---
born: 1923-06-19
category: Intelligence & Government
died: 1997-04-21
location: San Salvador de Guairá, Paraguay
summary: After the coup, Rodriguez became the President of Paraguay and continued
  to rule the country with the blessing of the U.S.
tags:
- Person
- CIA
- Politician
- Military
---

[Andres Rodriguez](/people/andres-rodriguez/) was a General in [Paraguay](/places/paraguay/) and the head of the military school. He was a powerful figure in the country, considered by some to be the second most powerful man after [President Stroessner](/people/alfredo-stroessner/). He was believed to be a [CIA](/organizations/central-intelligence-agency/) agent and had an exclusive on importing [American](/places/united-states/) cigarettes to [Paraguay](/places/paraguay/).[^1]

[Rodriguez](/people/andres-rodriguez/) had close connections with [Gen. Rodolfo Stange](/people/rodolfo-stange/) of [Chile](/places/chile/) and was believed to receive a retainer from [Carlos Cardoen](/people/carlos-cardoen/). He had presidential aspirations and was involved in a power struggle with [President Stroessner](/people/alfredo-stroessner/). His daughter, Marta, was married to Stroessner's second son, who was a cocaine addict, leading to strife over the presidential candidacy.[^1]

[Rodriguez](/people/andres-rodriguez/) orchestrated a coup d'état against [President Stroessner](/people/alfredo-stroessner/) in February 1989, with the support of the [CIA](/organizations/central-intelligence-agency/). [Earl Brian](/people/earl-brian/) and Clair George visited [Paraguay](/places/paraguay/) and met with [Rodriguez](/people/andres-rodriguez/) prior to the coup. The closing of [Cardoen's](/people/carlos-cardoen/) chemical plant in [Paraguay](/places/paraguay/) was one of the issues that brought the power struggle to a head.[^1]

After the coup, [Rodriguez](/people/andres-rodriguez/) became the President of [Paraguay](/places/paraguay/) and continued to rule the country with the blessing of the [U.S.](/places/united-states/) government. He stepped down in August 1993 and died in 1997.[^1]

[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992.