It was banned in 1947 was outlawed, and was subjected to brutal repression which resulted in the loss of several prominent figures.
In September 1962 the party Central Committee adopted a document titled "On the political situation, ways and objectives of the revolution", which stressed that the strategic goal of the party was national liberation, anti-imperialist and anti-feudal revolution.
During the presidency of Juan Bosch, the party strengthened its political influence and took part in the establishment of trade unions, whose leadership has now included a sizeable number of communists.
The August 1965 plenum of the Central Committee of the party called on progressive forces in the country to strengthen unity and continue the fight for democratic rights of the people and for the expulsion of foreign troops from the Dominican Republic.
[1] In 1975 Orlando Martinez Howley, the journalist, PCD member and prominent critic of the Balaguer regime, was murdered.