Fidel Sanchez Hernandez

Fidel Sanchez Hernandez (1917-2003) was a politician and former president of El Salvador. It could be said that Sanchez Hernandez led his country during a tumultous era. While presiding El Salvador from 1967 to 1972, Sanchez Hermandez faced war and economical turnoil.

Before becoming president, Sanchez Hernandez was an ARMY general in El Salvador. President Rivera promoted him to Minister of the Interior, where he performed until becoming president.

July of 1969 was the month that a Sanchez Hernandez led Salvatorean ARMY had their brief but violent war against Honduras (see: Football War). This led to a controversial move by Sanchez Hernandez when he pulled his troops away from war under a cease-fire agreement with the Organization of American States, much to the chagrin of many of his government's military leaders.

The war with Honduras led to much economical distress in El Salvador, which, in turn, also eventually led towards civil war in that country.

An accomplished military man with a lot of military experience, Sanchez Hernandez was succeded by Arturo Armando Molina[?] as president of El Salvador.

On the night of February 28, 2003, Sanchez Hernandez, aged 85, died of a heart attack while being taken to a military hospital in El Salvador.