A professor said Eva Peron’s legacy has survived for almost 60 years in Argentina, during a speech Thursday.

Vanesa Landrus, a foreign language professor, presented “Evita” to inform campus about Eva Peron, an influential figure in Argentina.

“Eva Peron’s legacy has survived for almost 60 years and is very much alive in Argentina,” Landrus said.

Eva Peron was an active member in Argentine politics starting with her campaign for the election of her husband Juan Peron to the presidency.

She promoted Juan Peron to the lower class to gain support for his presidency.

“Along with her husband, Eva visited every corner of the country, becoming the first woman in Argentina history to appear in public on the campaign trail with her husband,” Landrus said. “And incidentally, she was also the first woman in Argentine public life to wear pants.”

After Juan Peron became the president of Argentina, Eva Peron started the Fundacion Maria Eva Duarte de Peron, to help the poor in Argentina.

This foundation supplied 400,000 pairs of shoes, 500,000 sewing machines, gave scholarships, built homes and helped entire communities, Landrus said.

Landrus said Eva Peron created the first large female political party, the Female Peronist Party.

Eva Peron promoted woman’s suffrage and Juan Peron granted women the right to vote in 1947, winning him a reelection in 1951.

Eva Peron was also a popular candidate for vice president, until she declined because of her bad health. She developed cervical cancer, but her diagnosis was hidden from her by Juan Peron.

By June 1952 Eva was unable to stand on her own.

“Underneath her oversized fur coat was a frame made of plaster and wire that allowed her to stand,” Landrus said.

Eva Perron was given the title “Spiritual Leader of the Nation” a few days after Juan Peron was reelected.

Landrus said Eva Peron died on July 26, 1952, and Argentina shut down.

“All activity ceased; movies stopped playing; restaurants and businesses closed and posters of Evita plastered the walls of every town village in the country,” Landrus said.

“Eva Peron has become a part of the international popular culture icon.”

Margaret Langevin, a sophomore communication studies major, said the presentation made her want to learn more.

“It give you inspiration,” Langevin said. “It’s a good legacy for women.”

Landrus said she thought the students learned a lot from her presentation.

“The students showed great interest in knowing more about Eva, the impact she had on the people of the time, and also her legacy and what she represents in to Argentineans today,” Landrus said.

Eva Peron was originally born May 7, 1919, left home at the age of 15 to become a movie star in Buenos Aires and had no formal education.

Peron began working for Radio Belgrano, which led her to meet Juan Peron, who was the secretary of state of Argentina at the time.

Samantha McDaniel can be reached at 581-2812 or slmcdaniel@eiu.edu.