Rómulo Betancourt

Rómulo Betancourt
47th & 54th President of Venezuela
In office 19 October 1945 – 17 February 1948
Preceded by	Isaías Medina Angarita
Succeeded by	Rómulo Gallegos
In office February 13, 1959 – March 13, 1964
Preceded by	Edgar Sanabria
Succeeded by	Raúl Leoni
Personal details
Born	Rómulo Ernesto Betancourt Bello (1908-02-22)22 February 1908 Guatire, Miranda state, Venezuela
Died	28 September 1981(1981-09-28) (aged 73) New York City, United States
Political party	Acción Democrática
Spouse(s)	Carmen Valverde (Div.) (d.1977) Renée Hartmann Viso (1920–1991)
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Rómulo Ernesto Betancourt Bello (22 February 1908 – 28 September 1981), known as "The Father of Venezuelan Democracy", was the 47th and 54th President of Venezuela, serving from 1945 to 1948 and again from 1959 to 1964, as well as leader of Acción Democrática, Venezuela's dominant political party in the 20th century.

Betancourt, one of Venezuela's most important political figures, led a tumultuous and highly controversial career in Latin American politics. Periods of exile brought Betancourt in contact with various Latin American countries as well as the United States, securing his legacy as one of the most prominent international leaders to emerge from 20th-century Latin America. Scholars credit Betancourt as the Founding Father of modern democratic Venezuela.