Roberto de la Madrid
politician
- February 3, 1922 · Calexico
- March 19, 2010 · Tijuana
- 88 years
About Roberto de la Madrid
Roberto de la Madrid, 88, Mexican politician, Governor of Baja California (1977–1983), first American-born governor of a Mexican state.
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Full Biography
|Roberto de la Madrid Romandia (February 3, 1922 – March 19, 2010) was a Mexican elected official who served as governor of Baja California from 1977 to 1983. He was the first American-born governor of a Mexican state. He was a member of the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI).
Early life and education
De la Madrid was born February 3, 1922, in Calexico, California, to Mexican parents. He grew up on both sides of the border, attending schools in Tijuana and San Diego, including Sweetwater High School in National City. His American birth made him an American citizen, but he later became certified as a Mexican citizen. He was bilingual and bicultural, and maintained friendships and business activities on both sides of the border.
Non-political career
He was a distributor for Richfield and Pemex and was active in Mexican political campaigns. He also appeared in the 1959 Dennis Hopper film The Young Land and was listed fifth in the credits; the name of his character was Don Roberto de la Madrid.
Political career
In 1973, he was appointed tourism director for the state of Baja California. He later served as one of Baja California's two senators and as director of the national lottery program, appointed by his close friend, President José López Portillo. In 1977, López Portillo chose him to be the PRI candidate for governor of Baja California after the death of the original candidate. His inauguration in 1977 attracted celebrities from both sides of the border including López Portillo, then-San Diego Mayor (later California governor) Pete Wilson, and de la Madrid's longtime friend John Wayne.
News reports at the time spoke of his ambition to be president. He said that he was eligible to be president of either the United States or Mexico, but chose to enter Mexican politics because he figured the odds of becoming president were better in Mexico. By a coincidence of history, unrelated Miguel de la Madrid became president of Mexico in 1982.
As governor Roberto de la Madrid was credited with "helping foster binational relations, attracting foreign investors and establishing a strong tourism program."
Personal life
He was married twice, first to Elena Victoria in 1942, with whom he had two children, until her death in 1988, and secondly to the former Regina Johnson in 1998, who survived him. He died March 19, 2010, in Tijuana, at the age of 88.
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Sources
- Wikipedia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roberto_de_la_Madrid
- CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sep 26, 2026
- View article
- View record
- September 29, 2026
- Sep 26, 2026
Trivia & Knowledge· 16 questions
Questions drawn from Roberto de la Madrid's archived record and the sources above.
1.Which of the following was a key accomplishment credited to Governor Roberto de la Madrid Romandia?
- A.Expanding the Mexican rail system
- B.Implementing a new tax code
- C.Fostering binational relationscorrect
- D.Winning the Nobel Peace Prize
As governor, Roberto de la Madrid Romandia was credited with helping foster binational relations and attracting foreign investors.
Source: Political career section
2.Where was Roberto de la Madrid Romandia born?
- A.Tijuana, Mexico
- B.National City, California
- C.Calexico, Californiacorrect
- D.San Diego, California
Roberto de la Madrid Romandia was born on February 3, 1922, in Calexico, California.
Source: Early life and education section
3.What political party was Roberto de la Madrid Romandia a member of?
- A.Mexican Green Party
- B.National Action Party
- C.Democratic Revolutionary Party
- D.Institutional Revolutionary Partycorrect
Roberto de la Madrid Romandia was a member of the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI).
Source: Introductory section
4.Roberto de la Madrid Romandia held what role in 1973 for the state of Baja California?
- A.National lottery director
- B.Mayor of Tijuana
- C.Tourism directorcorrect
- D.Governor
In 1973, Roberto de la Madrid Romandia was appointed as the tourism director for the state of Baja California.
Source: Political career section
5.Which film featured Roberto de la Madrid Romandia in 1959?
- A.Richfield Dreams
- B.The Young Landcorrect
- C.Baja Bound
- D.Border Crossing
Roberto de la Madrid Romandia appeared in the 1959 Dennis Hopper film The Young Land.
Source: Non-political career section
6.Who appointed Roberto de la Madrid Romandia as the director of the national lottery program?
- A.Miguel de la Madrid
- B.Pete Wilson
- C.José López Portillocorrect
- D.Dennis Hopper
Roberto de la Madrid Romandia was appointed as the director of the national lottery program by his close friend, President José López Portillo.
Source: Political career section
7.What distinguished Roberto de la Madrid Romandia's governorship in Mexican history?
- A.He was the first American-born governorcorrect
- B.He was the longest-serving governor
- C.He was the youngest governor
- D.He was the only non-partisan governor
Roberto de la Madrid Romandia was the first American-born governor of a Mexican state.
Source: Introductory section
8.In what year did Roberto de la Madrid Romandia die?
- A.1998
- B.2008
- C.2010correct
- D.1988
Roberto de la Madrid Romandia died on March 19, 2010, in Tijuana.
Source: Personal life section
9.Which high school did Roberto de la Madrid Romandia attend in National City?
- A.Calexico High
- B.Sweetwater Highcorrect
- C.San Diego High
- D.Tijuana High
Roberto de la Madrid Romandia attended schools in Tijuana and San Diego, including Sweetwater High School in National City.
Source: Early life and education section
10.How was the order of appearance for Roberto de la Madrid Romandia in the credits of The Young Land?
- A.Third
- B.Fifthcorrect
- C.First
- D.Second
Roberto de la Madrid Romandia was listed fifth in the credits of the 1959 film The Young Land.
Source: Non-political career section
11.Who was the first wife of Roberto de la Madrid Romandia?
- A.Regina Johnson
- B.Elena Victoriacorrect
- C.Sarah Wilson
- D.Maria Lopez
Roberto de la Madrid Romandia was married first to Elena Victoria in 1942.
Source: Personal life section
12.What was Roberto de la Madrid Romandia's professional role related to Richfield and Pemex?
- A.Marketing analyst
- B.Executive director
- C.Distributorcorrect
- D.Legal counsel
Roberto de la Madrid Romandia was a distributor for Richfield and Pemex.
Source: Non-political career section
13.Who attended the 1977 inauguration of Roberto de la Madrid Romandia as governor?
- A.Dennis Hopper
- B.Regina Johnson
- C.Miguel de la Madrid
- D.John Waynecorrect
Roberto de la Madrid Romandia's inauguration in 1977 was attended by his longtime friend, the actor John Wayne.
Source: Political career section
14.Why did Roberto de la Madrid Romandia believe his odds of becoming president were better in Mexico?
- A.He felt the odds were simply better in Mexicocorrect
- B.The US laws were too strict
- C.He was not a US citizen
- D.He was more famous in Mexico
Roberto de la Madrid Romandia stated he chose to enter Mexican politics because he figured the odds of becoming president were better in Mexico.
Source: Political career section
15.Who became the President of Mexico in 1982, coincidentally sharing a surname with Roberto de la Madrid Romandia?
- A.Pete Wilson
- B.Miguel de la Madridcorrect
- C.Dennis Hopper
- D.José López Portillo
By a coincidence of history, Miguel de la Madrid became president of Mexico in 1982.
Source: Political career section
16.At what age did Roberto de la Madrid Romandia die?
- A.87
- B.89
- C.86
- D.88correct
Roberto de la Madrid Romandia died in Tijuana at the age of 88.
Source: Personal life section
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