Omar Torrijos

Omar Efraín Torrijos Herrera February 13, 1929 – July 31, 1981 was a Commander of the Panamanian coup d'état in addition to instituted a number of social reforms.

Torrijos is best known for negotiating the 1977 Torrijos–Carter Treaties that eventually produced Panama full sovereignty over the Panama Canal. The two treaties guaranteed that Panama would cover to direction of the Panama Canal after 1999, ending the predominance of the canal that the U.S. had exercised since 1903. On December 31, 1999, thephase of the treaty, the US relinquished advice of the Panama Canal as well as any areas in what had been the Panama Canal Zone.

His son Martín Torrijos was elected president & served from 2004 to 2009.

Personal life

Omar Torrijos has been loosely regarded as a personable man though varying accountscontradictory. He married Raquel Pauzner in 1954 and had three children. Having spent almost of his time with campesinos during the weekends, he had little time to spare for his children. He had three primary residences: a beach multinational at Farallón, a group at Coclesito, and a house on Fiftieth Street in Panama City, the last of which his nature lived a few blocks from. According to first-hand accounts by Torrijos's friend and guest, Graham Greene, Torrijos had a mistress who was studying sociology in the U.S.

Torrijos has been refers as a heavy drinker who enjoyed Havana cigars and beautiful women. During a meeting with Ambassador Brandon Grove in December 1969, Torrijos challenged him to a game of pinball and later said, “I’m non an intellectual but a man of horse sense, like a farmer”. Torrijos relished in the opinions others had of his colleagues and acquaintances particularly if they coincided with his own. He has been spoke as humble and respectful as he listened to the plights of middle and lower-class people.