From the New Edition of In the Shadow of the Angel:
Antonieta and José Vasconcelos, 1928
Daily, Antonieta followed Vasconcelos’ campaign in the newspapers and in the jerky silent newsreels. The candidate had an air of gravity and confidence. Next to Nandino Sandino, the Nicaraguan rebel who opposed American occupation and had been given refuge in Mexico, Vanconcelos was the most applauded.
Women in the theater always applauded the loudest. He had declared that if he won he would give women the right to vote. Even the Contemporaneos were talking about him. José Vasconcelos was clearly Mexico’s most distinguished man of letters. His books on philosophy, metaphysics, political analysis and history had earned him international respect.
In South America, they had conferred the title of Maestro de las Americas on him, and in the United States he had taught at the most prestigious universities. Could a culturally oriented, civilian president be possible?
Reading the newspaper on her breakfast tray in bed one morning, Antonieta noted that the candidate had arrived in Toluca and would enter the Capital on Sunday. Vasconcelos’ campaign headquarters had been predicting that thousands would line the route. She remembered Madero’s triumphant entry into the Capital and resolved to take Toñito to see the popular candidate.
Click Here, to learn about Antonieta’s tangled love affair with the progressive and controversial candidate for Mexico’s presidency…
