Education
He studied to the military academy in San Salvador, United States and Venezuela.
He studied to the military academy in San Salvador, United States and Venezuela.
As a lieutenant colonel in the National Guard, took part in the military coup that overthrew President Arnulfo Arias in 1968, becoming commander of the National Guard and emerging as the leader of the new regime with the title 'Prime Minister and Supreme Leader of the Panamanian Revolution.
He Resigned as the President but exercised full control of the state, ruling by decree and jailing or exiling his adversaries. After being declared supreme leader for six years, in 1972 he renegotiated the Panama Canal Treaty with the United States, remembering (having tried it twice in 1977-1978) that the sovereignty of the Canal Zone would be progressively transferred to State of Panama, a process that culminated in 1999.
In 1978 he resigned from the leadership of a new government but remained the chief of the National Guard until his death on July 31, 1981 in a plane crash.
His politics were based instead on progressivism.
Quotations:
"I don't want to go into history; I want to go into the Canal Zone.” - Omar Torrijos
"If I fall, pick up the flag, kiss it, and keep on going.” - Omar Torrijos
"Those that consult more, make fewer mistakes." - Omar Torrijos
"In the foolishness lies the danger." - Omar Torrijos