  mario josÃ© echandi jimÃ©nez (17 june 1915 â 30 july 2011) was president of costa rica from 1958 to 1962. == as diplomat == mario echandi was a career diplomat. prior to his election, he had served as costa rica's ambassador to the united states and as the country's representative to both the united nations and the organization of american states (1949â1950). he also served as the minister of foreign affairs (1950-1952) under president otilio ulate and in the legislative assembly during president josÃ© figueres's second term in office (1953â1958). == his presidency == president echandi won the 1958 election by 102.851 votes as candidate of the national union party. francisco j. orlich was candidate of national liberation party with 94.778 and jorge rossi had 23.910 votes with the independent party. .historÃ­a de costa rica, monge alfaro, carlos. ediciÃ³n #16, imprenta trejos, 1980, page 304 during his administration some important laws were passed. the "ley de aguinaldo" law gave an extra yearly salary to all workers. a law that created the national service for clean water was approved.historÃ­a de costa rica, monge alfaro, carlos. ediciÃ³n #16, imprenta trejos, 1980, page 304 the law that created a national institute for land reform and colonization. (itco law). the first national plan for transit and roads was created, to build a network of highways and roads in the country.historÃ­a de costa rica, monge alfaro, carlos. ediciÃ³n #16, imprenta trejos, 1980, page 304 == national reconciliation == during his administration some political figures were allowed to return from exile, like the former president rafael Ãngel calderÃ³n guardia. his followers were allowed to returned to the country and organize politically.historÃ­a de costa rica, monge alfaro, carlos. ediciÃ³n #16, imprenta trejos, 1980, page 305 == after his presidency == he ran for the presidency on two further occasions &ndash; 1970 and 1982 &ndash; but was defeated on both. == death == echandi died on 30 july 2011 from pneumonia after a heart attack.http://www.nacion.com/2011-07-30/elpais/fallecio--expresidente-mario
1915_births 2011_deaths Ambassadors_of_Costa_Rica_to_the_United_States Deaths_from_pneumonia Members_of_the_Legislative_Assembly_of_Costa_Rica National_Unification_Party_(Costa_Rica)_politicians Permanent_Representatives_of_Costa_Rica_to_the_United_Nations Permanent_Representatives_to_the_Organization_of_American_States Presidents_of_Costa_Rica