He was one of the founders of MNR (National Revolutionary Movement), along with Víctor Paz Estenssoro, Wálter Guevara Arze, Carlos Montenegro, Germán Monroy Block and Lidia Gueiler Tejada, amongst others.

He grew up in Santa Cruz de la Sierra and Sucre, Bolivia's Capital city and location of the Supreme Court of Justice.

Since a very young age, he participated in the political life of his country, joining the ranks of MNR (Nationalist Revolutionary Movement) in 1945.

He was elected vice-president of the Republic of Bolivia in 1956 but resigned in 1957, due to discrepancies he held with the president, around his monetary stabilization measures.

He held residence in this neighbouring country for a number of years, teaching economy in San Marcos University.