Abstract

At 9:30 P.M. on May 30, 1961, most United States citizens were enjoying the closing hours of a Memorial Day holiday. About this same time in the Dominican Republic an event was taking shape which was to alter greatly the lives of the people of that island nation. Rafael L. Trujillo, the dictator of the Dominican Republic, was riding with his chauffeur, Captain Socorro de la Cruz, along the highway from Santo Domingo to where the dictator's mistress waited in San Cristobal. Seemingly out of nowhere, a 1958 Chevrolet pulled alongside the limousine, its four occupants brandishing an assortment of weapons. The quiet of the night was broken by the sound of gunfire, and the limousine came to a halt. The Chevrolet stopped about twenty feet away and quickly discharged its passengers, Antonio Imbert Barreras and three others. The dictator, wounded by a shotgun blast, got out of the limousine and went around to the front of the car, only to be dropped by a shot from Antonio Imbert's.45. Thus thirty years of dictatorship came to a close and a new era of turmoil was ushered in. On April 28, 1965, the White House released a statement by President Johnson explaining that after discussions with the leaders of Congress he had ordered the Secretary of Defense to a statement by President Johnson explaining that after discussions with the leaders of Congress he had ordered the Secretary of Defense to

put the necessary United States armed forces ashore in the Dominican Republic in order to give protection to the citizens of the United States and other countries. He further explained that the military authorities in the Dominican Republic had requested assistance from United States armed forces, since they could no longer guarantee the safety of American lives which were endangered.  While this statement was issued, United States Marines were landing in Santo Domingo to begin the evacuation of the non-Dominicans. However, after the evacuation the troops of the United States did not withdraw. Was the United States going to set up a military government, as it did in 1916 under President Wilson? Almost five years elapsed between these two events. During that time the people had been given a taste of democracy. During that time the military had ruled, and during that time the "Trujilloism" had been expelled. The events between May 30, 1961, and April 28, 1965, give some indication as to why President Johnson felt compelled to intervene.

Advisor

Cyril Allen

Committee Member

William E. Lass

Committee Member

Phyllis Abbott

Date of Degree

1967

Language

english

Document Type

APP

Degree

Master of Science (MS)

Program of Study

History

Department

History and Gender Studies

College

Humanities and Social Sciences

Download
Request Accessible Version

Share

COinS
 

Rights Statement

In Copyright