As a prime mover in the creation of the modern Mexican state, Plutarco Elías Calles deserves a thorough biographical study. The complexity of the man and of his political service at the state and national levels, in and out of office, suggests that scholars might first tackle his career in segments before attempting a synthesis of the whole man. The sheer volume of paper generated by his leadership in reorganizing the national financial and economic structure, in prosecuting the Cristero war, and in creating the Partido Nacional Revolucionario during his presidency will tax the most ardent researcher, but such an approach would be profitable. Calles was, as Moisés Ochoa Campos contends in the present work, a state-builder, an organizer, an activist.
Divided into eight major parts plus a panegyric preface by PRI politician Porfirio Muñoz Ledo, the work consists of portions of informes, laws, speeches, recollections, historical accounts, and, occasionally, short comments by Ochoa Campos. The themes treated include social institutions, administrative reorganization, educational and cultural policies, economic and banking institutions, the creation of the PNR, and snippets on Calles’ pre-presidential background. The obvious intent of the author was to let the record speak for itself, but his decision to exclude his own analysis or substantive commentary reduces the work to an anthology of primary sources selected and edited on an unknown basis. Little of the personality of the man or of the controversy surrounding his proposals comes through. The photographs of the stem-faced Calles provide the best clues to the will behind the documents. In short, the work is neither a biography nor a book.
The collection does have some value, however, in that it gathers together in one place scattered sources on important issues. There are occasional interesting insights to be gained; a close reading reveals that Calles spoke on behalf of equality between men and women. Further, some students of the period will be able to use the collection as a guidebook to issues and sources. Classroom students might find it a profitable introduction to the tone and texture of Mexican officialdom. The collection demonstrates the broad range of issues confronting Calles’ presidency.
Finally, however, one has to regret that Ochoa Campos did not use his talent to produce a more enduring work. One hopes that someone will soon produce the political biography needed.
