Joao Goulart

João Goulart was a Brazilian lawyer and politician who served as the 24th president of Brazil from January 31 to August 25, 1961, when he resigned from office. He was considered the last left-wing president of Brazil until Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva took office in 2003. He was born on March 1, 1918, in São Borja, Rio Grande do Sul, to a wealthy and influential family. He graduated from the University of Porto Alegre, and practiced law and taught at the Dante Alighieri Institute until 1945, when he became involved in politics. He was elected to the city council of São Paulo in 1947, and introduced more legislation than any other member. He ran for mayor of São Paulo in 1953 and defeated the well-funded establishment candidate, Francisco Cardoso, by a margin of 10%. He resigned in 1954 to run for governor of the state of São Paulo, and won by a margin of 1%. He resigned again in 1959 to run for president of Brazil, and won by a landslide, with 48% of the vote. He campaigned with a broom as a symbol of his pledge to "sweep away corruption". As president, he focused on economic reform and attempted to root out corruption. He also pursued an independent foreign policy, trying to balance relations between the United States and the Soviet Union. He awarded Che Guevara the Order of the Southern Cross, and supported the Algerian independence movement. He also banned bikinis, cockfights, and gambling. His term was marked by uncertainty and political instability, as he faced opposition from the Congress, the military, and his own vice president, João Goulart. He resigned on August 25, 1961, in a move that shocked the nation and caused a constitutional crisis. His resignation letter stated that "terrible forces" were against him, but he never explained his motives. Some historians believe that he expected a popular clamor for his return, or that he wanted to prevent Goulart from assuming power. He was succeeded by Ranieri Mazzilli, the speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, until Goulart returned from his diplomatic trip to China and took office. Quadros retired from politics, but returned in 1985 to run for mayor of São Paulo again, and won. He served until 1988, when he resigned for health reasons. He died on December 6, 1976, at the age of 58, from a heart attack. He is regarded as one of the most eccentric and controversial figures in Brazilian history, praised for his honesty and charisma, but also criticized for his unpredictability and populism.