There were several populist leaders in Central and South America to make their mark in the 1900s. These leaders were able to unite the poor and lower classes into a strong power base to gain power. The rhetoric was a strong message of nationalism against the old power structures; oligarchies and imperialism. These populist leaders were often classified as communists by foreign nations during the cold war era. Jose Maria Velsco Ibarra was one of Ecuador’s charismatic leaders. He was elected to office five separate times in a struggle for power with the military between 1930s and 60s. In Peru, Victor Raul Haya De La Torre developed a bond with voters preaching cultural pride and anti-imperialism, although never becoming president. Jorge Eliecer Gaitan condemned the power of the oligarchy in Columbia. When he was assassinated in 1948, massive riots broke out. Lazaro Cardenas in the 1930s had popular support in Mexico. His style while in office was to travel around the country side hearing complaints and making decisions right then and there. Getulio Vargas delivered speeches as pro-labor supporter, while using the Estado Novo to attack communist organizations in the 1950s. Juan Peron was another populist leader that was able to raise working standards of Argentinean workers.