William R. Tolbert
William R. Tolbert was a former civil servant turned vice-president. On July 23, 1971, he became the 20th president of Liberia.
Tolbert was heavily accused of doing little to quell the strife between indigenous Liberians and Americo-Liberians; former slaves who emigrated to Liberia during the Liberian Exodus.
On April 12, 1980. Servicemen with the Armed Forces of Liberia enacted a coup. Samuel Doe led the group.