Roberto Marcelo Levingston Laborda (10 January 1920 – 17 June 2015) was an Argentine Army general who was the 36th President of Argentina from 1970 to 1971.

His presidency was marked by a protectionist economic policy amid the country's financial struggles, and the imposition of the death penalty against terrorists and kidnappers.

Early life and education

Levingston was born on 10 January 1920 in San Luis Province. After completing his secondary studies, Levingston attended the Colegio Militar de la Nación starting in 1938, where he graduated from in 1941. In January 1948 he obtained the rank of captain after having previously been promoted to first lieutenant.

Presidency

thumb|left|upright=0.75|Levingston in civilian clothing

Levingston's military expertise included intelligence and counterinsurgency, and he took the presidency of Argentina on 18 June 1970, in a military coup engineered by commander-in-chief Alejandro Lanusse that deposed Juan Carlos Onganía over his ineffective response to the Montoneros and other guerillas.

His regime was marked by a protectionist economic policy that did little to overcome the inflation and recession that the country was undergoing at the time,

Death

He died on 17 June 2015, at the age of 95. He is the longest-lived President of Argentina.

Personal life

In 1943, Levingston married Bety Nelly Andrés and had two sons and one daughter.

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References