Manuel Antonio Dorta-Duque (June 27, 1896, Matanzas – July 6, 1964, Havana) was a Cuban politician, lawyer, writer, university professor, and signator of the 1940 Constitution of Cuba.

He was named Defender of the Catholic Faith in Cuba, and on July 27, 1950 Pope Pius XII granted him the Pro-Ecclesia et Pontiff distinction for his efforts.

Juan Manuel Dorta-Duque, was their oldest son, who after studying in London, and in Rome at the Vatican, gained a doctorate in philosophy and became a Jesuit Priest.

Manuel Antonio Dorta-Duque, held a doctorate degree in Civil Rights Law from the University of Havana, and became Public Defender before the Cuban Supreme Court in March, 1959.

He moved to the Dominican Republic where he had a long career as a journalist, and television and radio talk show host discussing religion, politics and current events.

Jorge Enrique Dorta-Duque held a doctorate degree in Mathematics and Physics, and went on to serve as Head of Public Works in Cuba.

Her daughter contested the will, and it was appealed up to the New York Supreme Court, but Dorta-Duque was successful in protecting the assets of the Salesian Congregation, the Foundations and the Catholic Church.

In 1933, Sumner Welles, Assistant Secretary of State for Latin American Affairs, was sent as special envoy to Cuba to help negotiate a settlement during the government overthrow of President Gerardo Machado.

Mediation was a process of understanding between the parties of the government and the opposition with a view to finding a peaceful solution, to avoid US military action as required by the Platt Amendment.

And the opposition was represented by Colonel Dr. Cosme de la Torriente, from the Nationalist Union; Joaquín Martínez Sáenz, for ABC; Nicasio Silveira, for the Revolutionary Radical Cellular Organization; and Dr. Manuel Dorta-Duque, led the delegation for the University of Havana; along with others.

Once again, Dr. Dorta-Duque's participation was pivotal in these negotiations, as he was one of three opposition leaders, along with Dr. Cosme de la Torriente and Mendez Penate, to inform Mr. Welles that "all possibility of a peaceful solution was terminated".

[15] In reference to Dr. Dorta-Duque's influence during a meeting on December 11, 1933, at the Presidential Palace, Dr. Fernandez, the Uruguayan Minister stated that "A rupture was produced by persons who represented themselves as connected Mr.

During this second legislative period, in 1951, he proposed the Moral Rehabilitation Law of Miguel Mariano Gómez Arias, thus annulling the sentence that dismissed him as President of the Republic.