Jorge Pacheco Areco was President of Uruguay from December 6 1967 to March 1 1972. He replaced President Óscar Diego Gestido , who died after a few months in office.

In the 1971 elections, Pacheco ran for re-election. Since Uruguay's Constitution does not allow for re-election, a rerefendum was submitted to the population together with the presidential election. To be elected, Pacheco had to be voted president and the proposed amendment had to receive at least 50% of the votes. His votes were enough for the presidency, but not for the constitutional reform. His vice-presidential running-mate, Juan María Bordaberry, was named president instead.

Although Pacheco has always been vilified and strongly criticized by the Uruguayan left for a harsh reaction against the Tupamaros guerrilla, he has always been respectful of the institutions. After leaving office he was appointed ambassador to Spain. He died in 1988.