Rodolfo Terragno (born 16 November 1943) is an Argentine politician and lawyer, former

Senator A senate is a deliberative assembly, often the upper house or Legislative chamber, chamber of a bicameral legislature. The name comes from the Ancient Rome, ancient Roman Senate (Latin: ''Senatus''), so-called as an assembly of the senior ...

and journalist. From 2016 to 2019, he was Argentina's ambassador to

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Life and times

Terragno was born in

Buenos Aires Buenos Aires, controlled by the government of the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, is the Capital city, capital and largest city of Argentina. It is located on the southwest of the Río de la Plata. Buenos Aires is classified as an Alpha− glob ...

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, in 1943 and obtained a law degree from the

University of Buenos Aires The University of Buenos Aires (, UBA) is a public university, public research university in Buenos Aires, Argentina. It is the second-oldest university in the country, and the largest university of the country by enrollment. Established in 1821 ...

in 1967, founding the law firm of Terragno & Associates. He married Sonia Pascual Sánchez, with whom he had two children. He became a prestigious journalist, appointed editor-in-chief for the

newsmagazine A news magazine is a typed, printed, and published magazine, radio, or television program, usually published weekly, consisting of articles about current events. News magazines generally discuss stories in greater depth than newspapers or new ...

''Confirmado'' between 1967 and 1968, was a columnist for ''La Opinión'' newspaper, and an editor in ''Cuestionario'' magazine. Terragno became adjunct professor of law at his alma mater in 1973. Intimidation by the

dictatorship A dictatorship is an autocratic form of government which is characterized by a leader, or a group of leaders, who hold governmental powers with few to no Limited government, limitations. Politics in a dictatorship are controlled by a dictator, ...

installed in 1976 led to his exile in

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, where he became editor-in-chief of ''

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''. In 1980, he was appointed researcher for the

Institute of Latin American Studies The Institute of Latin American Studies (ILAS) was one of nine research institutes that comprised the School of Advanced Study at the University of London. It was located in the landmarked Senate House building in Bloomsbury, central London. F ...

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and for the

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, posts he held until 1982. He remained in London as editor-in-chief of ''Letters'', until 1987.Biografia, terragno.org
/ref> Affiliated to the centrist

Radical Civic Union The Radical Civic Union (, UCR) is a major political party in Argentina. It has reached the national government on ten occasions, making it one of the most historically important parties in the country. Ideologically, the party has stood for r ...

since 1961, he was appointed

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by President

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in 1987, whereby he initiated a modest program of privatizations. Terragno received the

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from

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President

François Mitterrand François Maurice Adrien Marie Mitterrand (26 October 19168 January 1996) was a French politician and statesman who served as President of France from 1981 to 1995, the longest holder of that position in the history of France. As a former First ...

, in 1987. Elected

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in 1993, he campaigned against the

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negotiated between UCR leader

and President

Carlos Menem Carlos Saúl Menem (2 July 1930 – 14 February 2021) served as the 50th president of Argentina for ten years, from 1989 to 1999. He identified as Peronism, Peronist, serving as President of the Justicialist Party for 13 years (from 1990 to 200 ...

, who sought the deal in a bid to amend the Argentine Constitution to allow himself reelection. He sought the UCR's vice-presidential nomination in a ticket with Federico Storani, but was defeated by Alfonsín's choice:

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Governor

Horacio Massaccesi Horacio Massaccesi (born September 12, 1948) is an Argentine politician who was the former governor of Río Negro Province. Life and times Early career Massaccesi was born in 1948 to an Italian Argentine family in Villa Regina, then a largely ...

. Loyal to the struggling UCR, he agreed to be Massaccesi's Chief of Staff-designate in March, a move that did not stave off defeat in the May 1995 elections. Out of Congress, he sought and won election as President of the UCR, helping negotiate a successful alliance with the center-left

Frepaso The Front for a Country in Solidarity ( or ) was a center-left political coalition in Argentina. Its leading figures were José Octavio Bordón, Carlos "Chacho" Álvarez and Graciela Fernández Meijide. History The coalition was formed in 19 ...

. The

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's victory in the 1997 midterm elections paved the way for their victory in 1999. Terragno resigned from Congress to accept the influential post of

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for

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Fernando de la Rúa Fernando de la Rúa (15 September 19379 July 2019) served as the President of Argentina from 1999 until his resignation in 2001. A member of the Radical Civic Union, he previously served as national senator for Buenos Aires across non-consecuti ...

, though fallout over a bribery scandal involving the President led to his resignation in October 2000. He was elected Senator for

in 2001 and served until 2007, by which time he sat on a splinter UCR ticket. Terragno began efforts to join Vice President

Julio Cobos Julio César “Cleto” Cobos (; born 30 April 1955) is an Argentine politician who was the Vice President of Argentina in the administration of President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner from 2007 to 2011. He started his political career as mem ...

(a popular UCR figure distanced from the President,

Cristina Kirchner Cristina is a female given name, and it is also a surname. Notable people with the name include: Given name * Cristina (daughter of Edward the Exile), 11th-century English princess * Cristina (singer), Cristina Monet-Palaci (1956–2020), American ...

) in an alliance with ARI leader

Elisa Carrió Elisa María Avelina "Lilita" Carrió (born 26 December 1956) is an Argentine lawyer, professor, and politician. She is the leader of Civic Coalition ARI, one of the founders of Cambiemos, and was Argentine Chamber of Deputies, National Deputy f ...

in January 2009, though no agreement was reached.Articulos, terragno.org
/ref>

Selected publications

*''La Simulación'' (2005) *''El Peronismo de los '70'' (2005) *''Falklands/Malvinas'' (2002) *''Maitland & San Martín'' (1998) *''Bases para un Modelo de Crecimiento, Empleo y Bienestar'' (1996) *''El Nuevo Modelo'' (1994) *''Proyecto 95'' (1993) *''La Argentina del Siglo 21'' (1985) *''The Challenge of Real Development'' (1987). *''Muerte y Resurrección de los Políticos'' (1981) *''Memorias del Presente'' (1984) *''Contratapas'' (1976) *''Los 400 Días de Perón'' (1974) *''Los Dueños del Poder'' (1972)

References

External links

Official website

Biography at the National Senate
{{DEFAULTSORT:Terragno, Rodolfo 1943 births Living people Politicians from Buenos Aires Argentine people of Italian descent Chiefs of Cabinet of Ministers of Argentina Members of the Argentine Chamber of Deputies elected in Buenos Aires Members of the Argentine Senate for Buenos Aires Permanent delegates of Argentina to UNESCO 20th-century Argentine lawyers Argentine journalists Argentine male journalists Radical Civic Union politicians University of Buenos Aires alumni Academic staff of the University of Buenos Aires Fellows of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences