However, he did eventually graduate with a law degree from the Universidad de Santo Tomás in San José.

He was a prestigious lawyer who had never made any active forays into the country's politics, but he had distinguished himself as the Magistrate of the Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de Justicia).

He attained the presidency by being elected with a considerable majority, ushering in a new era for the country that would end with imposed governments.

The liberals became alarmed and decided to support the president, who accepted this group's collaboration, succeeding in beating the Catholic Party in the midterm elections for deputies.

The winner was the Minister of War and the Navy, Don Rafael Yglesias Castro, the Civil Party candidate.