Wikipedia:Rafael Sánchez Agüero

Rafael Rámon Sánchez Agüero (23 September 1928 – 22 July 1995), was a Venezuelan military general and politician. He ran for president once in 1978 but did not succeed. Sánchez Agüero served in the Venezuelan military for 14 years before being promoted Major General in 1963. He was an important figure in fighting against the leftist guerrilla movement Armed Forces of National Liberation (FALN).

Background
Sánchez was born in Valencia, Carabobo State, son of José Sánchez Leoni, born in Beirut. He graduated from the Military Academy of Venezuela in 1949.

Career
In 1963, he was appointed Major General by president Raúl Leoni. He spent many years fighting in the state of Táchira against the FALN. His position as Major General was placed into question by many after he unsuccessfully lost an armed fight between the guerrilla group. In 1961, he transported president John F. Kennedy from Maiquetía airport to the United States Embassy in Caracas. In 1967, his family was put at risk after terrorists from the FALN after an attempted kidnapping was taken place at his residence in Caracas. Sánchez is praised for eliminating the FALN in 1969 after a long fight was fought between the military and the guerrilla group in the state of Táchira.

In 1978, Sánchez announced he would run for president of Venezuela together with the Democratic Republican Union Party. Sánchez only gained 1.7% of the popular vote, receiving a little over 90,000 votes in his home city of Valencia. Sánchez retired from politics to spend more time with family.

Sánchez opened an English school in Miami, Florida, in 1983. Many famous actors and musicians studied at the school such as Barbara Palacios and Julio Iglesias. The school closed in 1990 after Sánchez chose to return to Venezuela.

Personal life
Rafael Sánchez was married to Herminia Salas de Sánchez. They had eight children. Sánchez lived in Miami, Florida for seven years while operating an English school for Spanish speakers. Sanchez died on 22 July 1995 at 66 years old after suffering a heart attack at Dr. Carlos Arvelo Military Hospital. He is buried next to his son, Orson, at Cementerio del Este.