Dominican Republic and Haiti: Country Studies

Dominican Republic and Haiti: Country Studies
Although some of the country's economic elite maintained a
degree of individual autonomy, no possibility existed for independent
organization. Trujillo enjoyed humiliating those who
previously had enjoyed both social prestige and economic
wealth; they intensely disliked him but were forced to conform.
Only in Trujillo's last two years did any concerted opposition
emerge from within the economic elite. Indeed, Trujillo's economic
holdings at the time of his death were staggering.
Almost 80 percent of the country's industrial production was
controlled by him; and nearly 60 percent of the country's labor
force depended directly or indirectly on him, 45 percent
employed in his firms and another 15 percent working for the
state. The only organization that retained any degree of autonomy
was the Roman Catholic Church; until the very end of his
rule, it remained abjectly loyal to him.
Politically, Trujillo combined guile, cynicism, ruthlessness,
and co-optation. He cynically deployed constitutional norms
and legal requirements, which ostensibly were followed faithfully,
and totally dominated a single-party apparatus. In addition,
Trujillo engaged in byzantine manipulation of
individuals, who were shifted around public offices in a disconcerting
fashion as personal rivalries were promoted and tested.
At its apogee, the Dominican Party (Partido Dominicano) had
branches throughout the country, helping to keep Trujillo
apprised of local realities, needs, and potential threats to his
rule. The party's charitable activities, homages to Trujillo, and
campaign efforts were financed largely by a percentage taken
from the salaries of public employees. Trujillo made voting
mandatory (not voting could be risky), and in 1942 he
expanded the suffrage to women.
International factors were also important in helping Trujillo
sustain his grip on power. Trujillo employed public relations
firms and assiduously cultivated his military contacts and individual
politicians in the United States to enhance his reputation
and sustain United States support. He went to elaborate
lengths to demonstrate domestically that he retained support
from the United States. In some periods, United States diplomats
expressed their frustration at being manipulated by
Trujillo even as United States military personnel openly
praised his rule. At the same time, his complex web of conspiracy,
intrigue, and violence extended beyond Dominican borders;
he provided support for various regional dictators and
plotted against perceived foreign enemies, such as Romulo Bet-
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