ABSTRACT
In 1944 she attended a benefit for earthquake victims where she met Colonel Juan Perón, Argentina's secretary of labor and social affairs. She soon became his mistress. In 1945 the populist Juan Perón was arrested by leaders of the military but was released after a massive show of support by workers known as the “shirtless ones.” In the aftermath of this experience, Juan and Eva were married. With support for Juan at an all-time high, he was able to win the presidential elections in 1946. As his wife, Eva now possessed a respected name and an opportunity to enter Argentina's political life. Argentina lacked a stable political system during the Great Depression and World War II. Juan Perón himself had contributed to this instability by participating in military coups in 1930 and 1943. After winning the elections of 1946, he sought to establish a stable and authoritarian political system that would outlast his tenure as president.
