Anastasio Somoza Debayle

Anastasio "Tachito" Somoza DeBayle was officially the 73rd and 76th President of Nicaragua. As the leader of Nicaragua's military he was really the leader of the country from 1967 to 1979.

Anastasio Somoza DeBayle
President of Nicaragua
In office 1 December 1974 – 17 July 1979
Preceded by	Liberal-Conservative Junta
Succeeded by	Francisco Urcuyo
In office 1 May 1967 – 1 May 1972
Vice President	Francisco Urcuyo and Alfonso Callejas Deshón
Preceded by	Lorenzo Guerrero
Succeeded by	Liberal-Conservative Junta
Personal details
Born	(1925-12-05)December 5, 1925 León, Nicaragua
Died	September 17, 1980(1980-09-17) (aged 54) Asunción, Paraguay
Political party	Nationalist Liberal Party (PLN)
Spouse(s)	Hope Portocarrero (married 1950-divorced late 1970s.)
Children	Anastasio Somoza Portocarrero, Julio Somoza Portocarrero, Carolina Somoza Portocarrero, Carla Somoza Portocarrero, Roberto Somoza Portocarrero

Many people did not like Somoza as a leader. A group called the Sandinista National Liberation Front wanted to make Nicaragua a better country. They had support from inside and outside the country. In 1975 Somoza Debayle tried to stop the Sandinistas and anyone in Nicaragua who supported them. The Soviet Union and Cuba were giving the Sandinistas money to keep fighting the Somoza family. In 1979 the United States stopped supporting Somoza.

On 17 July 1979 Somoza quit the presidency. He fled to Miami but U.S. President Jimmy Carter would not allow him to enter the country. Somoza then went to Paraguay.

On 17 September 1980 the Sandinistas assassinated Somoza DeBayle.