Remarkable Argentina - The Wise World Traveler: Becoming a Part of All that You Meet - page 335

Posted to Italy in the 1930s as a military attaché, Peron observed Mussolini's reorder-
ing of Italian society. Fascism was Mussolini's formula for Italy's regeneration: a society
controlled by a political and military party obedient to its leader ( duce ), supported by popu-
lar acclaim. Argentina was officially neutral in World War II, but its military admired Hitler
and Mussolini. With popular support, a military coup in 1943 overthrew a civilian gov-
ernment that had failed to solve Argentina's wartime social and economic problems. As
the colonels and generals scrambled to control government ministries, Colonel Juan Peron
claimed a seemingly unimportant office, Minister of Labor and Social Welfare. By 1945,
as a result of skillful bureaucratic infighting, he had risen to become Vice President and
Minister of War. Late in 1945 he helped to maneuver Argentina into declaring war on Ger-
many, thus assuring friendly relations with the victorious Allies. Most important, he built a
base of popular support among the working poor.
The working poor of Argentina's cities (especially in the slaughterhouses and on the
docks) were immigrants and children of immigrants nurtured by Europe's socialism, com-
munism, and anarchism. He answered their dreams of social justice by improving workers'
lives (holidays, pensions, and severance pay). Equally important were his themes of popu-
lism and equality. (Why should the rich bulls occupy the greenest pastures, while the cows
are forced to stand outside?) Peron became the hero of the descamisados , the shirtless ones,
and the army, anticipating danger from a populist uprising, joined with civilian constitu-
tionalists to order Peron's arrest. It is at this critical moment that his mistress, Eva Duarte,
changed Argentine history.
WHO WAS EVA DUARTE?
Eva Duarte, Evita as she was later known, was one of five illegitimate children born to the
mistress of Juan Duarte, a rural landowner and political boss. After Duarte's death, when
her mother accepted the protection of another man, Eva made her way to Buenos Aires.
The year was 1934. She was fifteen years old, a woman-child of steely resolve. A succes-
sion of lovers and protectors carried her upwards to money, social standing, and a career as
radio actor. By 1944, Eva had achieved an enviable place in the world, but for Eva enough
was not enough. She contrived to meet Juan Peron. [289]
It was January 22, 1944. Eva was on stage (or possibly in the wings) at a fundraiser for
earthquake victims. She walked over to Peron (or did he walk toward her?). As one version
tells it, Eva said, “Colonel Peron?” “Yes, my child,” he answered. “Thank you for exist-
ing.”