Remarkable Argentina - The Wise World Traveler: Becoming a Part of All that You Meet - page 336

Figure 23.3. Eva Peron
He was forty-eight; she was twenty-four. Later, when Peron was placed under arrest, it
was Eva, together with allies in the labor movement, who flashed word to the descamisados
to rally in support of the imprisoned Peron. The military backed down. Peron was released
from confinement on October 17, 1945, and from the balcony of the Presidential Palace,
with Eva at his side, he addressed a cheering crowd of 300,000, calling them to support his
bid to become President of Argentina.
Eva and Juan campaigned together, now as husband and wife. Evita had found her des-
tiny, and as she was often to shout to adoring crowds, “my life for Peron.” Peron was elec-
ted President in 1946, and Evita established her own charitable foundation. The foundation
grew rich on money extracted from the rich and (or so it is alleged) skimmed from public
coffers. It was charity on a personal and flamboyant scale. Seated behind an imposing desk,
aides at her side, Evita would hear petitions: “My mother needs false teeth”; “Our child
needs a life-preserving operation”; “We wish to marry but cannot afford a place to live.”
Evita would hear out the petitioners and, with maximum theatrical effect, would proclaim,
“Done!” Her minions would escort the favored petitioners out to be given promissory notes
and orders signed by Evita herself.
After her marriage to Juan, Eva traveled to Europe, only to be snubbed by Grand So-
ciety. She returned home, a humiliated provincial, vowing to remake herself an image of