 Despite the well-publicized abuses under his rule, Duvalier's firm anti-Communism earned him the support of the Americans, who burnished the country with aid.In 1971 Duvalier died, and he was succeeded by his son Jean-Claude Duvalier, nicknamed 'Baby Doc', who ruled until 1986.He largely continued his father's policies, though curbed some of the worst excesses in order to court international respectability.