Calles, Plutarco Elías

Calles, Plutarco Elías (1877-1945), Mexican soldier, statesman, and president (1924-1928), born in Guaymas, in the state of Sonora. Calles gave up a teaching career to help in the revolt led by Venustiano Carranza against President Victoriano Huerta in 1914. Under President Carranza, Calles was governor of Sonora and secretary of industry, commerce, and labour from 1919 to 1920. In 1920 Calles assisted Álvaro Obregón in overthrowing Carranza and was made secretary of the interior from 1920 to 1923 while Obregón was president. In 1924 Calles was elected president of Mexico. Among the most notable achievements of his administration were the construction of numerous major roads and irrigation projects; the founding of the Bank of Mexico; the writing off of the public debt; the encouragement of public education and organized labour; and the effective application of land reform laws, including division of large estates among small farmers. In 1928 Calles retired from politics, but returned to serve in various offices and was an adviser to the three presidents who succeeded him. He was exiled in 1936 because of his criticism of the social reform policies of President Lázaro Cárdenas; he returned to Mexico in 1941.