46 Years ago today marks the anniversary of the military removing from power the first democratically elected, civilian government after the long (31 years) dictatorship of Generalissimo Rafael Trujillo, alias "El Jefe" to his sycophants and "Chapita" to his detractors.
Some historians say that Juán Bosch felt uncomfortable and ambivalent, in his role as president, and wanted to resign. Others felt that he wanted the military to overthrow him to return with more power.
One thing is for sure though, he was hesitant and timid to return to the country, after his removal from office, from his exile in Puerto Rico, even after the constitutionalist forces achieved victory, during the civil war.
When an airplane was gassed up and ready to make the short 35 minute flight from San Juan To Santo Domingo, Juan Bosch claimed that "the plane was too small", and sent coronel Fernandez Dominguez instead.
Even after his return to DR after the revolution, he refused to step outside his quarters to tour the country, and campaign for the elections of 1966, that he lost against Joaquin Balaguer, who had the support of the occupation forces.
After his election defeat in 1966, he left the country again to return to his life in exile as a world class writer and story teller.
Had political events and democracy in DR, not reverted to a neo-Trujillismo under Balaguer, and the repression and murders that followed not happened, if he had acted like deposed president Zelaya, and fought for his return at any costs?

Lately several versions have come to light, about the Bosch overthrow of 1963, including the one that states that the day before president Bosch was overthrown, he had submitted his resignation, due to the fact that his decree for removal of General Elias Wessin and Wessin was not obeyed by the military chiefs.

General Wessin was the incompetent head of the CEFA, or military base in San Isidro that was the original creation of Commander Otto of the nazi German Wehrmacht, who had been advising Trujillo, of the advantages to have an all powerful strike force near the capital, with modern tanks and armor, airplanes as well as ground troops available. Trujillo's son Ramfis had been the previous commander in San Isidro, and later the baton was passed to General Wessin, who appointed himself general after the Haitian crisis in 1963.
General Wessin proved to be full of hot air, a bully and absent combat commander, blundering with sloppy air attacks which ignited civilian anger, and stirred the civilians will to resist and join the battle.
He mis-leaded the disastrous tank offensive in the civil war, or battle of the "Duarte" bridge, against the "constitutionalist" forces, that was a total disaster and rout, only stopped by the 911 call to the USA 82 ND airborne unit to come to his rescue.

I heard the CIA and FBI were involved in his o'erthrow.

Most likely the US military advisors at the time (the turbulent 60's before the Kennedy assassination), were an influence, and probably the CIA station chief at the US embassy in DR, who did not like the Bosch rhetoric and his courtship with leftist parties, and was relaying a lot of misinformation to DC.
But as far as direct involvement, the Dominican military were the ones who pulled the trigger on Bosch.

On a day like today in 1963 democracy was wiped out in DR and wouldn't return for another 15 years. A dark day in Dominican history indeed. .

I recently re-watched the Fortunato documentary on Balaguer. Though Bosch is not the focus the video does remind of some of his political missteps. Generoso mentioned his absence in the 66 campaign, and then there was also the business of 'dictatorship with popular appeal'. I've said many times on here that Bosch's history books are great. They have been very useful to me as a sort of Dominican 'in exile' like himself. But the more I learn about him the more he seems like the stereotypical intellectual who lacks in the political pragmatism department, and at times was too closely tied to an abstract theory.

His absence in the '66 campaign was due more to intimidation by repressive reactionary forces in the country than anything else. Bosch was reportedly so frightened that he wouldn't even leave his house. With this knowledge we can appreciate how fare the elections that initiated Balaguer's first twelve were.

Yeeah I think I understand the reasons. Still watching the footage of the man brings the above impressions to my mind at least. Those who lived through his political career would know best, hopefully some will chime in with insights deeper than 'he was a closet commie'

I don't like the low level production of Fortunato's documentaries but I do enjoy when he simply shows the footage of these figures. You don't always get a full picture of a personality from reading about them, or even reading their own words.

Like his present disciple Leonel Fernandez. Great theoretician and intellectual, professorial type, but divorced with governing "hands on". Bosch did not have the skills and savvy to deal with the intrigue of the post Trujillo military, and "El Jefe's" ghost was always present.
Also the military had a strange infatuation with their previous cacique, Trujillo, and his son Ramfis was still alive and kicking, influencing Dominican politics, from his golden exile in Europe.
In my opinion Bosch greatest blunder, was not to purge the Trujillo military like was expected of him, after his inauguration, with all the heads of state present, including vice president of the USA, Lyndon Johnson. In not doing a purge and a military chess game, a la Guzmán, he left his enemies at liberty to conspire against him.
As much as I admire and enjoy reading his books, and personally think that he was a man with many great human qualities, I am convinced that he did not have enough "nerve" or testicular fortitude, to sit in the presidential chair, being more comfortable and at ease, in a safer environment surrounded by his books.

Your critique of Bosch doesn't seem to be to far of the mark considering the way things played out back then...but still to his credit under his presidency no one was tortured, murdered, or "dissapeared" at the hands of government sanctioned goons and human rights were respected. That alone is more of a legacy than any other Dominican president I can think of, the incumbent included.