Jean-Claude Duvalier Jean-Claude Duvalier Jean-Claude Duvalier (), nicknamed “Baby Doc” () (3 July 19514 October 2014), was the President of Haiti from 1971 until he was overthrown by a popular uprising in 1986. He succeeded his father François "Papa Doc" Duvalier as the ruler of Haiti after his death in 1971. After assuming power, he introduced cosmetic changes to his father's regime and delegated much authority to his advisors. Thousands of Haitians were killed or tortured, and hundreds of thousands fled the country during his presidency. He maintained a notoriously lavish lifestyle (including a state-sponsored US$3million wedding in 1980) while poverty among
Anti-Duvalier protest movement and Duvalier suspended certain civil liberties, declaring a state of siege. Stores closed and remained shut. Graffiti carrying certain popular slogans increased on walls around the capital in early February. Activists defaced a large statue of Duvalier in front of city hall. For several consecutive days in early February, Duvalier traveled around the capital as a symbol of his continuing control. Stores and businesses stayed closed, ignoring Duvalier’s demand that business should proceed as usual. On 7 February 1986, Duvalier fled to France in a U.S. supplied plane. However, before leaving, he set up the 6-member National Council of Government