development, the results of which still stand to this day. On the other hand, he abolished all forms of personal freedoms, terrorized his opponents, and monopolized the economic system of his country to amass a personal fortune impressive even by today's standards. Trujillo's regime ended in a blaze of bullets when his car was ambushed in the Avenida George Washington, in Santo Domingo, on May 30, 1961.
Also see "Las Hermanas Mirabal" gallery.