Background
Adolfo López Mateos was born in the town of Atízapán in the state of Mexico. His father, a dentist, died when Adolfo was very young, and his mother was left to support five children on a small income.
Adolfo López Mateos was born in the town of Atízapán in the state of Mexico. His father, a dentist, died when Adolfo was very young, and his mother was left to support five children on a small income.
Young Adolfo completed his primary studies at the Colegio Francés in Mexico City on a full scholarship, and his secondary studies in Toluca. He received his law degree from the National Autonomous University of Mexico in 1934. 26 May 1910.
He described himself as “a leftist within the limits of the Constitution.”
López Mateos launched his political career in 1934 as an adviser to the National Workers Bank of Development, while employed as an attorney for the Ministry of Finance. As minister of labor during 1952-1958, he developed his public image as a friend of organized labor.
As a student, he supported philosopher and educator José Vasconcelos’ unsuccessful campaign for the government party’s presidential nomination in 1929 against the hand-picked candidate of former president Plutarco Elias Calles.