•Known as “The Father of Venezuelan Democracy, ” was President of Venezuela from 1945 to 1948 and again from 1959 to 1964, as well as leader of Accion Democratica – Venezuela’s dominant political party in the 20th century.
•Betancourt first became president of Venezuela in the old fashioned Latin American way: by a military coup.
•From 1830 until 1959, when Betancourt assumed the elected presidency, no democratic ruler survived in office for even 2 years.