Jean-Claude Duvalier

Jean-Claude Duvalier was the president of Haiti from 1971 until 1986. He was often called "Baby Doc" by the public. He rose to power following the death of his father, François Duvalier. His father was known as "Papa Doc." At only 19 years old, Jean-Claude became the youngest president in the world. He was also the only non-royal state leader under the age of 20. This transition created a dynastic rule where power stayed within one family.

Duvalier held absolute power because of the Haitian constitution. He initially resisted the idea of a dynasty. He actually preferred that his older sister, Marie-Denise, become the leader. Instead, he delegated most administrative duties to his mother, Simone Ovide, and a committee. This committee was led by Luckner Cambronne, the Interior Minister. While his advisors worked, Duvalier often focused on ceremonial duties and a playboy lifestyle. He eventually allowed a group of hardline followers called "dinosaurs" to dominate Haitian affairs.

His government used several methods to manage the nation's wealth. One major source of money was the Régie du Tabac, or Tobacco Administration. This was a tobacco monopoly established decades earlier. Duvalier turned this into a "non-fiscal account." He used it as a slush fund for government money. He expanded it to include proceeds from many other government enterprises. Because no balance sheets were kept, it was difficult to track the funds. Transparency International later reported that he may have embezzled between US$300 million and US$800 million.

Economic conditions in Haiti were very difficult during his rule. Most Haitians faced widespread poverty. In 1978, an outbreak of African swine fever occurred on the island. To stop the virus, U.S. authorities insisted on destroying all pigs in Haiti by 1982. This program was called PEPPEDEP. It caused economic devastation for peasants who used pigs as investments. Later, in the early 1980s, tourism declined because of reports regarding HIV/AIDS. These factors led to increased hunger and malnutrition across the country.

Social tension grew due to the lifestyle of the ruling family. In 1980, Duvalier married Michèle Bennett. Their wedding cost US$2 million, which was an enormous amount of money. This extravagance was criticized by the international press and Haitian dissidents. During the marriage, corruption increased among the Duvalier and Bennett families. Some reports even accused them of trafficking in narcotics and selling cadavers to foreign medical schools. This behavior caused deep anger among the business community and the elite.

In 1983, Pope John Paul II visited Haiti and spoke about the need for change. He called on those with power and riches to help their brothers and sisters. This message encouraged more political and social activism. By 1985, a revolt began in the provinces. Demonstrations and raids on food warehouses started in Gonaïves. Protests soon spread to Cap-Haïtien and other southern cities like Les Cayes. Duvalier tried to stop the unrest by cutting food prices and closing radio stations, but the uprising continued.

By early 1986, the United States began to pressure Duvalier to leave. The Reagan administration used intermediaries to negotiate his departure. In February 1986, Duvalier and his wife successfully fled to France. They traveled on a U.S. Air Force aircraft. He lived in self-imposed exile in France for twenty-five years. During this time, he lived a luxurious life for a time, but later lost much of his wealth. He did not seek employment or write books about his time in power.

Duvalier unexpectedly returned to Haiti on January 16, 2011. He stated he returned to help with the reconstruction of the country. However, many people believed he returned to access US$4 million frozen in a Swiss bank account. Haitian police arrested him the very next day. He faced charges of corruption and human rights abuse. In 2013, he pleaded not guilty to these charges. Jean-Claude Duvalier died of a heart attack on October 4, 2014. He was 63 years old.