O Malley lists several traits that the propaganda surrounding these men push. O Malley argues that the revolution would collapse if the government only relied on one of them. Madero represents the saintly martyr of the revolution. Zapata is the peasant leader of land reform. Carranza is the father of law and represents the singularity of the Revolution.
Villa represents machismo and nationalism.
They each represent a different aspect of Mexican society and are used in tandem to maintain legitimacy for the government. The first trait of the propaganda, the claim that the government was revolutionary, is the vital key in keeping the government in power. Since the government is truly moderate in nature the government needs a stance that can eliminate any real revolutionary or reformist ideas. The ambiguousness and lack of unity during the revolution allows the current government to continue to praise the revolution while at the same time continue with the status quo. Nationalism also poses another problem for the Mexican government.