democracy. Known affectionately as "Don Pepe" by his admirers, Figueres was both an enemy of communist and a thorn in the side of the United States. While putting down a communist regime and allying himself consistently with the U.S., Figueres was also a

strong socialist and nationalist and would prove to be an enigma to U.S. policy makers during his terms as president. Despite the praise and admiration that Figueres enjoyed, a much darker side to his administration as well as an unmistakable duality in his dealings

with the U.S. and democracy itself is seen in his political history.

Following a time of democracy in Costa Rica, in the early 40's, then president Rafael Calderon allied himself with the Costa Rican communist party, Vanguardia Popular as well as the Nicaraguan dictator Somoza. Figueres would then give a radio speech disdaining Calderon and his actions which would lead to Figueres' exile to Mexico

in 1942. (Cockcroft, 232) Figueres returned in 1944, and an alleg

While his democratic tendencies, and vehemently professed anti-communism was presented to the world, Figueres instituted a variety of policies and committed acts which were not in any sense democratic. Figueres began by establishing his own political party,

In perhaps his most anti-democratic move, he banned the press, the outlet which he himself had been exiled for using. (Baker, 5) In a much darker move, Don Pepe reneged on the peace terms that guaranteed the safety of calderonistas that had been ousted following the revolution. While most of the calderonistas were exiled to Mexico, many had their property seized, were thrown in prison, or in the most extreme cases murdered. Thus, Figueres underlying government concentrated on a state-controlled economy, the abolition of labor unions and free press, and repression of opposition parties to the

communism. The relationship between Figueres and the U.S. can be called the "Brown-Nose" relationship. Figueres was willing to comply with anything the U.S. wanted him to, and he knew that by offering full cooperation it would allow him to get by with a number of things that the U.S. would normally never allow.

Vanguardia forces, Figueres would seize control of Costa Rica as the head of the revolutionary junta for eighteen months. Control was then turned over to the rightful winner of the 1948 election, and Figueres would return for three terms as president, the

Figueres has been called everything from an "unconditional servant of American imperialism and democracy" (Baker, 9), to a "Communist in Democrat's clothing" (Johnson, Robert). Aside from the easily seen duality of his policymaking, a review of his rise to political power also presents an argument. Figueres from the beginning has looked to the U.S. for security and power. The time of the Costa Rican revolution was also the beginning of the Cold War, and a time during which the U.S. was beginning it's battle for democratic conquest of the western hemis

Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1335
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)