Background
José López Portillo was born in Mexico on 16 June 1920.
government official politician president
José López Portillo was born in Mexico on 16 June 1920.
He graduated from a public primary school and in 1937 from the National Preparatory School. He received a law degree from the University of Santiago, Chile, in 1945, and a second one from the National Autonomous University of Mexico in 1946, where he immediately became a part-time professor of law until 1958.
López Portillo launched his career in government as administrative assistant to the executive administrator of the Ministry of National Properties in 1959. He became assistant minister of the presidency during 1968-1970, then assistant director of government properties during 1970-1972, and finally director general of the Federal Electric Commission during 1972-1973. President Luis Echeverría appointed him minister of finance and public credit in 1973. The two had been close friends since the sixth grade in primary school.
After leaving the presidency, López Portillo traveled abroad, living in luxury in Europe and avoiding news interviews completely.