Global Security and Intelligence Studies Volume 3, Number 1, Spring/Summer 2018 | Page 24

A Psychological and Political Analysis of a Twentieth Century “Doctator”
fluence which Kemal Ataturk [had] upon his thinking” (Nicholls 1996, 210). Interestingly,
Duvalier toned down his noirist views within his campaign speeches,
instead further positioning himself as Estimé’s heir.
In 1957, with the support of the Army and a strong support base in the
countryside, Duvalier was elected to a 6-year presidential term (Perper and Cina
2010). As president, he promised to “fulfill his populist vision to end domination
of the mulatto elite and bring political and economic power to the black Haitian
majority” (Perper and Cina 2010, 129). He quickly reestablished the Voodoo traditions
and further strengthened his powerbase in the rural countryside. Houngans
and mambos (Voodoo priests and priestesses, respectively) who opposed him were
immediately eliminated, beginning his ruthless power consolidation that came in
the forms of imprisonment, interrogations, beatings, and shootings. Shortly after
the election, there were reports of truckloads of still-living people including men,
women, children, and officers being dumped into mass graves and smoothed over
with cement (Abbott 1988). In another example of terror involving a newswoman
from the opposition, a group of Duvalier’s men broke into her home. After her
children were beaten and thrown into the street, the victim was driven to a field
where she was beaten and gang-raped in the presence of Duvalier (Abbott 1988).
Within seven months of his taking office, the majority of Duvalier’s opposition
were killed or driven underground and out of the country (Diederich and Burt
1969). This serves as a clear indicator that Duvalier was preparing for lengthy career
in his new political position. The elimination of opposition serves to ensure
that he can remain in power until he is able to build up a force that will help to
further defend his seat of power.
Duvalier experienced the first of several assassination and coup attempts
during his first year as president. All of them further enhanced his acute paranoia.
On April 30, 1958 after a bomb plot was uncovered, Duvalier was granted emergency
powers, and he imposed a curfew in the city. Duvalierists began roaming the
streets, armed with machine guns, checking everyone on the streets. It was during
this time that the public began calling the Duvalierists the Tonton Macoutes or
“Uncle Gunnysack.” Haitian folklore told of a diabolical man who would kidnap
children roaming the streets at night, taking them away in his bag. The Tontons
Macoutes were largely volunteers from the Haitian peasantry, extracting their living
through looting and extorting their victims. Under Duvalier’s command, they
helped him to consolidate control by terrorizing any who opposed him (Diederich
and Burt 1969). Later, on May 18, Duvalier would request a U.S. Marine survey
team to thwart his opposition and show his people that his government had U.S.
support.
Duvalier was left traumatized after repeated overthrow attempts. He accelerated
his weakening of the Army and enhanced his efforts to increase the numbers
in his personal militia. He fired 18 top military officials and created a new
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