Molina Ureña, José Rafael (1921–2000)

José Rafael Molina Ureña (b. 1921; d. May 2000), provisional president of the Dominican Republic (1965). The president of the Chamber of Deputies, José Rafael Molina Ureña was installed as provisional president of the Dominican Republic by the "constitutionalist" group of the Dominican Revolutionary Party (PRD) in 1965. The PRD government of Juan Bosch had been overthrown by the military after just seven months in office in 1963. The civilian triumvirate under Donald Reid Cabral that replaced it then fell victim to a coup in 1965. Meeting in secret, the dissolved Dominican Congress declared Molina Ureña the constitutional president of the republic. As a result, Molina Ureña was arrested and exiled to Puerto Rico by anti-Bosch and anti-PRD "loyalists." After the constitutionalists ousted the military triumvirate, Molina Ureña returned from exile and was sworn in as the interim president until Juan Bosch could return from exile in Puerto Rico.

The fighting between the Bosch and Molina Ureña constitutionalists and the anti-PRD loyalists caused great concern in Washington, which considered the PRD a Communist-influenced party. As the constitutionalists made headway against the loyalists and looked to win the struggle, the U.S. Marines arrived on 28 April 1965 to suppress the constitutionalists and establish order.

See alsoDominican Republic, Dominican Revolutionary Party (PRD) .

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Selden Rodman, Quisqueya: A History of the Dominican Republic (1964).

Howard J. Wiarda, The Dominican Republic: Nation in Transition (1969).

Ian Bell, The Dominican Republic (1981).

Howard J. Wiarda and M. J. Kryzanek, The Dominican Republic: A Caribbean Crucible (1982).

Additional Bibliography

Franco, Franklin J. La revolución constitucionalista de 1965: Vista por actores y testigos. Dominican Republic: Editora Universitaria, 2005.

Rosa, Jesús de la. La revolución de abril de 1965: Siete días de guerra civil. Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic: Editora Nacional, 2005.

                                           Heather K. Thiessen