Nowadays, a simple Google search could reveal things that were incomprehensible to us mere mortals. I was curious about how Haiti's destiny was shaped during the American occupation from 1915-1934. Here are my findings: The American Occupation of Haiti lasted 4 United States presidents' terms, three of whom were republicans. (1/4 were Democrats)
Who were those U.S presidents during the Haitian Occupation?
Woodrow, Wilson, Democrat, 1913 - 1921
Here are the things I found Woodrow Wilson is known for:
"His transformation of the basic objective of American foreign policy from isolation to internationalism, his success in making the Democratic Party a “party of reform,” and his ability to shape and mobilize public opinion fashioned the modern presidency.
"The 14 Points called for a just peace for all parties involved in the Great War, the end of secret treaties between nations, free trade among nations, freedom of the seas, self-determination for people under colonial rule, and an international group like the League of Nations to deal with world security."
History about this U.S president is a bit of a hogwash, namely, if Woodrow Wilson believed in self determination, why did he allow United States to invade and occupy Haiti during his presidency ? Ah, Great Depression obliged...
Warren Harding, Republican, 1921 - 1923
"Convicted of accepting bribes from oil companies. Fall became the first presidential cabinet member to go to prison; no one was convicted of paying the bribes. Before the Watergate scandal, Teapot Dome was regarded as the "greatest and most sensational scandal in the history of American politics".
Calvin Coolidge, Republican, 1923 - 1929
"Coolidge signed the Immigration Act of 1924, which greatly restricted immigration into the United States."
Herbert Hoover, Republican, 1929 - 1933
"Herbert Clark Hoover was an American politician, businessman, and engineer who served as the 31st president of the United States from 1929 to 1933. A member of the Republican Party, he held office during the onset of the Great Depression."
In a nutshell, these were U.S presidents whose foreign policies shaped Haiti's future.
More curiosity led me to this line of reasoning: who were at the helm in United States during the fifties' turmoil in Haiti, specifically at the Magloire, Nemours Pierre-Louis, Franck Sylvain, and Duvalier period?...
I found, Dwight D. Eisenhower was president. He was a Republican, and his term lasted from 1953 to1961? Richard Nixon was his vice president.
Dwight D. Eisenhower known for?
"He was responsible for planning and supervising the invasion of North Africa in Operation Torch in 1942–1943 and the successful invasion of Normandy in 1944–1945 from the Western Front. Eisenhower, was born David Dwight Eisenhower, and raised in Abilene, Kansas, in a large family of mostly Pennsylvania Dutch ancestry."
I am not sure you noticed who was Dwight D Eisenhower's VP? Richard Nixon. Richard Nixon went to Haiti, and so did his fellow republican Rockefeller, under the Duvalier regime. I couldn't find a picture of the latter, but I did find some Richard Nixon pictures taken in Haiti's Parc Leconte stadium.
After Magloire's demise and condemnation for plundering Haiti's treasury with his family and friends. Another group of avatars ensued and in a month's period, Haiti went through two provisional presidents: Nemours Pierre-Louis and Franck Sylvain.
A military junta was established after the fall of Franck Sylvain. From there, Haiti's Army took charge, organized and ran Haiti's FIRST FREE ELECTION on September 1957.
Dr. Francois Duvalier was elected president on September 22, 1957.
For those who thought these were the good old days. In 1958, Duvalier gave a status report on Haiti's financial situation inherited by his regime. In it he revealed, the country was on the verge of bankruptcy due to indebtedness. Paul E. Magloire went into exile in Jamaica, France and the United States. Duvalier's rival, Louis Déjoie, was sentenced by a military court to Death in Abstention for attempted murder in a bomb plot at Mahotières where the devices were being manufactured...
Duvalier's first military parade displayed several mechanized infantry capabilities and anti-aircraft machineguns purchased from Italy. In 1958, Duvalier changed the country's flag from blue and red into black and red. The dictatorship was underway...
The militarization of Haiti aimed at stopping the spread of communism in Latin America and the Caribbean. But in reality, Duvalier used that tool to his advantage and got rid of his political opponents.
Sources: Google search in quotes. Pictures from Haiti Sun.
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