Maria Eva Duarte was born on May 7, 1919 in Los Toldos Argentina. She was the youngest illegitimate child of Juan Duarte and his mistress Juana Ibarguen. Despite her challenging childhood – with a father who had his own family and only sporadically visited them – Eva’s name was given by her father to Juana’s children. Tragically, her father passed away when she was seven years old, leaving the entire family in dire circumstances, living together in a small one-room dwelling.
To make ends meet, Eva, along with her sisters and mother, worked as cooks for a wealthy and influential family in Los Toldos. Through this job, Eva got firsthand exposure to the privileged families that held power in Argentina.
In “La Razon de Mi Vida,” Eva reflects on her childhood experiences with sorrow over poverty and the stark contrast of wealth: “I remember feeling very sad for many days when I discovered that there were both poor and rich people in the world. What struck me the most was not the suffering of the poor but rather the coexistence of wealth.” These memories served as an awakening for Eva regarding social injustice and fueled her determination to take action for those lacking basic necessities.
In 1930, Juana Ibarguen decided to leave Los Toldos and move to Junin with her entire family in search of a better future. Evita always dreamed of being an actress and believed in her own calling. She participated in various school recitals and plays. By 1935, Eva had chosen to pursue a career as a renowned actress. Shortly after turning fifteen, she met Agustin Magaldi, a tango singer who came to Junin for performances. Eva decided to go with him to Buenos Aires during a time when Argentina was grappling with poverty, unemployment, and hunger.
Initially, it was challenging for her; she struggled financially for ten years on a very low income. However, she managed to get small roles on Belgrano Radio and also landed insignificant parts in theater productions. After persevering for a decade, her luck began to change as she climbed up the ladder and earned roles that brought her into the spotlight as an actress. She also secured roles in several movies.
An earthquake on January 15, 1944 devastated San Juan, causing numerous fatalities. Secretary of Labor and Welfare, Juan Domingo Peron, led a national relief effort to assist the city’s residents. Notable celebrities, including Eva Duarte, were invited to contribute to the relief efforts. A festival held on January 22 aimed to raise funds for the earthquake victims. It was during this event that a connection formed between Colonel Juan Domingo Peron and Eva Duarte, which would have a significant impact on Argentina’s history. At the time, Peron was the designated vice-president and Eva had three radio programs on Belgrano radio. However, their relationship was met with disapproval from many. Despite opposition, Eva persuaded Peron to support the working class, much to the government’s discontent. On October 9, a major turning point occurred when the president requested Peron’s resignation, and Eva was dismissed from Belgrano radio. In this moment, Eva embraced her role as an advocate for their rights and fought for what she believed was just. Following Peron’s resignation, Eva rallied many individuals who had previously been helped by Peron and urged them to support Juan Domingo Peron in return.A considerable number of individuals, particularly those in the working class, united to challenge the media and encourage Peron to address the public. As soon as he spoke to the crowd and received their enthusiastic support, the people began chanting “Peron for president”. The credit for this achievement goes to Eva and her ability to mobilize and rally the people in support of Peron. Shoulder to shoulder, she fought alongside them, organizing the movement and leading the people to the Plaza, positioning herself at the forefront. Ultimately, it was the people who succeeded in reinstating Peron. Reflecting back on this event, Eva would later comment: “The week of October 1945 is marked by both shadows and lights. It may be better if we maintain some distance while examining it. Nonetheless, this does not prevent me from asserting with complete honesty that the light only emanated from the people.” Eva exhibited immense empathy and affection towards the working class, whom she dedicatedly cared for, commonly known as the “descamisados” or shirtless ones. This marked a new chapter in Argentina’s history, with its origins rooted in one man, Peron, a woman named Eva, and their loyal support base – the descamisados.
On December 9, Eva and Peron were married, with Peron becoming the Labor Party candidate. By the end of December, their political campaign had spread throughout the country. This was a historic moment as it marked the first time a candidate’s wife actively supported them on the campaign trail. Eva took on various tasks such as distributing buttons and propaganda and personally greeting people to make them feel equal to her. This strategy helped create a stronger connection between the people and both Peron and Eva. Eventually, on March 28, Peron won the elections. As a result, Eva Duarte became Eva Peron and assumed the role of Argentina’s first lady. However, this upset some members of high society who criticized her humble background and lack of education. Despite facing criticism, Eva remained dedicated to her political pursuits and challenged societal expectations that women should only stay at home instead of engaging in politics. She aimed to challenge traditional norms in Argentina. Despite conventions stating that only close friends use nicknames for each other, Evita – as she affectionately came to be known – embraced this deviation from social norms. While she quickly gained popularity among the general public, those belonging to elite circles despised her presence.During her first year as the first lady, Evita eagerly anticipated an invitation to lead a prominent charity organization called the “Sociedad de Beneficiencia,” managed by influential women in Argentine society. However, she never received this offer, indicating that these women did not want her in that position. In response, Evita dismantled the organization and created her own – the “Fundacion Eva Peron.” This foundation had a significant budget and focused on assisting those in need, especially children whom Evita deeply cared for. Her personal experiences of poverty fueled her immense empathy towards the less fortunate. By 1952, Evita occupied an office on the fourth floor of a central post and telecommunications building where she welcomed workers and addressed their concerns. She formed strong alliances with labor unions, strengthening her political influence. In addition to providing aid to those in need and implementing programs for women like granting them suffrage rights and establishing residences for unmarried working girls, Evita also advocated for empowering career-oriented women in Argentina.
Evita’s growing fame led to opportunities for travel. In June 1947, the Spanish government extended an official invitation to her, prompting a tour that would span several countries. Evita’s journey included visits to Spain, Italy, Portugal, France, Switzerland, Monaco, Brazil, and Uruguay. In Spain, she received high praise and honors, such as the esteemed Great Cross of Isabel the Catholic. However, her visit to Italy was met with some resistance, particularly from the communist party who openly denounced her visit with chants of “Down with Fascism”! Throughout her trip in Europe, Evita made a point to visit factories, impoverished neighborhoods, and other areas where working-class individuals resided. As a result, she generously made significant donations during these visits.
After Evita’s return from Europe, she resumed her activities, primarily focusing on women’s rights and their suffrage movement. Women in Argentina were gaining political influence at this time. Encouraged by her popularity, Evita aspired to run for vice-president but faced opposition from high-ranking military officers who feared she would overshadow the president. The military strongly disliked her and rejected the idea of Evita leading as commander in chief. However, in 1946, Evita’s social work began to have a significant impact through the Social Help crusade. This campaign aimed to provide affordable housing, temporary homes, school food programs, job opportunities for the unemployed, instruments for hospitals, donations to those in need, and toys for underprivileged children. Evita brought about notable changes in the country such as substantial hospital donations and the construction of polyclinics. Her foundation even established a nursing school. By this time, Evita had become the most influential figure in Argentina with unwavering support from the people. Despite her glorious moments of popularity, she remained dedicated to improving the welfare of the poor while battling cancer — a terminal disease that severely affected her health in 1951Despite facing personal struggles, Eva Peron remained dedicated and continued working hard for her people. Tragically, despite her tireless efforts and significant contributions to the country, as well as the hope she inspired in the people, Eva Peron passed away in July 1952. Even on her deathbed, her main concern was still for her people. She made a request to Peron to take care of the “descamisados,” whom she considered like her own children, perhaps due to being unable to have children of her own. The reaction from the people was extraordinary – Argentina mourned for several days following their immense loss. Thousands of individuals waited in long queues just for a glimpse of Eva. Even Juan Peron was amazed by the overwhelming love the people had for her, stating, “I did not know they loved her this much!” The people even went as far as asking for Evita’s canonization as a saint from the pope; however, this desire was never fulfilled. Nevertheless, many already regarded her as a saint and affectionately called her “Santa Evita.” Her body underwent embalming and was displayed in December 1974. However, in 1976, it was returned to Eva’s family and placed in a vault located in Buenos Aires.
There are three books that cover the biography of Eva Peron. These books include “BIOGRAPHY-EVA PERON” by Nicholas Fraser, published by W.W. Norton & Co., N.Y., in 1984, “EVITA FIRST LADY” by John Barnes, published by Grove Press, Inc., N.Y., in 1978, and “THE WOMAN WITH THE WHIP” by Maria Flores, published by Doubleday and Co., N.Y., in 1952.
– “EVA PERON, THE MYTHS OF A WOMAN” by J.M. Taylor was published in 1979 by The University of Chicago Press. Another book titled “THE PERON ERA” was written by Robert J. Alexander and published in 1965 by Rusell & Rusell INC.
