Artur da Costa e Silva

President of Brazil

October 3, 1899 Taquari, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

December 17, 1969(1969-12-17) (70) Rio de Janeiro, Guanabara, Brazil

March 15, 1967 – August 31, 1969

27th President of Brazil In this Portuguese name, the first or maternal family name is Costa and the second or paternal family name is Silva. Artur da Costa e Silva (Portuguese:  ; October 3, 1899 – December 17, 1969) was a Brazilian Army General and the second President of the Brazilian military government that came to power after the 1964 coup d'état. He reached the rank of Marshal of the Brazilian Army, and held the post of Minister of War in the military government of President Castelo Branco. During his term in office Institutional Act 5 was promulgated. This law gave the President powers to dismiss the National Congress, strip politicians of their offices of power, and institutionalize repressive methods of rule against left-wing parties and individuals. Costa e Silva's government started the most oppressive stage of the military regime against opposition, left-wing activists and suspected communists, which would be continued and expanded under his successor Emílio Garrastazu Médici.