Getúlio Vargas

President of Brazil

Getúlio Dornelles Vargas 19 April 1882 São Borja, Rio Grande do Sul, Empire of Brazil

24 August 1954(1954-08-24) (72) Catete Palace, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

31 January 1951 – 24 August 1954

14th and 17th President of Brazil (1930-45, 1951-54) For the 2014 film, see Getúlio (film). In this Portuguese name, the first or maternal family name is Dornelles and the second or paternal family name is Vargas. This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Getúlio Vargas" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (February 2021 ) (Learn how and when to remove this template message) Getúlio Dornelles "Gegè" Vargas (Portuguese:  ; 19 April 1882 – 24 August 1954), also known by his initials GV and nicknamed "the Father of the Poor", was a Brazilian lawyer, politician, and dictator who served as the 14th and 17th president of Brazil. He was born in São Borja, Rio Grande do Sul to a powerful family, embarking on a quick military career before graduating from law school. His political career began with district attorney, soon becoming a state deputy prior to a short interim period. His return as a state legislator ended when he entered national politics, serving as a national lawmaker and presidential cabinet member before departing to head Rio Grande do Sul as state president. Though Vargas lost the 1930 Brazilian general election for the presidency, he rose to power in 1930 under a provisional presidency following an armed revolution, remaining until 1934 where he was elected president under a 1934 constitution. Three years later, Vargas would seize powers under the pretext of a potential communist revolution, beginning an eight-year long dictatorship with Vargas at its center. In 1942, he led Brazil into World War II on the side of the Allies after being sandwiched between Nazi Germany and the United States. Though there was notable resistance, the major revolts – the Constitutionalist Revolution in Vargas's provisional presidency; the Communist uprising of 1935 in his constitutional presidency; and the Brazilian Integralist Action's putsch in his dictatorship – were all successfully suppressed, though the methods Vargas used in quelling his opposition ranged from light peace terms to jailing political opponents. Though he was ousted in 1945 after fifteen years of being president, he returned in 1951 after being elected by the people. However, a growing political crisis led to Vargas's suicide in 1954, prematurely ending his second presidency. Historians consider Vargas as the most influential Brazilian politician of the 20th century. He is also one of a number of populists who arose during the 1930s in Latin America, including Lázaro Cárdenas and Juan Perón, who promoted nationalism and pursued social reform.