María Esther Zuno Arce (8 December 1924 – 4 December 1999) was the wife of Mexican President

Luis Echeverría Luis Echeverría Álvarez (; 17 January 1922 – 8 July 2022) was a Mexican lawyer, academic, and politician affiliated with the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) who served as the 57th president of Mexico from 1970 to 1976. Previously, ...

and the

first lady of Mexico The first lady of Mexico () or first gentleman of Mexico () is the informal title held by the spouse of the president of Mexico, concurrent with the president's term of office. The position has no legal foundation and was originally started as a ...

from 1970 to 1976. She refused to adopt the standard title of ''primera dama'' (first lady), preferring to be called ''compañera'' (meaning partner, companion, or comrade). She was known for her efforts to support women's rights and social welfare in Mexico.

Early life

María Esther Zuno Arce was born in

Guadalajara Guadalajara ( ; ) is the capital and the most populous city in the western Mexican List of states of Mexico, state of Jalisco, as well as the most densely populated municipality in Jalisco. According to the 2020 census, the city has a population ...

Jalisco Jalisco, officially the Free and Sovereign State of Jalisco, is one of the 31 states which, along with Mexico City, comprise the 32 Political divisions of Mexico, Federal Entities of Mexico. It is located in western Mexico and is bordered by s ...

, on December 8, 1924. She was the third of twelve children born to Carmen Arce, a homemaker, and , a former governor of Jalisco. Reportedly, her birth certificate was signed by ex-president

Álvaro Obregón Álvaro Obregón Salido (; 19 February 1880 – 17 July 1928) was a Mexican general, inventor and politician who served as the 46th President of Mexico from 1920 to 1924. Obregón was re-elected to the presidency in 1928 but was assassinated b ...

, as well as future presidents

Lázaro Cárdenas Lázaro Cárdenas del Río (; 21 May 1895 – 19 October 1970) was a Mexican army officer and politician who served as president of Mexico from 1934 to 1940. Previously, he served as a general in the Constitutional Army during the Mexican Revo ...

and

Manuel Ávila Camacho Manuel Ávila Camacho (; 24 April 1897 – 13 October 1955) was a Mexican politician and military leader who served as the president of Mexico from 1940 to 1946. Despite participating in the Mexican Revolution and achieving a high rank, he cam ...

Marriage and family

Zuno met

at the home of the artists

Diego Rivera Diego Rivera (; December 8, 1886 – November 24, 1957) was a Mexican painter. His large frescoes helped establish the Mexican muralism, mural movement in Mexican art, Mexican and international art. Between 1922 and 1953, Rivera painted mural ...

and

Frida Kahlo Magdalena Carmen Frida Kahlo y Calderón (; 6 July 1907 – 13 July 1954) was a Mexican painter known for her many portraits, self-portraits, and works inspired by the nature and artifacts of Mexico. Inspired by Culture of Mexico, the country' ...

, with whom they were friends. The couple's social circle also included the artists

David Alfaro Siqueiros David Alfaro Siqueiros (born José de Jesús Alfaro Siqueiros; December 29, 1896 – January 6, 1974) was a Mexican social realist painter, best known for his large public murals using the latest in equipment, materials and technique. Along with ...

and

José Clemente Orozco José Clemente Orozco (November 23, 1883 – September 7, 1949) was a Mexican caricaturist and painter, who specialized in political murals that established the Mexican Mural Renaissance together with murals by Diego Rivera, David Alfaro Siquei ...

. After a five-year engagement, Zuno and Echeverría, a law student at the time, were married on 2 January 1945. The groom's friend

José López Portillo José Guillermo Abel López Portillo y Pacheco (; 16 June 1920 – 17 February 2004) was a Mexican writer, lawyer, and politician affiliated with the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) who served as the 58th president of Mexico from 1976 ...

, a future president of Mexico, served as their witness. The couple had eight children: Luis Vicente, María del Carmen, , María Esther, Rodolfo, Pablo, Benito, and Adolfo.

First lady of Mexico

For 1970 to 1976, Zuno served as first lady during the presidency of her husband, Luis Echeverría. She rejected the title of ''primera dama'' (first lady), preferring to be called '' compañera''. In this period, she undertook an intense endeavor to improve social welfare in the country, described by some as the greatest degree of involvement of a Mexican first lady since the time of Eva Sámano, the wife of President

Adolfo López Mateos Adolfo López Mateos (; 26 May 1909 – 22 September 1969) was a Mexican politician and lawyer who served as President of Mexico from 1958 to 1964. Previously, he served as Secretariat of Labor and Social Welfare, Secretary of Labor and Social ...

. Her work as first lady included not only social welfare but also promoting women's rights and Mexican folkloric tradition. Zuno argued that it was not possible to support children without supporting the entire family, with the mother at its center. She asserted that women must not only receive assistance but also participate directly in the resolution of the problems facing their families and their communities. She implemented family counseling programs, primarily in communities with fewer than 2,500 residents that otherwise had little access to federal services. Other initiatives focused on

literacy Literacy is the ability to read and write, while illiteracy refers to an inability to read and write. Some researchers suggest that the study of "literacy" as a concept can be divided into two periods: the period before 1950, when literacy was ...

, women in politics, and

midwifery Midwifery is the health science and health profession that deals with pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period (including care of the newborn), in addition to the sexual and reproductive health of women throughout their lives. In many cou ...

. Overall she promoted 23 social programs, including home construction, orchards, reforestation, drug dependence prevention, mental health care, special education, sports, and job training. While her husband was in office, she accompanied him on foreign trips and made various visits on her own. She often wore Mexican traditional blouses or cotton dresses rather than more formal clothing on these and other occasions.

Later years and death

After her husband left office, Zuno retreated from public life. She died in

Mexico City Mexico City is the capital city, capital and List of cities in Mexico, largest city of Mexico, as well as the List of North American cities by population, most populous city in North America. It is one of the most important cultural and finan ...

in 1999, just days before her 75th birthday, of complications from diabetes.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Zuno, Maria Esther 1924 births 1999 deaths People from Guadalajara, Jalisco Mexican people of Spanish descent Mexican people of Basque descent First ladies and gentlemen of Mexico