César González Martínez

Dr. Cesar Gonzalez Martinez (14 December 1904, San Cristóbal, Táchira - 9 July 1984, Caracas), Venezuelan I.D. Nº 002, was a Lawyer with an intense intellectual and cultural background, versed in several languages (Spanish, English, French and Italian). In 1929 he obtained his Doctorate in Political Science at Universidad Central de Venezuela and continued studies and specialization courses at La Sorbonne(France) and Lausanne (Switzerland) between 1932-1936.

He dedicated his life to public service in Venezuela and in the foreign service, where he had an outstanding performance as Ambassador of Venezuela in several countries. At an early age he served as deputy to the National Congress, Vice President to the Chamber of Representatives of Congress (1929-1932), Senator for the State of El Tachira and Minister of The (1942-1943) forming part of admired President Isaías Medina Angarita's Cabinet. Of his extensive diplomatic career, an outstanding part was his performance as Ambassador of Venezuela in Mexico (1943-1945), Permanent Representative of Venezuela at the United Nations (1946-1952) and Ambassador of Venezuela to the United (1952-1958), in Washington D.C.

Early life

Son of Dr. Rubén González Cárdenas; lawyer, politician and prominent Minister of Public Education and Minister of the Interior during the regime of General Juan Vicente Gómez; and of Doña Dolores Martínez de González, was the first-born of a Tachira family of four children (César, Blanca, Tulia and Ana Clotilde).^[1] His first elementary studies were in Capacho, under the teachings of Carlos Julio Reyes. His infancy passes by is in a period of general political turmoil in San Cristobal until 1917 when the family moves to Caracas.

We assume that César González Martínez was raised in a happy family, as he describes in the biography he wrote on his father where he describes his home as " a holy place" . "Where no political intrigue or matters of public life dared to enter.”^[2] And if we accept that "what is learned within the family has a permanent and persuasive force”,^[3] we can reason that many personal traits and decisions that market his life were born of González- Martínez ways.

Of his father he describes as a man that "when he arrived home, he knew how to put aside his daily chores and, in an inflexible way, forbade the family being involved or to be the instrument of political events”.^[4] This manner of being must have left a profound mark in the González offspring, as “family education works by example, not through long discursive work sessions, and is supported by gestures, shared sense of humor, habits of the heart and emotional persuasion”.^[5] In this way does César González grow under the benefactor shade of Dolores Martínez and the talented Dr. Rubén González, an upright, admired and generous man. Comments are that many a time he would “slide carefully… between the main door and the hallway, an envelope with a sum that would remedy cruel necessity for the family of friends that could not make ends meet”.^[6]

César González refers to the moral fiber of his father as "almost organic” ^[7] and assures that “in applying the Law he was implacable, his North: correction, and the energy to enforce it”.^[8] This combination of a smart man, inflexible but "that wanted to share with others his possessions”,^[9] comes out in the proceedings of César González, as a writer: he is precise in his prose, meticulous in his investigations, exact in his chronicle and lyrical in his speech.

Education

Attends elementary school at the Escuela Normal de Hombres de Caracas, under the teachings of Teodosio V. Sánchez. Attends high school at Colegio Francés, Colegio Salesiano and Liceo Caracas, under the teachings of Rómulo Gallegos, today Liceo Andrés Bello. Graduates from Law School and obtains his Doctorate in Political Science (1929) at Universidad Central de Venezuela, involved in the complex political movements of those transitional times.

César González had the fortune to assist as friend and secretary to his father, Dr. Rubén González, “was acquainted with his ideas, knew of his doubts, and was his companion at the moment of his political misfortune, he was present in conversations between founders of political movements that visited Minister González, he learned terrible secrets, and was silent witness of General Juan Vicente Gomez actions as Chief of State and keeps an orderly archive as Minister to account even after death of any way of proceedings or doubts. “^[10]

On graduating from Political Science, 26 years old, he undertakes the responsibility as Congressman for the State of Bolivar, with a seat at National Congress between 1929-1932. Was Vice President of the Chamber of Representatives in 1931; Secretary of the Venezuela Delegation to the Assembly of the United Nations in 1932; Senator for the State of Táchira and Vice President of the Senate in 1942; Legal Consulter and Advisor to the State Treasury Department, 1941-1942; President of the Legal Bar Association, 1942; Member of the Fiscal Legislation Commission; Member of the Third Delegation of Ministers of The Americas in Río de Janeiro, 1942; Minister of the Interior, 1942-1943.

Personal life

Serving as Ambassador of Venezuela in Mexico, he married Georgina Cortés Guzmán (Puebla, Pue. 24 de abril de 1924 - Cuernavaca, Mor. 09 de Abril de 2003) on September 21, 1944. From this marriage came two children : María Dolores González Cortés, married to Mauro Henríquez Iturbe; and Rubén Daniel González Cortés, married to María Inés Hurtado de González.^[11]

Political life

Cabinet of General Isaías Medina Angarita in 1942.

National Identity Program under the Government of General Isaías Medina Angarita

In 1943 the first National Identity program is initiated by a decree promoted by the Ministry of the Interior, Dr. César González. The first Identity Cards issued were:^[12][13]

(001) Isaías Medina Angarita. (President)

(002) César González Martínez (Minister of Interior Relations).

(003) Alfredo Machado Hernández (Minister of Treasury).

(004) José Ramón Sanz Febres. (Director of National Security)

(005) Carlos Alfonso Urbaneja Pineda.

(006) Carlos Linares de Montemayor.

(007) Félix María Martínez Espino.

(008) Héctor Cuenca Carruyo (Governor of Zulia).

(009) Francisco Leonardi Gonzalo. (Governor of Federal District)

(010) José Gregorio Riera Fortique.

Foreign Service

Served as Ambassador of Venezuela in Mexico, 1943-1945; Ambassador in Ecuador, 1945; Venezuela Delegate at the Interamerican Conference for Matters of War and Peace, 1945; Chief of the Political Section at United Nations 1946-1950; Ambassador of Venezuela at the United Nations 1950-1952; Ambassador of Venezuela to the United 1952-1958; Venezuela Delegate for the X Interamerican Conference in Caracas 1954; Representative for the Venezuelan President at the Interamerican Nations Conference and President of the Conference, 1956.

Statues of Simon Bolivar

Instilled with a profound Bolivarian sense, Dr. César González promoted during his diplomatic career the authorizations and commissioning of statues, busts and plaques of Simon Bolivar in the countries where he served. Such was the case of the equestrian statue in Mexico City (1944). Dr. Cesar González communicating with the then Minister of Foreign affairs, José Loreto Arismendi, (official communication No. 1429 dated June 2, 1957) appreciates that the President of Venezuela approves his suggestion to provide to all the cities and towns that have the name of Bolívar with a bust, plaque or statue that perpetuates in bronze the fact of being named Bolivar. In the United States there are fourteen (14) populations that have taken the name of Bolívar. The project included commissioning famed sculptor Felix De Weldon (Iwo Jima Memorial) the important bronze equestrian statue located in Washington D.C.

Activities as Consulter, Advisor and Historian

During his seven-year stay in Mexico he served as Legal Advisor to the Mexican Housing Institute 1958-1965 and Official Chronicler of Distrito Capacho, Estado Táchira.

Activities in Genealogy and Heraldry

With the title "The Old Families of Tachira" (”Vieja Gente del Táchira”)^[14] Dr. César González makes an important contribution to the knowledge of family roots of the State of Tachira that were so influential in the political birth of Venezuela's economy and path towards a modern republican statehood. His work is highlighted by a rigorous methodology fruit of extensive research that goes back to the XV century when the first families arrived to the Andes region (now the State of Tachira, Venezuela), from Spain .

Honorary memberships

• Centro de Historia del Departamento Vargas, Distrito Federal
• Colegio de Abogados del Distrito Federal
• Grupo Nacional de Venezuela de la Corte permanente de Arbitraje
• Instituto de Ciencias Sociales de México
• Academia de Historia del Departamento Norte de Santander, Colombia
• Sociedad Bolivariana de Venezuela.
• Miembro de Número del Instituto Venezolano de Genealogía.
• Individuo de Número del Centro de Historia del Estado Táchira.
• Miembro honorario de la Orden de Abogados de Brasil.

Government decorations and awards

• Venezuela: Orden del Libertador, Gran Cordón; Orden de Andrés Bello, Banda de Honor; Orden Francisco de Miranda, Primera Clase.
• Colombia: Cruz de Boyacá, Primera Clase
• Mexico: Cruz del Águila Azteca, Primera Clase
• Nicaragua: Orden de Rubén Darío, Primera Clase
• France: Legión de Honor, Comendador
• Ecuador: Orden del Mérito, Gran Oficial.

Publications

• Historia del Estado Táchira (1981) Ediciones de la Presidencia de la República. Caracas, Venezuela.
• Vieja Gente del Táchira (1975). César González. Comandancia General de las Fuerzas Armadas de Cooperación. Caracas, Venezuela.
• Vieja Gente del Táchira - Crónicas Genealógicas (1975). Imprenta de la Guardia Nacional. Caracas, Venezuela.
• Vieja Gente del Táchira (1997) Colección Biblioteca de Autores y Temas Tachirenses, Volumen N° 134. Imprenta Nacional. Venezuela.
• Concepto Latinoamericano de Nacionalidad (1929). Universidad Central de Venezuela.
• Rubén González - Una Vida al Servicio de Venezuela (1972). Colección Biblioteca de Autores y Temas Tachirenses, Volumen N° 57.
• Rubén González - Una Vida al Servicio de Venezuela (1975). Publicaciones del Ministerio de Educación. Caracas, Venezuela.
• Tierras del Antiguo Capacho (1978). Ediciones Casa de la Cultura Manuel Antonio Díaz Cárdenas N° 7. Capacho, Estado Táchira, Venezuela.
• Dos Discursos (1980). Ediciones Casa de la Cultura Manuel Antonio Díaz Cárdenas, Capacho, Estado Táchira, Venezuela.
• El 5 de Julio de 1980 en Libertad (1981). Ediciones Casa de la Cultura Manuel Antonio Díaz Cárdenas. Capacho, Estado Táchira, Venezuela.

Interviews

• In "Isaías Medina Angarita, democracia y negación. Historia Contemporánea de Venezuela." Eduardo Guzmán Pérez (1985). Editorial Espasande. Caracas, Venezuela.

Reviews and publications

• Written profile: Dr. César González (1985). In: Isaías Medina Angarita - Democracia y Negación. J. Historia Contemporánea de Venezuela. By J. Eduardo Guzmán Pérez. Lithobinder C.A., pág. 281. Caracas, Venezuela.
• Written profile in: Las Estatuas de Simón Bolívar en el Mundo (1983). Centro Simon Bolívar. Caracas, Venezuela.
• Photographic profile of Dr. César González. En: Caracas LQQD (1977). Guillermo José Schael. Gráficas Armitano, pág. 157. Caracas, Venezuela.
• Written profile in: Venezuela y Estados Unidos a través de dos siglos (2000). Cámara Venezolana-Americana de Comercio e Industria. Tomás Polanco Alcántara, Simón Alberto Consalvi, Edgardo Mondolfi. Caracas, Venezuela.
• Written profile in: Historia del Estado Táchira (1981). Tulio Chiossone. Ediciones de la Presidencia de la República; pág. 134. Caracas, Venezuela.

Literary activity, speeches and presentations

César González is the author of many speeches of historical and literary nature. Of mention is as principal speaker at the solemn session of the Municipal Council of the District of Capacho, on May 20, 1973, on the occasion of the 98th anniversary of the founding of the population of Independence where his depth as a writer are displayed. The speech is divided into two portions, the first part develops the figure of a child (clearly himself) with a clarity in the narrative that comes only from first hand knowledge. The story provides an invaluable testimony with a descriptive capability that brings direct stimulus to the senses, spiced with a festive accent that helps commute through the every day life of the times. In the second part he describes the historical pillars of the town and its dwellers, sketching the basis that form the character and later social skills as citizens; with the skill of a chronicler that protects the embers of his inwardness as a poet. in another dissertation, give in the town of Liberty on the 5th of July 1980, he demonstrates a rigorous investigative and patriotic sense leaving uncovered the versatility of his abilities.

For last, in a speech before the Cultural Foundation of Capacho (Casa de la Cultura) on March 1978, giving tribute to prominent personalities of Tachira and welcoming new associates he again displays his gift as a writer. In an interview contained in the text Democracy and Negation by Eduardo Guzman P. (Democracia y Negación) shortly before his untimely death, he outlines the political panorama during the presidential period of Isaias Medina Angarita and his forerunners as actors and player (first as Legal Advisor and later as Minister of Internal Affairs). During the interview he provides an outlook on personalities: ¨I believe that the most astute politician that Venezuela has had was called Juan Vicente Gomez, even though this may seem sacrilegious”,^[15] “If we must recognize a trait of President Isaias Medina Angarita it was his North and vision on Venezuela, he was a man of discipline and restrain ”,^[16] General Medina surrounded himself with capable young men, such as myself and Dr. Arturo Uslar Pietri, who had all the right to be the next president of this country due to his career, executions and by being the man with most sympathy within the regime “.^[17] He evaluates periods: “When I formed part of his government... you could not speak of a political or philosophical doctrine, as the fundamental problem was to destroy the dictatorial regimes in Venezuela ”,^[18] “We had an economic situation that was tragic and grave, and he (President Medina), instead of reaching out for a loan pushes, towards revenue and an oil industry reform ”.^[19] and consigns national history ¨October 18 at the end was a defense toward Andean dominance, because according to the coup perpetrators President Medina was distancing himself from the military and leaning towards a civil rule and this was considered dangerous by the Andean faction supremacy¨

References