Summary
Highlights
The Dominican Republic has had 67 presidential periods but only 54 presidents, without any women. This section covers the formation of the first governments, starting with the Central Governing Junta presided over by Francisco del Rosario Sánchez. Pedro Santana y Familias became the first official president in 1844, followed by Manuel Jiménez González and Buenaventura Báez. The role of vice president was created during Santana's second term, assumed by Manuel de Regla Mota.
This period saw multiple presidential changes and significant historical events. Santana's third term led to the annexation of the country to Spain from 1861 to 1865. After the Restoration, José Antonio Salcedo and Gaspar Polanco (the only illiterate president) governed. The year 1865 was particularly turbulent with five different governments. Buenaventura Báez had multiple non-consecutive terms, and Ulises Francisco Espaillat was noted for one of the most highly regarded governments. Numerous changes in leadership continued with various presidents serving very short terms.
The late 19th century included a rapid succession of presidents. Gregorio Luperón governed independently from 1879 to 1880, followed by Monsignor Fernando Arturo de Meriño. Ulises Hereaux, known as Lilís, began his first mandate in 1882. After a brief period with Francisco Gregorio Billini and Alejandro Woss y Gil, Lilís's dictatorship began in 1887, lasting 12 years until his assassination in 1899. His vice president, Wenceslao Figuereo, briefly took over before a military uprising led by Horacio Vázquez.
The early 1900s continued with leaders like Juan Isidro Jiménez and Horacio Vázquez. Ramón Cáceres, known as Mon Cáceres, governed as the 40th president until his assassination in 1911. Eladio Victoria and Monsignor Adolfo Alejandro Nouël followed, with many governments lasting less than a year. The first US occupation of the Dominican Republic occurred from 1916 to 1924, during which Francisco Henríquez y Carvajal served as provisional president. After the occupation, Horacio Vázquez returned to the presidency until 1930.
Rafael Leonidas Trujillo Molina came to power in 1930, initiating a 30-year dictatorship, using 'puppet' presidents like Jacinto Peynado and Joaquín Balaguer. After Trujillo's death, Balaguer organized a State Council. Juan Emilio Bosch Gavilá, the 57th president, was elected in 1962 but his government lasted only seven months before a coup. The country was then governed by a Triumvirate, first with Emilio de los Santos and later Donald Reid Cabral, until the Civil War in April 1965, leading to the second US occupation.
During the 1965 Civil War, the country was divided between constitutionalist and reconstructionist factions, each with its own presidents (José Rafael Molina Ureña, Francisco Alberto Caamaño Deñó for the constitutionalists, and Pedro Bartolomé Benoit, Antonio Imbert Barrera for the reconstructionists). Héctor García Godoy led a transitional government. Joaquín Balaguer then won elections, beginning his 12-year term. Antonio Guzmán Fernández became president in 1978 and tragically committed suicide in 1982, succeeded by his vice president, Jacobo Majluta Azar. Salvador Jorge Blanco followed. Balaguer returned in 1986 for another 10 years. From 1996 to the present, presidents have included Leonel Fernández Reyna, Hipólito Mejía Domínguez, Danilo Medina Sánchez, and the current president, Luis Rodolfo Abinader Corona, elected in 2020.