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How to become a saint: One part illegitimate birth, one part poverty, one part runaway, one part aspiration, one part adultery, one part connections, one part charisma, one part politics, one part tragedy. Combine ingredients, bake for 33 years. When done baking, set aside to make sure combination is throughly burnt, cover with frosting and sprinkles. Market combination as most special, endearing, and beautiful ever made. Inflate demand and cost; then vanish for 17 years.
Maria Eva Duarte was born illegitimately to a wealthy rancher, who fled the four bastard children he had sired with Eva’s mother. Maria’s remaining family struggled through poverty for her first 15 years, and then she ran away to Buenos Aires. She had hoped to become an actress, but at 15 she had no inclination how to achieve such a goal. According to legend, or truth, no one can be certain, Eva became Tango Singer Agustin Magaldi’s mistress. She now had her first “connection” and slept her way through many men while using her sexuality to rise to the top. Eventually at 24, Eva found her way into the bed of a powerful Argentinian politician, Juan Peron.
Eva and Juan met at a charity event while raising money for earthquake victims. The two were seen exiting together after the event, and a month later were openly living together. This caused much scandal, but nothing dissuaded them, not even Juan’s being imprisoned in 1945 due to his expanding popularity. He was soon released after a groundswell of public support demonstrated outside the Casa Rosada, where Argentina’s Presidents reside. A day after his release from prison, Juan and Eva were married privately.
Once married, the Perons became even more powerful. Eva became the head of the Broadcast Performers Union. Subsequently, all performers were made to join, and Eva was the only choice to head the Union. She used this platform to speak melodramatic appreciation of her husband. Juan was then elected President in 1946, and a new chapter in Eva’s life began – First Lady.
Argentina was not ready for this. Argentian industry was largely run by European countries, notably England. Peron, however, was a Fascist, who admired Mussolini and Franco. The world had just come out of war a year earlier, and the new picture of Fascism was Mussolini and Hitler, which was bad publicity for Peron, who then suppressed any opposition. Domestically, the First Lady had many responsibilities, especially to charity, yet the Sociedad de Beneficencia (Beneficent Society), frowned upon Eva’s background as illegitimate born and an actress. They did not approach Eva with the customary offer of President, which was always given to the First Lady. Funding to the organization was cut, and then diverted into Eva’s new Fundacion Eva Peron. Using this newly founded Charity, Eva began to redistribute wealth socialistically from the rich and especially the middle class to the poor. Eva was now being viewed as a saint amongst the poor, and a sinner amongst the rich.
Though the poor loved Eva, the country was in trouble. European businesses fled, as they were forced to do so. Industries were nationalized, and it was forbidden to speak against the Perons. The Fundacion was not doing bookkeeping, and money was disappearing. Undaunted, Eva wanted to be made Vice President at the next election in 1951. She campaigned, but her tireless work ethic, 20-22 hour days, at her foundation was taking a toll on her. She had to tearfully decline the nomination for Vice Presidency. Support for the Perons failed steadily, and now the military was against Eva, and the poor who were receiving many gifts from the foundation were now further in misery. Eva was also becoming visibly ill.
In 1950, Eva underwent an appendectomy. Her illness did not stop, and became much more serious. In 1951 she was diagnosed with Cervical Cancer, and had a hysterectomy. Problems continued, and Eva became more frail. When she spoke in public, Juan would have to hold her up due to her own weakness. Chemotherapy was begun in 1952, which only furthered Eva’s already rapid decline. Cancer spread to her lungs, then throughout her body. On July 26, 1952 at 8:25 everything in Argentina came to a halt as a radio broadcast announced “It is my sad duty to inform you that today at 20:25 eva Peron, Spiritual Leader of the Nation, entered immortality.” Argentina went into deep mourning.
Juan remained President until a coup overthrew his crumbling regime in 1955. Plans were being made to memorialize “Evita”, as she became affectionately known, but when Juan’s government was ousted, Eva’s body disappeared. The military government that succeded Peron finally told the world what had happened to Eva’s missing corpse after a 17 year vanishing act. It was in Milan, Italy under the name Maria Maggi. Peron and his third wife, Isabel, brought the body into their Spanish home upon discovery, and displayed it on their dining room table. When Peron returned to power in 1974, Evita was laid to rest in her present tomb. Juan died a year later, and his wife Isabel became the first Western Head of State, only to be deposed in 1977 in disgrace.
Evita became the subject of plays and movies. She has held the world more captive in death than she did in life, and now is called Santa Evita being viewed as sacred in Argentina.
armchaircapitalist 