Aurelio Mario García Menocal (December 17, 1866, Jagüey Grande, Matanzas, Cuba – September 7, 1941 in Santiago de Cuba, Cuba) was the third President of Cuba, from 1913 to 1921. His terms as president saw Cuba's participation in World War I.



Youth

Garcia Menocal was thirteen when he was sent to boarding schools in the United States, first at the Institute of Chappaqua in New York, and later at the Maryland College of Agriculture. In 1884, he then went to Cornell University where he graduated in 1888 from the School of Engineering. While at Cornell University, he was a member first of the Phi Kappa Psi and later the Delta Kappa Epsilon (Delta Chi Chapter) fraternities. He was also a member of the Irving Literary Society. As a young man he was involved in Cuba's fight for independence from Spain. When Cuba did receive independence following the Spanish-American War Menocal became a leading conservative politician.

Time in office

Mario García Menocal was elected President in 1912 and became known for his strong support of business and corporations. He was reelected in 1916, though the election was challenged by the liberals. In perhaps his most notable action, Menocal authorized Cuba's declaration of war against Germany on April 7, 1917, entering World War I a day after the United States. This was believed by many to be an attempt to get the United States to give more support to his government.

While in office, Menocal hosted the 1920 Delta Kappa Epsilon National Convention,[1] the first international fraternity conference outside the US, which took place in Cuba. Private trains were hired from New England to Florida where the invited men and their families could travel in comfort and style, and upon arrival in Cuba each man was gifted a gold-trimmed box of cigars. Menocal's hospitality is still remembered in the fraternity to this day.

Later life

After his presidency, Menocal continued to be involved in politics, running for President again in 1924. He attempted a revolution in 1931, and went into exile in the United States when it failed. After less than five years he returned to Cuba and ran for President a final time in 1936.

Family

Garcia Menocal was married to Mariana Seva and they had three children, Mario (who married Hortensia Almagro), Raul (who married Perlita Fowler) and Georgina Garcia Menocal y Seva (who married Eugenio Sardina).

References

    * Otero, Juan Joaquin (1954). Libro De Cuba, Una Enciclopedia Ilustrada Que Abarca Las Artes, Las Letras, Las Ciencias, La Economia, La Politica, La Historia, La Docencia, Y ElProgreso General De La Nacion Cubana - Edicion Conmemorative del Cincuentenario de la Republica de Cuba, 1902-1952.  (Spanish)
    * Argote-Freyre, Frank (2006). Fulgencio Batista: From Revolutionary to Strongman. New Brunswick, New Jersey: Rutgers University Press. ISBN 9780813537016. OCLC 59223855.
    * Minot, John Clair (February 1921). "The Convention in Havana," Delta Kappa Epsilon Quarterly, XXXIX, 1, p. 1-25.
    * Fogle, Homer William Jr. (25 Nov 2005). The Deke House at Cornell: a concise history of the Delta Chi Chapter of Delta Kappa Epsilon, 1870-1930. Cf. pp. 27, 57, 60, 64, 66-69.

   1. ^ H. William Fogel. "The Deke House at Cornell A Concise History of the Delta Chi Chapter of Delta Kappa Epsilon, 1870-1930". p. 66. http://ecommons.library.cornell.edu/bitstream/1813/3235/4/DX%20Narrative%201870-1930.pdf. Retrieved 2010-12-02.

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