A Survey of Liberian-U.S. Relations by Samuel Kanyon Doe - 1988: a thesis by Samuel Kanyon Doe In Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements for The Bachelor's Degree in Political Science

Thesis (B.A.)--University of Liberia, pristine condition. Signed by author on the front free endpaper.

The author, Samuel Doe, was the 21st president of Liberia. He completed elementary and middle school before enlisting in the armed forces. In 1980, at the age of 28 and with the rank of Master Sergeant, he led a military coup that overthrew and killed President Tolbert and installed himself as head of state. During a 1982 state visit to South Korea, Doe was awarded an honorary doctorate and began styling himself "Dr. Doe" to much derision from Liberia's educated elites. In 1988 it was announced that Doe had completed a bachelor's degree in Political Science from the University of Liberia. The Liberian government subsequently distributed copies of Doe's thesis to foreign institutions and VIPs. While Doe was originally popular because of his status as Liberia's first rural, indigenous leader, it quickly became clear that he was favoring his own tribal group and his popularity declined. Doe held office until 1990, when he was captured, tortured, killed and mutilated by a rebel faction allied with Liberia's next murderous dictator.