Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has died at age 58 after a lengthy battle with cancer.  The fiery populist who declared a Socialist Revolution and was a thorn in the wide of the developed world powers championed a leftist revival that spread across South America.

During his 14-year presidency, Chavez used Venezuela’s vast oil wealth to fund massive social programs that improve the lot of the poor, backing it up with a strong, confrontational style that challenged and stymied the conservative opposition.  His “Bolivarian Socialism” is credited with reducing Venezuela’s poverty rate.

“El Commandate” brought the country state-run food markets, new public housing, free health clinics and education programs. Poverty declined during Chavez's presidency and oil earnings rose.  But critics say he failed to use that new wealth to develop the nation’s economy.

As a paratrooper in 1992, he led a failed coup against the right-wing government, got pardoned, and was first elected to office in 1998.  He used his booming voice and fierce rhetorical skills on the radio and TV, often speaking for hours at a time.  But while the length of his speeches vexed the opposition, it was the fact that he was speaking to the poor that got him reelected over and over. 

Chavez bested a coup attempt by right-wing military officers in 2002, and in 2004 survived a recall attempt by a comfortable margin.

In one of his last messages to the Venezuelan people, Chavez said voters ought to choose Vice President Nicolas Maduro as his successor.  The Venezuelan constitution mandates snap presidential elections be called in the event of a chief executive.