A brilliant politician and one of the most influential leaders in modern Dominican history. He started his political career in 1930 as an ambassador for the Trujillo regime; he later held other government positions such as secretary of education, secretary of state, and ultimately as a figurehead president for Trujillo. Balaguer was a prolific writer, poet, composer, and political philosopher, who went into exile after Trujillo’s assassination and returned 5 years later to be elected President in 1966--a position he held in two different periods for an additional 22 years in power.