Vincente Fox: 1942—: Politician; Businessman

Fox's victory in 2000 signaled an important change in the Mexican political system, and he began to set priorities for his administration even before assuming office on December 1, 2000. He promised to fight corruption and build a crime fighting force, the Federal Agency of Investigation, based on the FBI. He expressed a desire to expand NAFTA to reduce wage discrepancies and to allow a free flow of people between Mexico, the United States, and Canada. Opposition to change, however, remained entrenched. The PRI continued to hold the greatest number of governorships, and no party held a majority in the lower legislature. "Fox succeeded beyond almost anyone's expectations," wrote Maclean's. " Now, he faces a host of problems and pent-up demand for change."

In office Fox attempted to enact a number of reforms with mixed results. Some measures expanded educational subsidies and health benefits, while others enacted financial market reforms. He also helped convince President George W. Bush to grant amnesty to three million Mexicans living and working in the United States. In 2001, however, Mexico sank into recession, making new job creation difficult. "It is painful not to have generated jobs as we wanted," Fox told Lucy Conger of Institutional Investor. "These realities have brought a more demanding citizenry that asks when will there be accelerated development in Mexico." On July 2, 2001, a year after Fox's victory, on his 59th birthday, he married press secretary Martha Sahagun.