The Senate of Colombia named Alberto Lleras Camargo acting president in 1945, making him one of the youngest individuals to hold the office at thirty-nine. This early executive role preceded a long career in journalism, diplomacy, and politics that spanned the mid-twentieth century, including significant influence over the structures of inter-American cooperation and the leadership of the Colombian state.
Early Political Entry
Born in Bogotá in 1906, Lleras Camargo pursued education at Our Lady of the Rosary University and the Universidad Externado de Colombia. He briefly attended the National University of Colombia before shifting focus toward journalism. His political start occurred in 1929 when he was elected deputy assemblyman on the Bogotá city council. By 1931, he secured a seat in the Colombian Chamber of Representatives, becoming the first Liberal Party member to preside over the Chamber in four decades.
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During the administration of President Alfonso López Pumarejo, Lleras Camargo served in several high-level government capacities, including Cabinet Secretary, Minister of National Education, and Minister of Government. He also acted as the Colombian Ambassador to the United States in 1943. Following his term as Minister of Foreign Affairs in 1945, he served as acting president until 1946. During this initial tenure, he oversaw the creation of the Greater Colombian Merchant Fleet and the implementation of the 1945 Constitutional Reform.
International Diplomacy and the OAS
In 1947, Lleras Camargo founded the news magazine Semana. That same year, his international profile grew, leading to his appointment as Director of the Pan American Union. He directed the restructuring that resulted in the 1948 founding of the Organization of American States. He served as the first General Secretary of the organization from 1947 to 1954, focusing on the consolidation of the institution as a representative body for the hemisphere.
Second Presidency and Legacy
Lleras Camargo returned to the presidency of Colombia, serving a full term from 1958 to 1962. Throughout his career, his work received international recognition, including the Maria Moors Cabot Prizes in 1947 and the Simón Bolívar award. He maintained memberships in the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the Colombian Academy of History. He died in Bogotá in 1990 following a period of illness.
Fast facts
- Born: 1906, Bogotá
- Died: 1990, Bogotá
- Political Party: Colombian Liberal Party
- President of Colombia: 1945-1946; 1958-1962
- First OAS Secretary General: 1947-1954
- Education: Our Lady of the Rosary University; Universidad Externado de Colombia
Questions readers ask
What major international organization did he help establish?
Lleras Camargo played a central role in the founding of the Organization of American States in 1948.
Did he hold the office of President of Colombia more than once?
Yes, he served as acting president from 1945 to 1946 and later as president for a full term from 1958 to 1962.
Achievements
- President of Colombia (1958–1962)
- General Secretariat of the Organization of American States (1947–1954)
- Minister of Foreign Affairs of Colombia (1945–1945)
- ambassador of Colombia to the United States
- Maria Moors Cabot Prizes — 1947
- Educated at Our Lady of the Rosary University and Universidad Externado de Colombia
