Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
in 1933, and multitudes of mourners filled the streets of Buenos Aires
to mark his passing. Their public homage to Yrigoyen indicated yet
another quick turn in public opinion and a reproach to manipulative
politics.
The public demonstration of affection for the former president at
his death would be equaled only by two other demonstrations in the
15-year period following the 1930 military intervention. One, which
will be discussed later in this chapter, had political significance: the
demonstration on October 17, 1945, that saved Juan Perón's political
career. The other great public display came in 1936, at the burial of
tango singer Carlos Gardel.
In 1938, another election marked by irregularities and fraud
brought to power the first civilian president since Yrigoyen. The
presidency of the Conservative Party's Roberto M. Ortiz succumbed
to rising nationalism, unstable political alliances, and the president's
health problems. In addition, the outbreak of World War II in Europe
cut off Argentina's agricultural exports to the Continent. As an alter-
native, the administration sought to reestablish cozy diplomatic and
trade relations with Great Britain, but nationalist groups whipped up
The tango singer and actor Carlos Gardel, shown with actress Anita Campbell, was Argentina's
most popular cultural figure of the 20th century.
(Archivo General de la Nación)
