Vicente Fox
Tuesday,
February 27, 2007
The Omni Hotels Lecture
Vicente Fox holds a significant place in the political history of Mexico. In 2000, his election as the country's 62nd president ended seven decades of rule by the Institutional Revolutionary Party. President Fox's term, which ended in December 2006, was marked by Mexico's increased democratization and unprecedented economic stability. During his presidency, Mexico achieved control of inflation, a reduction of poverty, and the lowest unemployment rate in Latin America. Reforms included a federally funded social assistance program and a national medical insurance system. President Fox also placed increased emphasis on foreign affairs.
Vicente Fox was a successful rancher and business executive before entering politics. Born in Mexico City, he spent much of his childhood on his father's ranch in Guanajuato. After studying at the Universidad Iberoamericana and taking classes from the Harvard Business School, he joined the Coca-Cola Company in 1964. He rose to become supervisor of Coca-Cola's operations in Mexico and later in all of Latin America. His political career began in 1988, when he was elected to the Chamber of Deputies, the lower house of Mexico's Congress. He was elected governor of Guanajuato in 1995, serving in that office until 1999. As governor, he earned a reputation for promoting small businesses, increasing exports to the United States, and improving schools.