Felipe S. Guzmán

Who was Felipe S. Guzmán?

Felipe Segundo Guzmán was a caretaker Bolivian President who led his country during at 11-month period stretching from September 1925 to August 1926.

Guzmán was born in La Paz, Bolivia. A university professor and scholar, he championed the teaching of Spanish to native Bolivians, and called for a further incorporation into national life of the great mass of "Indians" which comprised the country's majority. He later served as Deputy and Senator in representation of the Republican Party of Bautista Saavedra.

When President Saavedra attempted to prolong his term in office alleging "grave irregularities" in the elections of 1925, a massive outcry prompted him to leave office. He did so only with the understanding that Congress would proclaim as temporary President someone who would do his bidding. Congress, in turn, chose the head of the Senate, Felipe Segundo Guzmán, who was sworn in on September 3, 1925, and given the task of calling fresh elections within a year. This done, and with the triumph at the polls of the officialist candidate Hernando Siles, Guzmán left office in August 1926 and returned to relative obscurity.