S?o Borja
Rio Grande do Sul

The ultimate politician, who made his own death a political act.

Get?lio Vargas is without doubt the most influential Brazilian of the twentieth century. He became president after the 1930 revolution that ended the First Republic. As an arbitrator between the various power blocks he had considerable personal power. In 1937 he took complete control of the country and instigated the Estado Novo. After World War II he was forced to step down and redemocratize the country. He made his comeback as elected president in 1951. Amidst rising pressure to resign in the aftermath of a failed assassination attempt on a political rival by one of his trustees he committed suicide in 1954. The popular reaction after his death ensured the continuation of his political projects in the following years. Read more...