| Career Highlights: Born in 1951 in Port-au-Prince Haiti, Jean-Claude "Baby Doc" Duvalier is the oldest son of then opposition figure (and later President) François "Poppa Doc" Duvalier. Shortly after his birth, the family is forced into hiding by the military government of Colonel Paul E. Magloire. 1956-1971: In 1956 Magloire crosses his military patrons and is forced to resign. A general amnesty is declared and the Duvaliers return to Port-au-Prince. In 1957 Poppa Doc, now with army backing, is elected President of Haiti. Although initially elected to a six year term, he will in fact rule until his death in 1971. In the iterem, Poppa Doc guts the armed forces, establishes a 10,000 man personal security force (the Totons Macoutes) and arrests, terrorizes or kills all effective opposition within Haiti including his closest aide Clément Barbot. In 1961 he extends his term until 1967. In 1964 he arranges his election as President for Life and begins to promote a Vudun centered cult of personality. Per capita income in Haiti sinks to $90US. In 1971 Duvalier dies having appointed Jean-Claude as his successor. 1971-1980: A feckless and dissolute 19 year old, Jean-Claude has grown up in a sheltered and privileged world. He has expressed little interest in politics and active resentment of the dynastic arrangements requiring him to ascend to the presidency. As such, he is content at least initially to leave substantive and administrative matters to his mother, Simone Ovid Duvalier, while he attends ceremonial functions and otherwise leads an active social life. Baby Doc has inherited a pariah nation with a wrecked economy and the lowest per capita income in the western hemisphere. As such, and in the absence of an effective opposition, the regime's most immediate problem is sustaining the flow of U.S. aid that is restored upon Poppa Doc's passing in 1971. This in turn requires bringing his father's "personal" security force, the Totons Macoutes (officially known as the Volunteers for National Security, or by its French abbreviation VSN) under control. In an effort to dampen the influence of the Totons and strengthen the Army the military academy closed by his father in 1958 is reopened and graduates its first (well connected) class of officers in 1973. Senior elements of the VSN are integrated with the armed forces which, if nothing else, effectively professionalizes the regime's terror force. Although most of these "reforms" are in fact carried out by his mother and a cadre of hardcore Duvalierists, Jean-Claude eventually discovers graft and begins to take an active interest in government. He gains control of the proceeds of the Régie du Tabac (Tobacco Administration) the national tobacco monopoly. Although the proceeds of the Tobacco Administration have served as the traditional Duvalierist slush fund (and the source of the hundreds of millions of dollars estimated to have been looted by the Duvalier family over the years) Jean-Claude vastly expands the range of government revenues funneled into this "non-fiscal" and off-book account. 1980-1983: In 1980 Jean-Claude marries Michèle Bennett, a mulatto divorcée with a disreputable background and Blaine Trump-like social aspirations. Although himself high-toned, Baby Doc's marriage is regarded as a betrayal by many of his father's black nationalist supporters. The $3 million price tag for the event further alienates his horrifically impoverished constituents. With its ministries devoted to graft, the government stands idly by as Haiti is rocked by a series of public health crises, including the African Swine Fever (ASF) epidemic and most acutely Acquired Imune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) which spreads unchecked throughout the early eighties. 1983-1985: After decades of endemic poverty, corruption, terror and neglect a deep and increasingly active resentment of the government takes hold. This mood is solidfied in 1983 when on a state visit Pope John Paul II issues an open call for reform. Popular mobilization leads to active street protests and raids on food distribution centers in the provincial city of Gonaïves two years later. By December of 1985 the protests spread to six other cities. Baby Doc responds to the crisis by cutting food prices by 10% and by attempting to institute a police crackdown. The U.S. calls for Duvalier's resignation. Long displeased with Baby Doc's rule, elements of the gutted military begin to plot his overthrow. 1986: Acting as intermediaries for the United States, representatives appointed by Jamaican prime minister Edward Seaga begin negotiations with Baby Doc in January of 1986 seeking his voluntary resignation. The United States declines to provide asylum but agrees to assist in his evacuation to third-party nation. On January 30th, believing they have reached an agreement the U.S. prematurely announces Baby Doc's resignation. At the last minute, Baby Doc rejects the arrangements and declares tha the will remain in Haiti. Violent riots erupt in the southern cities. On January 31st the United States announces that it is ending its assistance to Haiti. Rioting spreads to Port-au-Prince. Two of the military plotters, Lt General Henri Namphy and Colonel Williams Regala now confront Duvalier directly, demanding that he leave the country. With no remaining bases of support, Jean-Claude is forced to consent. After hastily naming a National Council of Government (Conseil National de Gouvernement) including Namphy, Regala, as well as three civilians, Jean-Claude and Michèlle Duvalier departed from Haiti on February 7, 1986. | 
