Carlos Humberto Romero
The last president of El Salvador's military dictatorship, whose repressive rule helped precipitate the nation's brutal civil war.
1924–2017 (age 93)·President of El Salvador from 1977 to 1979·Birthday: February 29·The Greatest Generation
Biography
General Carlos Humberto Romero's presidency from 1977 to 1979 marked the violent, final act of El Salvador's decades-long military regime. Coming to power in an election widely condemned as fraudulent, he inherited a country seething with social inequality and political unrest. His government responded to growing opposition from leftist guerrillas, students, and peasant groups with severe repression, employing paramilitary death squads that targeted dissidents. This escalation of state violence, following the massacre of protesters in 1977, pushed the nation closer to the brink. Romero's rule was cut short not by ballots, but by a reformist coup in October 1979 led by junior military officers hoping to avert a full-scale revolution. Instead, his overthrow opened the floodgates to the twelve-year Salvadoran Civil War, a conflict whose roots were deeply embedded in the repressive system he represented.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Carlos was born in 1924, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Carlos Was Born
The biggest hits of 1924
#1 Movie
The Sea Hawk
Carlos's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1924Born
First Winter Olympics held in Chamonix, France
President: Calvin Coolidge"It Had to Be You" — Isham Jones
1929Started school
Wall Street crashes, triggering the Great Depression
Gas: $0.21/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Singin' in the Rain" — Cliff EdwardsBest Picture: The Broadway Melody
1937Became a teenager
Hindenburg disaster; Golden Gate Bridge opens
Gas: $0.20/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"A-Tisket, A-Tasket" — Ella FitzgeraldBest Picture: The Life of Emile Zola
1940Could drive
The Blitz: Germany bombs London
Gas: $0.18/galHome: $2,938Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"I'll Never Smile Again" — Tommy DorseyBest Picture: Rebecca
1942Could vote
Battle of Midway turns the tide in the Pacific
Gas: $0.20/galHome: $3,175Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"White Christmas" — Bing CrosbyBest Picture: Mrs. Miniver
1945Turned 21
WWII ends; atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $4,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Sentimental Journey" — Les Brown & Doris DayBest Picture: The Lost Weekend
1954Turned 30
Brown v. Board of Education desegregates US schools
Gas: $0.29/galHome: $8,925Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Little Things Mean a Lot" — Kitty KallenBest Picture: On the Waterfront
1964Turned 40
Civil Rights Act signed; Beatles arrive in America
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $13,450Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"I Want to Hold Your Hand" — The BeatlesBest Picture: My Fair Lady
1974Turned 50
Nixon resigns the presidency
Gas: $0.53/galHome: $22,600Min wage: $2.00/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"The Way We Were" — Barbra StreisandBest Picture: The Godfather Part II
1984Turned 60
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1994Turned 70
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
2004Turned 80
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2017Died at 93
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
Key Achievements
- Served as the President of El Salvador from 1977 until his overthrow by a military coup in 1979.
- Was the final president of the military dictatorship that had controlled El Salvador since 1931.
- Held the rank of General in the Salvadoran Army prior to and during his presidency.
Did You Know?
Following his ouster, he lived in exile for a period, including time in Guatemala.
He returned to El Salvador in the 1990s after the civil war ended.
His presidency was immediately preceded by that of Colonel Arturo Armando Molina.
“The armed forces are the guarantors of national stability and order.”
