Eva Duarte de Perón

Perón, Eva Duarte de (1919–52), popularly known as Evita, second wife of Argentina's President Juan Perón. A powerful presence in the politics of Argentina, she ran the ministry of labor in her husband's first government (beginning in 1946). She attempted to run for the vice presidency (1951), but leading Argentine military officers blocked her bid for that position. Her background was humble—she was an actress from a poor family. She died of cancer in 1952.

See also: Argentina.