in 1984 the atmosphere was unusually charged. The next day, El Salvador was holding elections. If the Christian Democrats backed by the Americans won, the Reagan administration would be validated; if they lost, the White House strategy would be up for grabs. Juan and the other activists were ambivalent. While the Christian Democrats were politically moderate—a far cry from the violent supremacy of the extreme right—their role in the government gave cover to the military. The generals were still the ones in charge.
