The Birth of Terror

Francois “Papa Doc” Duvalier (1957-1971) and his son Jean-Claude “Baby Doc” (1971-1986) were in power for almost 30 years. This dictatorship was largely supported by the U.S. as an alternative to a perceived expansion of communism in the area. Francois Duvalier was a physician by profession. He helped the poor fight typhus, yaws, malaria and other tropical diseases, thus acquiring the nickname “Papa Doc.”

In 1964, a constitutional referendum made Duvalier "President for Life" and granted him absolute powers to name his successor.

Duvalier held Haiti in his grip until his death in 1971. His 19-year-old son succeeded him as president. U.S. relations improved under Nixon, later deteriorated under Carter, only to again improve under Reagan, due to the strong anti-communist stance of the Duvalier. 

By 1985, rebellion against the brutal and corrupt Duvalier regime broke out. In 1986, Baby Doc and his family fled to France on a U.S. Air Force flight with suitcases filled with millions of dollars.

During this time, child malnutrition had soared, infant mortality was shockingly high, and the country had become an ecological and human disaster.

Under the Duvalier regimes, a reported 30,000-60,000 Haitians were killed, many more were exiled, and many left Haiti.