Rafael Caldera 1916 – 2009

Biography

Rafael Caldera was born on January 24, 1916, in San Felipe, Venezuela, during a transformative period in his nation’s history. He would go on to play a significant role in Venezuelan politics, serving as president during two distinct periods that shaped the country’s development. His life spanned nearly a century, witnessing profound changes in both his homeland and the wider world.

Caldera’s presidency was marked by two separate terms: first from 1969 to 1974, and then again from 1994 to 1999. These non-consecutive periods of leadership demonstrated his enduring influence in Venezuelan political life and the confidence placed in him by voters across different generations. His tenure encompassed critical decades for the nation.

He spent his final years in Caracas, where he remained active in public life until his health declined. Caldera passed away on December 24, 2009, at the age of 93, succumbing to Parkinson’s disease after a long life of public service. He was laid to rest at East Cemetery in Caracas, leaving behind a legacy as one of Venezuela’s most prominent twentieth-century political figures.