Miguel de la Madrid
A technocratic president who steered Mexico through a devastating economic crisis and the traumatic 1985 earthquake, forever altering its political landscape.
1934–2012 (age 78)·President of Mexico from 1982 to 1988·Birthday: December 12·The Silent Generation
Biography
Miguel de la Madrid inherited a country in freefall. Sworn into office in December 1982, the Harvard-educated economist faced an immediate debt crisis that forced austerity, currency devaluation, and a painful restructuring of the Mexican economy. His presidency, under the long-ruling PRI, was defined by technocratic management of scarcity and the seeds of political change. The catastrophic 1985 Mexico City earthquake became a pivotal moment, exposing the frailties of the state and catalyzing the rise of a powerful civil society that demanded accountability. De la Madrid's administration also navigated the controversial 1988 presidential election, marked by allegations of fraud, which signaled the beginning of the PRI's eventual decline. His six-year term is remembered as a period of necessary but painful economic correction and a reluctant, incremental political opening.
The Silent Generation
1928–1945
Born between the Depression and the end of WWII. Too young to fight, old enough to remember. They became the conformist middle managers of the 1950s — and the civil rights leaders who quietly dismantled Jim Crow.
Miguel was born in 1934, placing them squarely in The Silent 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 Miguel Was Born
The biggest hits of 1934
#1 Movie
It Happened One Night
Best Picture
It Happened One Night
Miguel's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1934Born
Gas: $0.19/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Stars Fell on Alabama" — Jack TeagardenBest Picture: It Happened One Night
1939Started school
World War II begins; The Wizard of Oz premieres
Gas: $0.19/galMin wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Over the Rainbow" — Judy GarlandBest Picture: Gone with the Wind
1947Became a teenager
India gains independence; the Dead Sea Scrolls found
Gas: $0.23/galHome: $6,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Near You" — Francis CraigBest Picture: Gentleman's Agreement
1950Could drive
Korean War begins
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,354Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Goodnight Irene" — Gordon Jenkins & The WeaversBest Picture: All About Eve
1952Could vote
Queen Elizabeth II ascends the throne
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $8,350Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Blue Tango" — Leroy AndersonBest Picture: The Greatest Show on Earth
1955Turned 21
Rosa Parks refuses to give up her bus seat
Gas: $0.29/galHome: $9,550Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Rock Around the Clock" — Bill Haley & His CometsBest Picture: Marty
1964Turned 30
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 40
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 50
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1994Turned 60
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 70
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
2012Died at 78
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
Key Achievements
- Initiated a major economic liberalization program, including Mexico's accession to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) in 1986.
- Oversaw the government's response to the 1985 Mexico City earthquake, which killed thousands and led to massive citizen mobilization.
- Began a policy of 'moral renovation' aimed at combating government corruption, though with limited practical success.
- Presided over the contentious 1988 presidential election that many believe was marked by significant electoral fraud.
Did You Know?
He earned a Master's degree in Public Administration from Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government.
Before becoming president, he served as Secretary of Budget and Planning.
His presidential campaign slogan was 'Renovación moral de la sociedad' (Moral renovation of society).
He was the first Mexican president to have a degree from a foreign university.
“We have to change to preserve what is essential.”
