| id="body"> | | | | He is one of the most famous and respected men in |
| Geography | | | | Peru. |
| Did you know... Peru -a country in South America- is | | | | Hiram Bingham (1875-1956) re-discovered Machu |
| about the size of California (158,869 sq mi), Texas | | | | Picchu in 1911. Since 2007, Machu Picchu is one of the |
| (267,277 sq mi), New York (53,989 sq mi), Maryland | | | | New Seven Wonders of the World. Hiram was born in |
| (12,297 sq mi) and Delaware (2,396 sq mi) combined... | | | | Hawaii. |
| Noted Personalities | | | | Women |
| Did you know... In the 20th century, Alberto Vargas, | | | | Did you know... In 1977, Rosalynn Carter, First Lady |
| whose full name was Alberto Joaquin Vargas y | | | | from 1977 to 1981, visited Peru and was delighted with |
| Chavez, became one of America's best-known pin-up | | | | the local gastronomy. During her visit, Peruvian |
| artists. He was born on February 9, 1896, in Arequipa- | | | | authorities held a banquet of Peruvian food in her |
| Peru's second largest city. Alberto was the oldest of | | | | honor in an estate outside the city of Lima. Rosalynn |
| six children born to Max Vargas and Margarita de | | | | was astonished after eating "anticuchos" (beef heart), |
| Vargas. In the 1910s, Alberto moved to Europe to | | | | "pachamanca" (meat and vegetables cooked under |
| study painting. Soon, however, he left Europe for New | | | | earth) and pisco sour. Afterwards she received a giant |
| York, where he completed his studies. As many young | | | | guinea pig as a present. Rosalynn Carter, who was |
| people, Alberto was almost forced to end his studies | | | | born in Georgia (USA), was one of the world's most |
| during World War I. In America, Alberto was a | | | | charismatic First Ladies. |
| celebrated artist known for his creation of the "Vargas | | | | Sports & Recreation |
| Girl", an American icon. Subsequently, he married Anne | | | | Did you know... Giuseppe Lanzone (American rower) |
| Marie Clift. | | | | was born and grew up in La Punta, Callao, Peru. |
| In 1939, he became an American citizen. The US | | | | Giuseppe competed for the United States at the 2008 |
| government decorated him for his efforts to sustain | | | | Summer Olympics in Beijing (China).During an interview, |
| the morale of the American soldiers during World War | | | | he said, "I grew up on small peninsula off coast of |
| Second. From 1940 to 1976, he worked for Ezequire | | | | Lima, called La Punta, which means "the point". It's |
| magazine and Playboy. Alberto also worked for | | | | maybe 10 by 5 blocks and everyone knows each |
| several film companies (Twentieth Century Fox, | | | | other. My whole family grew up there and each |
| Paramount Pictures, Warner Bros). In 1958, the | | | | generation is friends with the same people. I grew up |
| Peruvian government bestowed upon him the Order | | | | playing soccer, sailing and surfing...It feels great. This |
| of the Sun. | | | | whole part of my life, rowing, has been in the U.S. I |
| Singer and actress Yma Sumac was a celebrity in the | | | | didn't row for Peru. Everything I learned about rowing, I |
| mid-1940s and 1950s. Zoila Augusta Emperatriz | | | | learned here. I don't really even know rowing terms in |
| Chavarri del Castillo, best known as Yma Sumac, was | | | | Spanish. I'm definitely happy to be representing the |
| the last of six children in the family of Sixto Chavarri | | | | U.S." |
| and Summack Emilia Atahualpa Chavarri. Ymac was | | | | In the late 1950s, Alejandro "Alex" Rodriguez Olmedo, |
| born on September 10, 1922, in Callao, Peru -no in | | | | a former world-class tennis player, was a sports hero |
| Ichocan, Cajamarca (Peru). In 1954, she was cheered | | | | in America and Peru. Under his leadership, the United |
| by a huge audience at the Carnegie Hall in New York. | | | | States won the Davis Cup in 1958. The American |
| Her performance was amazing! Certainly, Yma, an | | | | team defeated Australia 3-2. Australia had won the |
| American-Peruvian citizen since 1955, was popular for | | | | Davis Cup in 1955, 1956 and 1957. During his first match, |
| her singing style and nearly five octave vocal range. | | | | Alex Olmedo defeated Malcolm "Mal" Anderson 8-6, |
| On February 18, 1954, Virgil Thompson wrote in the | | | | 2-6, 9-7, 8-6. In the doubles match, Olmedo and |
| New York Herald Tribune: "The Peruvian vocalist has | | | | Hamilton Richardson (tennis player from New Orleans) |
| a voice of great beauty, and her vocal technique is | | | | beat Neale Fraser and Mal Anderson. Finally, Alex |
| impeccable. She sings very low and warm, very high | | | | Olmedo scored the first major singles victory of his |
| and bird-like; and her middle range is no less lovely than | | | | career when he defeated Ashley Cooper, a famous |
| the extremes of her scale. That scale is very close to | | | | tennis player from Australia. The US team had won |
| four octaves, but it is in no way inhuman or outlandish | | | | the Davis Cup. After that victory, Jim Moffet |
| in sound". Her music is inspired from Peruvian folk | | | | (American chairman) said, "The Peruvian government |
| songs. Among the songs which Sumac recorded are | | | | wired that the country was honored and proud we |
| Tumpá (the Earthquake) and Choladas (Dance | | | | selected Olmedo". Alex was born on March 24, 1936, |
| of the Moon Festival). In 2006, when Yma Sumac | | | | in Arequipa (Peru). He was inducted into the World |
| went to Peru, she was awarded the Order of the | | | | Tennis Hall Fame in 1987. |
| Sun-Peru´s highest award. During this visit, she | | | | The Peruvian Olympic Committee sent 38 athletes to |
| received an emotional and enthusiastic welcome from | | | | the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles, California (USA). |
| the Peruvian people. She then traveled to Cuzco, the | | | | Peru participated in ten sports: aquatics (5 athletes), |
| legendary capital of the Inca Empire. | | | | athletics (2), cycling (1), equestrian (1), rowing (3), |
| Foreign Relations | | | | shooting (6), tennis (3), volleyball (12), weightlifting (2), |
| Did you know... In 2002, George W. Bush, accompanied | | | | wrestling (3). Thanks to shooter Francisco "Pancho" |
| by First Lady Laura Bush, visited Peru. George Walker | | | | Boza, who had placed second at the 1984 Games, |
| Bush became the first US President to visit Peru. | | | | Peru earned its second Olympic medal. Francisco also |
| Apollo 11 astronauts Neil Armstrong, Edwin Aldrin and | | | | competed at the 1996 Summer Olympic in the United |
| Michael Collins made an official visit to Peru after their | | | | States... |
| lunar landing. During their travel to Lima, the capital city | | | | The US women's volleyball team burst onto the world |
| of Peru, they emphasized the friendship between the | | | | stage when it won the bronze medal at the World |
| United States and Peru... | | | | Cup in Peru in 1982. This medal is the first ever world |
| Peru maintains very close ties with the United States | | | | medal in the country's women's volleyball history. |
| of America since 1822. In that year, the United States | | | | At the 1964 FIBA World Championships in Peru, the |
| recognized Peru as an independent country in South | | | | US women's basketball team finished 4th place... |
| America. | | | | In the late 60s and early 70s, Peruvian Juan Carlos |
| In November 2008, George Walker Bush, US | | | | "Johnny" Bello (swimming) trained and lived in America. |
| President, will be in Peru to participate in the APEC | | | | Without doubt, he was one of the greatest Latin |
| Leader's Summit. George Bush will meet with various | | | | American swimmers of the 20th century. Johnny Bello |
| Prime Ministers and Presidents to discuss the global | | | | caused a sensation when he won 12 gold medals at |
| financial crisis and other international issues. | | | | the 1970 Bolivarian Games in Maracaibo, Venezuela. |
| In the 20th century, America sent 25 ambassadors to | | | | He was born on January 6, 1949 in Mollendo, Arequipa, |
| Peru. United States ambassadors to Peru (1920-1999) | | | | Peru. |
| 1920-1921: William E. Gonzalez | | | | Arts & Media |
| 1923-1928: Miles Poindexter | | | | Did you know... The Simpsons visited Peru and |
| 1928-1930: Alexander P. Moore | | | | surprised everyone in Latin America. In 2008, an |
| 1930-1937: Fred Morris Dearing | | | | episode of these American cartoons was devoted to |
| 1937-1940: Laurence A. Steinhardt | | | | the legendary ruins of Machu Picchu. In this episode, |
| 1940-1944: R. Henry Norweb | | | | we can see here Homer dressed in a poncho, one of |
| 1944-1945: John Campbell White | | | | the traditional garments in Peru. |
| 1945-1946: William D. Pawley | | | | Actor Benjamin Bratt has Peruvian origin. He received |
| 1946-1948: Prentice Cooper | | | | an Emmy Award nomination for his role as an |
| 1948-1955: Harold W. Titmann | | | | Outstanding Supporting Actor (1999). |
| 1955-1956: Ellis O. Briggs | | | | In 1957, in Long Beach, California, Gladys Zender (Peru) |
| 1956-1960: Teodore Achilles | | | | became the first non-American /European to win the |
| 1960: Selden Chapin | | | | Miss Universe title. During her reign, she lived in the |
| 1961-1963: James Loeb | | | | United States... |
| 1963-1969: J. Wesley Jones | | | | Duke Ellington (bandleader & composer |
| 1969-1974: Taylor Harrison Belcher | | | | 1899-1974) visited Peru in 1974. |
| 1974-1977: Robert W. Dean | | | | In January 1982, Harold L. Glasser, president of Miss |
| 1977-1980: Harry W. Shlaudeman | | | | Universe Organization, chose Peru to host the Miss |
| 1980-1981: Edwin G. Corr | | | | Universe pageant. This contest was also organized by |
| 1981-1983: Frank V. Ortiz | | | | the Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS). At the 1982 |
| 1984-1986: David C. Jordan | | | | Miss Universe in Lima, two American delegates |
| 1986-1989: Alexander F. Watson | | | | qualified for the finals: Patty Choung Kerkos (Miss |
| 1989-1992: Anthony C. E. Quainton | | | | Guam) and Terri Utley (Miss USA). Curiously, there |
| 1993-1996: Alvin Adams | | | | were five American judges: Cicely Tyson (actress), |
| 1996-1999: Dennis Jett | | | | Peter Marshall (host), David Copperfield (illusionist), |
| Science & Technology | | | | David Merrick (Broadway producer), and Dong |
| Did you know... Former space shuttle astronaut Carlos | | | | Kingman (artist). Finally, Frank Ortiz, US ambassador to |
| Noriega became the first American-Peruvian in space | | | | Peru, was one of the special guests who attended the |
| when he flew aboard the shuttle Atlantis in May 1997. | | | | event. |
| He also became the first South American and fourth | | | | In 1954, John Wayne -who won the Oscar for best |
| Latin American to fly in space.Carlos Ismael Noriega | | | | actor in 1970- was married in Kona (Hawaii) to Pilar |
| Jiménez was born on October 8, 1959, in Lima, | | | | Pallete, an actress from Peru. She is author of the |
| Peru. Carlos Noriega and her wife, Wendy Thatcher, | | | | autobiography "John Wayne, my life with the Duke". |
| live with their five children in Santa Monica, California. | | | | |