[4] He was born in Guayaquil to Carlos Julio Arosemena Tola, a former president of Ecuador, and Laura Monroy Garaycoa.

He exercises his mandate in a tumultuous regional context, caused by the Cuban revolution and the establishment of anti-communist military dictatorships in Latin America.

During his presidency, he modernized the telecommunications network, created the national aviation company TAME and the Secular and Catholic University of Guayaquil, launched road construction work in the country and introduced the thirteenth month's salary.

His support of Fidel Castro's revolution in Cuba caused an ongoing conflict with Congress and the military.

He was overthrown by the Military Junta of 1963 after criticizing the US government and insulting Maurice M. Bernbaum, the US ambassador to Ecuador.