"Yesterday, ladies and gentlemen, from this rostrum, the president of the United States, the gentleman to whom I refer as the devil, came here, talking as if he owned the world. Truly. As the owner of the world." (Hugo Chávez, address to the United Nations, September 20, 2006)

The above quote is quintessentially Chávez - controversial, shocking, and designed to cause a stir. He shared his words with the entire United Nations General Assembly at a time when the United States was embroiled in two failing war efforts and its banks were inching ever closer towards the economic crisis of 2008. Yet Chávez shared his beliefs fearlessly, confident enough with his presidency and his role on the world's stage to criticize the US president in a way that had never been done before at the UN.

Understandably, Chávez is one of the most divisive and controversial political figures in Latin American history. He has been in power since 1999 and is South America's longest serving head of state. The leader of the movement towards 21st century socialism, Chávez has sought to bring socialist reform to Venezuela through what he calls the Bolivarian Revolution. His goal has been to shift power from the nation's traditional oligarchy to the neglected poor.

Chávez's past is a complicated one, rife with military coups, troubled relationships, and political betrayal. During his presidency, he has written and implemented a new constitution, instituted democratic councils, and nationalized important industries.