He participated in the military coup organized by pro-Fascist army officers in 1943, and was elected President in 1946, when he assumed dictatorial powers. He won popular support with his programme of social reform, but, after the death of his second wife, Eva Perón, the faltering economy and his conflict with the Roman Catholic Church led to his removal and exile in 1955. Following a resurgence by the Peronist Party in the early 1970s, Perón returned to power in 1973, but died in office.