Tuck Grad Is President of Panama

Swept into office by the largest number of votes yet cast for a Constitutional President since the Republic of Panama was founded in 1903, Ernesto de la Guardia Jr. '25T was sworn in as President on October 1.

A popular and representative citizen of his country, de la Guardia is highly esteemed for his energy, his aptitude in politics and business, and foresight in planning. A candidate of the National Coalition party, his program for the next years is specific and ambitious, including the incorporation of the Universal Declaration of the Rights of Man into the Constitution, and a broad reorganization of the government in the fields of economics, finance, social and cultural reforms, public works, health, and international relations.

As director of Panama's oldest weekly newspaper, de la Guardia has kept the public aware of his political beliefs in his own forcefully written editorials. An able orator, he has served his government in numerous capacities. Among others, he was Chief of Protocol of the First Conference of Ministers of Foreign Relations of America, held in Panama in 1936; president of the Chamber of Agriculture, Commerce and Industry in 1941; for six years, president of the Reform Liberal Political Party; and in 1945 de la Guardia was made Panama's first vice president. More recently he has served as president of the National Electoral Jury and president of the Panama Delegation of the United Nations Organization Assembly.

In his business career, Mr. de la Guardia has been general manager of the National Brewery since 1942, where he has demonstrated outstanding organizing ability. He is a sports enthusiast and maintains one of the oldest and most scientifically managed racing stables in Panama.

After obtaining the B.A. degree from the National Institute, de la Guardia came to Dartmouth's Tuck School for his Master's degree in business administration and finance, receiving this in 1925. In 1926 he was married to Mercedes Galindo. They have two sons, Ernesto III, a graduate of Cornell, and Joaquin, a Georgetown University student; and a daughter, Analida. There are five grandchildren.

Ernesto de la Guardia '25T