William Richard Tolbert Jr. (May 13, 1913 - April 12, 1980) was the twentieth president of Liberia from 1971 to 1980, when he was killed in a coup d'etat.
In 1971, he became president of Liberia. During his tenure, he relaxed the True Whig regime. For example, in 1973 he authorized the creation of a Progressive Alliance of Liberia, the first opposition party in the country's history. However, he had to face growing dissatisfaction, largely due to the social inequalities between indigenous peoples, which represent 95% of the population, and the privileged African-American elite, composed of the descendants of American slaves who had settled in Liberia since 1821.
These social tensions were particularly acute since 1979. In April, a large demonstration crossed the streets of Monrovia in protest of the increase in the price of rice. President Tolbert gives the troop. At least 70 protesters were killed or trampled. This incident set fire to dust. Throughout the following year, riots and demonstrations shook the country. Tolbert tried in vain to restore order by arresting opposition leaders, but his attempts were unsuccessful and the disorder increased. Due to the intense repression Tolbert ordered the shooting of civilians, after this a 28-year-old coup guerrilla known as Samuel Doe led a coup d'etat that murdered President Tolbert in his bed, and then arrested and executed the members from his cabinet.