Dr. Belisario Porras
Panama, like many Latin American countries, was and perhaps still is a country not so much of political ideals as of caudillos, or charismatic leaders. The first of these was Dr. Belisario Porras, who served the first of his three terms in office in 1912. He was considered a great Liberal leader. The political traditions of Panama's Colombian past - Liberalism against Conservatism - prevailed. Under Porras, government institutions were organized. But U.S. influence overpowered Panama, and in 1918, in violation of all constitutional order, the United States, through the Governor of the Canal Zone, installed Dr. Porras back in power for a second term over his legal contender who had won the election. Fortunately, Porras was popular among the Panamanian populace, because once again in 1920, under U.S. influence over the electoral outcome, Porras became president for a third time. His government platform included developing the provinces, which were devoid of roads. The interior of the country still remained almost under the same conditions of the Colonial days. But again Porras did good deeds, simplifying the electoral code to have general elections every four years rather than two. He also set into place an organized economic plan for the development of the entire country and for road construction.
The one violent episode in that era occurred in 1921, under Porras' administration when a border war broke out with Costa Rica, Panama's western neighbor. It was called the War of Coto, and consisted of Costa Rica invading part of western Panama on the basis of a 1900 U.S ruling called the White Ruling. The Panamanians faced some 2,000 Costa Rican troops, mostly with weapons retrieved from President Porras' basement in the Presidential Palace. Again the United States intervened, this time on the side of the Costa Ricans, and Panama was forced to accept a humiliating ultimatum issued by U.S. President Harding and to lose a battle which was not to be solved until 1941.
President Porras' most visible work in Panama City is the Santo Tomas Hospital, considered a white elephant in its day and today the most important charity hospital in the country. So that one may gain an idea, the entire Republic of Panama in 1920 had a population of 449,098. The province of Panama had a population of 98,035. Colon Province had 45,151 inhabitants, and the southwesterly province of Los Santos 34,638. It is evident that whatever politicking went on in that era, it was small-town stuff.
Some elderly -and not so elderly- folks, especially in the provinces, still refer to Arnulfo Arias as "Doctor Arias". Admittedly a medical doctor by profession, the term was - and is - used more as a term of respect and admiration. Like Belisario Porras, he was president three times, though he never completed a full term in office. Although he was the second next great Panamanian caudillo, Arias' quirky personality and political passions always seemed to stir up trouble. To gain power for his political party, Accion Popular, for example, which was trying to seize power by force by assaulting the Police Headquarters and later the Presidency, Arias was able to enter the Presidency through a window he had left open the night before, and once inside, demanded the resignation of the incumbent president.
Dr. Arnulfo Arias
As president, despite his vociferous anti-Americanism, he liked and was well liked by U.S. official representatives in Panama, albeit often only on the surface. It may have been a mixture of extremely charming diplomacy and the attraction of undeniable charismatic powers, and wining and dining the American ambassador in the exclusive Union Club.
His first term was served in 1940. His term had begun in the middle of World War II, and the United States asked permission to build new military bases in Panama. He accepted, under the condition that the United States commence earnest negotiations with Panama to revoke the insulting terms of the 1903 treaty. The United States agreed, but as soon as Arias departed Panama on a pleasure trip to Cuba, U.S. officials conspired with Panamanians unhappy with Arias' government and toppled him as soon as he returned. A government that had lasted but a year left as legacy the creation of the Social Security, today the most important social institution the country possesses. He became president the second time in 1949. Amid charges of corruption, riots broke out in Panama City, and in 1951 he was again toppled, this time by impeachment. His third term as president has to do with our next personage.
