JORGE RAFAEL VIDELA - ARGENTINA - 1977/11/16

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Argentina Declassification Project - The "Dirty War" (1976-83)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 06628369
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: April 3, 2019
• Document Release Date: April 12, 2019
• Publication Date: November 16, 1977

Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 C06628369
4
Q�E Ve 4 /?-?-- /511_6, M
Jorge Rafael VIDELA
(Phonetic: veeDEHla)
President; Member,
Ruling Junta; Commander
in Chief of the Army
Addressed as:
Mr. President
On 24 March 1976
Army Commander Lt. Gen.
Jorge Videla led a
long-awaited, bloodless
coup against the govern-
ment of President Maria
de PerOn. Five days
later he was installed
as Argentina's 39th
President. As such, he performs
monial duties of Chief of State,
supreme governing authority with
of the three-man military junta,
the three services.
MICROFILMED
ARGENTINA
all the cere-
but he shares
the other members
which represents
11;
The junta inherited a country in near chaos,
with uncontrolled inflation and rampant terrorist
activity. Under its leadership, both problems
have been significantly reduced, although not
eliminated. The President travels extensively in
Argentina and has met privately with representatives
of the religious, scientific, business and rural
communities, as well as with members of the press.
Fe has also made several trips to other South
American countries to strengthen relations.
Videla came to the United States several times
before becoming President. In September 1977 he
visited this country for the signing of the Panama
Canal Treaties.
Videla is a man of great integrity who
loathes corruption and will not tolerate any
degree of it in his government. He is a deeply
religious man and serves as a lay reader in his
hometown Catholic parish. The President, 52, is
married and has seven children. He speaks poor
English.
CR M 77-15826
16 November 1977
MICRO
ONLY
Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 C06628369