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Sáenz Garza, Aarón (1891-1983)

    He was one of the most  powerful men in Mexico, serving as governor of two states, a cabinet officer three times, a federal deputy, a Senator, a precandidate for the presidency of the country in 1929, and as a multimillionaire. He was born in Monterrey, Nuevo León on June 1, 1891. He earned a law degree from the national law school. In 1913, he was a general on the general staff of Alvaro Obregón. Was a federal Deputy to the 27th Congress. He was ambassador to Brazil in 1919-20. Undersecretary of Foreign Relations under Adolfo de la Huerta, he became Secretary of Foreign Relations under Obregón in 1924 and continued under Plutarco E. Calles. He was Governor of Nuevo León in 1921 and in 1927 when he replaced the very corrupt General Porfirio González. As governor, he was very effective supporting education, having roads built, getting a natural gas line from Texas, and getting numerous public works done. He tried to get the presidential nomination of the Partido Nacional Revolucionario of which he was a founding member and since he was closely tied to Obregón who had just been assassinated, many thought Calles would choose him. He chose Pascual Ortiz Rubio, instead, to run in the 1929 election. In 1930, he was Secretary of Public Education, in 1931, he was  Secretary of Industry, Commerce, and Labor. Later, he was in charge of the Federal District. He was campaign manager for Alvaro Obregón in 1928. He was a successful businessman, aided by his political connections. He was President of the National Sugar Growers Association, of the Sugar Growers Bank, and of the National Producers of Alcohol. He continued to be an advisor to Presidents long after he left public life.

See Juan López de Escalera, Diccionario Biográfico y de Historia de México. México, Editorial del Magisterio, 1964.

Don Mabry
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