Rafael Caldera

Rafael Antonio Caldera Rodríguez (Spanish pronunciation: [rafaˈel anˈtonjo kalˈdeɾa roˈðɾiɣes]; 24 January 1916 – 24 December 2009),^[1] twice elected President of Venezuela, served for two five-year terms (1969–1974 and 1994–1999), becoming the longest serving democratically elected leader to govern the country in the twentieth century.^[2]

Rafael Caldera
Official portrait, 1969
President of Venezuela
In office 2 February 1994 – 2 February 1999
Preceded by	Ramón José Velásquez
Succeeded by	Hugo Chávez
In office 11 March 1969 – 12 March 1974
Preceded by	Raúl Leoni
Succeeded by	Carlos Andrés Pérez
Senator for Life
In office 12 March 1974 – 2 February 1994
In office 2 February 1999 – 20 December 1999
President of the Chamber of Deputies of the Congress of Venezuela
In office 1959–1962
Solicitor General of Venezuela
In office 26 October 1945 – 13 April 1946
Personal details
Born	Rafael Antonio Caldrea Rodríguez (1916-01-24)24 January 1916 San Felipe, Yaracuy, Venezuela
Died	24 December 2009(2009-12-24) (aged 93) Caracas, Venezuela
Political party	COPEI (1946–1993) National Convergence (1993–2009)
Spouse(s)	Alicia Pietri Montemayor
Alma mater	Central University of Venezuela
Occupation	Lawyer
Signature
Website	Official website

Widely acknowledged as one of the founders of Venezuela’s democratic system,^[3] the main architect of the 1961 Constitution, and a pioneer of the Christian Democratic movement in Latin America, Caldera helped forge an unprecedented period of civilian democratic rule in a country beleaguered by a history of political violence and military caudillos.^[4]

His leadership established Venezuela’s reputation as one of the more stable democracies in Latin America during the second half of the twentieth century.^[5]

After graduating with a degree in law and political science from Central University of Venezuela in 1939, Caldera embarked on a 70-year long career that combined political, intellectual and academic activities.