# Has A Dictator Ever Retired? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 4, 2011, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-dictator-ever-retired/587847 "2011-07-04T21:39:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![AntiCoyote](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a587f6/32.png) [@AntiCoyote](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AntiCoyote)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2011, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-dictator-ever-retired/587847/1 "2011-07-04T21:39:18Z")
I’m sure there must’ve been some. But I look at those like Franco and Tito and they stayed in power till they died. Others were overthrown, some like Castro are still in control but probably don’t havf effective control due to ill health. Some dictators like Idi Amin or Bokassa were forced out and lived in retirement till they died, but have any been in power and just quit and went into retirement voluntarily? Without any force making them do so? ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2011, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-dictator-ever-retired/587847/2 "2011-07-04T21:49:26Z")
[Aulus](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aulus_Atilius_Calatinus) did. ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2011, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-dictator-ever-retired/587847/3 "2011-07-04T22:16:03Z")
The Roman Emperor [Diocletian](http://www.motherlindas.com/of_cabbages_and_emperors.htm) retired to grow cabbages. To most intents, Roman Emperors (and Diocletian in particular) were more like dictators in the modern sense than they were like medieval or modern monarchs (or,indeed, dictators in the original Roman republican sense). Through most of the empire’s history, it was the exception rather than the rule for a father to be succeeded by his son or other familiy heir on the throne. More often it was seized in some kind of coup. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2011, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-dictator-ever-retired/587847/4 "2011-07-04T22:33:42Z")
I’m not sure I would call him a dictator, exactly, but [Jose Figueres](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Figueres_Ferrer)became President of Costa Rica as head of a ruling junta through a civil war in 1948, then handed over power through elections the following year. He didn’t retire either, but won the presidency twice more through elections. But he’s a rare example of a leader who took power through force of arms and then stepped down voluntarily. ---
**Author:** ![paperbackwriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/53a042/32.png) [@paperbackwriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/paperbackwriter)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2011, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-dictator-ever-retired/587847/5 "2011-07-04T22:42:06Z")
The canonical example of a dictator voluntarily retiring from power to life out a simpler life is without question [Cincinnatus](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cincinnatus). In more modern times, [Than Shwe](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Than_Shwe) retired as head of the Burmese military junta in favor of a hand-picked successor. Brazil’s [Getulio Vargas](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Get%C3%BAlio_Vargas) is an interesting case: He came to power through a military-sponsored coup, ruled as a dictator for several years, gave up that dictatorship in favor of being elected president, and then committed suicide as another coup was taking shape against him. [Mathieu Kérékou](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mathieu_K%C3%A9r%C3%A9kou) from Benin presents another complicated example: 1972 - seizes power in a military coup, 1990 - popular pressure forces democratic reform, 1991 - loses democratic election, 1996 - elected president, 2001 - re-elected president amid controversy, 2005 - leaves presidency due to term limits. ---
**Author:** ![MichaelEmouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/michaelemouse/32/101_2.png) [@MichaelEmouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MichaelEmouse)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2011, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-dictator-ever-retired/587847/6 "2011-07-04T22:44:55Z")
Pinochet? ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2011, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-dictator-ever-retired/587847/7 "2011-07-04T22:58:02Z")
According to Wikipedia, [Pinochet](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Augusto_Pinochet) held a referendum, lost, and complied with its terms by leaving office. That seems to qualify. ETA: Beaten to the punch! ---
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2011, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-dictator-ever-retired/587847/8 "2011-07-04T23:09:59Z")
In a sense, I think Taiwan’s [Lee Teng-hui](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lee_Teng-hui#Presidency) would qualify. In a different sense, it seems to me a number of ethnic Chinese autocrats have more or less voluntarily relegated themselves to the role of [autocrat emeritus](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lee_Kuan_Yew), letting someone else manage day-to-day government. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2011, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-dictator-ever-retired/587847/9 "2011-07-05T02:31:09Z")
Would you consider China’s leaders dictators? I wouldn’t, but they are not elected. If you do, Jiang Zemin stepped down peacefully to allow Hu Jintao become President. It is expected Hu will also step down peacefully to allow the next leader to come in. ---
**Author:** ![Keeve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f07891/32.png) [@Keeve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Keeve)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2011, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-dictator-ever-retired/587847/10 "2011-07-05T02:32:42Z")
> [@AntiCoyote](#): > > some like Castro are still in control but probably don’t have effective control due to ill health. [Castro **did** retire.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fidel_castro#Retirement) Are you suggesting that he was only pretending to? ---
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2011, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-dictator-ever-retired/587847/11 "2011-07-05T02:57:28Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Would you consider China’s leaders dictators? I wouldn’t, but they are not elected. > > If you do, Jiang Zemin stepped down peacefully to allow Hu Jintao become President. It is expected Hu will also step down peacefully to allow the next leader to come in. I’m not sure how to classify them. Same as in Russia: Stalin was a dictator and more, in a category of his own. But were Kruschev, Breznev and Andropov? ---
**Author:** ![mac\_bolan00](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b3f665/32.png) [@mac\_bolan00](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mac_bolan00)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2011, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-dictator-ever-retired/587847/12 "2011-07-05T03:08:55Z")
kings and emperors step down to make way for their heirs. but if you’re talking about CIA- or KGB-installed dictators who stepped down or were succeeded after death, there’s assad, and castro. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2011, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-dictator-ever-retired/587847/13 "2011-07-05T03:24:51Z")
[Sulla](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sulla) is another classical example. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2011, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-dictator-ever-retired/587847/14 "2011-07-05T03:26:55Z")
> [@mac\_bolan00](#): > > kings and emperors step down to make way for their heirs. but if you’re talking about CIA- or KGB-installed dictators who stepped down or were succeeded after death, there’s assad, and castro. Do you feel Assad and Castro were installed in power by the CIA or the KGB? ---
**Author:** ![mac\_bolan00](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b3f665/32.png) [@mac\_bolan00](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mac_bolan00)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2011, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-dictator-ever-retired/587847/15 "2011-07-05T03:28:42Z")
you got me. not really installed, more of sponsored. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2011, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-dictator-ever-retired/587847/16 "2011-07-05T03:35:15Z")
> [@Koxinga](#): > > I’m not sure how to classify them. Same as in Russia: Stalin was a dictator and more, in a category of his own. But were Kruschev, Breznev and Andropov? Being benevolent doesn’t mean you’re not a dictator. In Spain, Miguel Primo de Rivera was dictator under Alfonso XIII, from 1923 to 1930. He resigned voluntarily, against the king’s desires. At first, his government was extracted from the military, with more and more civilians being called in as time went on. His successor as dictator (Dámaso Berenguer) only lasted a few months, pretty much long enough to organize the elections whose results were used by Alfonso XIII to justify his own abdication (at which point Berenguer resigned as well, quite logically). ---
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2011, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-dictator-ever-retired/587847/17 "2011-07-05T03:45:38Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > Being benevolent doesn’t mean you’re not a dictator. I’m not saying they were benevolent. (Breznev? Really?) But organizationally they seem to me to be sort of preeminent members of a ruling oligarchy rather than strongmen whom everyone in the government is afraid to cross. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2011, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-dictator-ever-retired/587847/18 "2011-07-05T03:46:44Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > [Sulla](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sulla) is another classical example. Darn you, that’s who I was coming in to mention!:mad: :p:D ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2011, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-dictator-ever-retired/587847/19 "2011-07-05T04:01:28Z")
> [@paperbackwriter](#): > > [Mathieu Kérékou](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mathieu_K%C3%A9r%C3%A9kou) from Benin presents another complicated example: 1972 - seizes power in a military coup, 1990 - popular pressure forces democratic reform, 1991 - loses democratic election, 1996 - elected president, 2001 - re-elected president amid controversy, 2005 - leaves presidency due to term limits. The career of Daniel Ortega of Nicaragua hasn’t been too different from this. He took power as the result of the Sandinista victory in 1979, becoming leader of the ruling junta in 1981 and elected president in 1984. He lost the election in 1990, and voluntarily stepped down. He was re-elected president in 2006. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2011, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-dictator-ever-retired/587847/20 "2011-07-05T04:11:03Z")
> [@Koxinga](#): > > In a different sense, it seems to me a number of ethnic Chinese autocrats have more or less voluntarily relegated themselves to the role of [autocrat emeritus](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lee_Kuan_Yew), letting someone else manage day-to-day government. Also very common in Japanese history and in multiple layers - [retired emperors wiki](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retired_Emperor). Of course often said retirement was the prelude to continued power ( i.e. as with the [Qianlong Emperor](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qianlong_Emperor#Abdication) ) or _real_ power ( as with some of the cloistered emperors under the [Insei system](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Insei_System) ). [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-dictator-ever-retired/587847.md?page=2)