TIME Magazine content is available exclusively for TIME subscribers.

Current subscribers for full access. Not a TIME subscriber? .

VENEZUELA: The Challenger

Over & over, the men & women massed in the Caracas bull ring chanted "Caldera si, Gallegos no!" Venezuela's chief opposition party, the right-wing COPEI (Committee for Independent Electoral Political Organization), had at last found a candidate for the presidential election on Dec. 14. Against famed 63-year-old Novelist Romulo Gallegos, candidate of the ruling Acción Democrática, would be pitched young (31), burly (6 ft., 200 lbs.) Rafael Caldera, one of COPEI's founders.*

Handsome, good-natured Rafael Caldera has been a teacher of sociology at the University of Caracas. When he was only 20, he helped draft Venezuela's labor code, still in...

Quotes of the Day »

GEORGE LITTLE, Pentagon press secretary, on the decision to ease the restrictions on women in combat roles; women currently make up nearly 14% of the U.S. armed forces
For use in rail of Articles page or Section Fronts pages. Duplicate and change name as necesssary to distinguish.