João Goulart

Son to farmer Vicente Goulart and his wife Vicentina, João Goulart was born in 1918 in São Borja, Rio Grande do Sul. Graduated from law school in 1939, he was elected state congressman in 1946 and national congressman in 1950. In 1953, Vargas, who was once again president, named Jango minister of labor, position from which he was sacked in February 1954 due to pressure of the right-wing. After Vargas's suicide, in august 1954, Jango was widely recognized as his political successor. This led him to being elected vice-president in 1955. He was re-elected vice-president in 1960, and became president of Brazil in September 7, 1961, after Jânio Quadros's resignation and despite extreme opposition by the right-wing, who forced him to lead a parlamentarist government. However, in 1963, the Brazilian people chose the presidencialist way, giving Jango the same power as previous presidents. As president, Jango tried to implement the "Reformas de Base", which were educational, rural and social adjustments for the nation. He was, however, stopped by the military (with the support of the rich and the American Government), which overthrew him from power in April 1, 1964. Jango was exiled in Argentina, where he died in 1976, due to a still suspicious heart attack.