Jaime Torres Bodet (17 April 1902 – 13 May 1974) was a prominent Mexican politician and writer who served in the executive cabinet of three Presidents of Mexico.
A native of Mexico City, Torres Bodet was appointed Secretary of Public Education (1943–46) by President Manuel Ávila Camacho; he then served as the Secretary of Foreign Affairs (1946–1951) under President Miguel Alemán Valdés. Later, in 1958-64, he was again appointed to serve as Secretary of Public Education, this time under President Adolfo López Mateos.
Read a speech given by Jaime Torres Bodet, then Secretary of Public Education in Mexico, at the 25th anniversary celebration of the Summer Institute of Linguistics in Mexico. January 24, 1961.
Between 1929 and the outbreak of the Second World War, Torres Bodet held diplomatic positions in Madrid, The Hague, Paris, Buenos Aires and Brussels. He served as director-general of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) from 1948 to 1952. From 1955 to 1958 he was Ambassador to France.
He received the Medal of Honor Belisario Domínguez from the Senate in the year 1971.
He was also a member of the Mexican Language Academy (the national correspondent agency to the Spanish Royal Academy) and of the National College.
Gravely ill, Torres Bodet committed suicide in Mexico City on 13 May 1974.
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