Emílio Garrastazu Médici
Encyclopedia
Emílio Garrastazu Médici, (eˈmiliu ɡaʁastaˈzu ˈmɛdisi; December 4, 1905 —October 9, 1985) was a Brazil
ian military leader and politician. His rightist rule from 1969 to 1974, marked the apex of military governments in Brazil.
, Rio Grande do Sul
state. From his father's side, he was the grandson of Italian immigrants who went to Uruguay
and then re-migrated to Brazil. From his mother's side he was descended from a Basque
family. In the 1920s he entered in the Army
where he was steadily promoted, becoming general in 1961.
Médici was a close ally of Marshal Artur da Costa e Silva
, who became president of Brazil in 1967. Also in this year Médici was appointed chief of the National Information Service (SNI).
by the Military High Command. Médici had his presidency confirmed by the electoral college formed by the National Congress,succeeding Gal. Costa e Silva, who had suffered a stroke. Médici took oath on October 30, 1969 and served until the end of his term, March 15, 1974.
During his tenure, Médici established a strong military government, the most repressive of Brazil's military regimes, accompanied by torture and strict censorship of the press. During his rule an existing guerilla activity was defeated, led by Carlos Marighela and Carlos Lamarca
. The movement was destroyed and Marighela and Lamarca killed.
The Brazilian economy grew rapidly at a rate of 10% per year during his term. Large construction projects were undertaken, including the Transamazônica road, the Itaipu Dam and Rio–Niterói bridge. On the other side, the economic growth benefited mainly the richer classes — by the end of 1970, the official minimum wage
went down to US$40/month, and the more than one-third of Brazilian workforce which had theirs wages tied to it lost about 50% of its purchasing power in relation to the 1960 levels at the end of Juscelino Kubitscheck administration.
The official censorship tightened its grip over the media, and the import of the men's magazines Playboy
, Penthouse
and Lui
and the West German
news magazine Der Spiegel
was banned because they offended “morality and proper behavior”.
In 1971, President Richard Nixon
and Médici discussed coordinating efforts to help Cubans and Chileans overthrow Fidel Castro
and Salvador Allende
respectively. National security advisor Henry Kissinger
's account of the December 9, 1971, White House visit by Médici was written "for the president's file" and classified Top Secret
. It was declassified on September 4, 2008, and made public in July as part of a State Department publication on U.S. foreign policy.
Kissinger's memo shows it was Nixon who raised the subject of Allende during the meeting, asking for Médici's views on Chile: "Médici said Allende would be overthrown", [Nixon] then asked whether Médici thought that the Chilean armed forces were capable of overthrowing Allende Médici replied that he felt that they were and made clear that Brazil "was working towards this end." The memo notes Nixon and Médici also discussed whether Cuba should have readmission to the Organization of American States
. For his part, Médici noted that Peru was trying to persuade the OAS to consider readmitting Cuba and asked Nixon how they should cooperate to oppose the move. Nixon said he would study the issue and reply to Médici "privately." The OAS voted to lift sanctions on Cuba in 1974.
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
ian military leader and politician. His rightist rule from 1969 to 1974, marked the apex of military governments in Brazil.
Early life
Médici was born in BagéBagé
Bagé is a city and a municipality in the south of the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. In 2007 its population was 112,550 in a total area of 4,096 km2. It was the tenth largest city in the state in 2007 -Location:...
, Rio Grande do Sul
Rio Grande do Sul
Rio Grande do Sul is the southernmost state in Brazil, and the state with the fifth highest Human Development Index in the country. In this state is located the southernmost city in the country, Chuí, on the border with Uruguay. In the region of Bento Gonçalves and Caxias do Sul, the largest wine...
state. From his father's side, he was the grandson of Italian immigrants who went to Uruguay
Uruguay
Uruguay ,officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,sometimes the Eastern Republic of Uruguay; ) is a country in the southeastern part of South America. It is home to some 3.5 million people, of whom 1.8 million live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area...
and then re-migrated to Brazil. From his mother's side he was descended from a Basque
Basque people
The Basques as an ethnic group, primarily inhabit an area traditionally known as the Basque Country , a region that is located around the western end of the Pyrenees on the coast of the Bay of Biscay and straddles parts of north-central Spain and south-western France.The Basques are known in the...
family. In the 1920s he entered in the Army
Brazilian Army
The Brazilian Army is the land arm of the Brazilian Military. The Brazilian Army has fought in several international conflicts, mostly in South America and during the 19th century, such as the Brazilian War of Independence , Argentina-Brazil War , War of the Farrapos , Platine War , Uruguayan War ...
where he was steadily promoted, becoming general in 1961.
Médici was a close ally of Marshal Artur da Costa e Silva
Artur da Costa e Silva
Artur da Costa e Silva was a Brazilian Army General, the second President of Brazil during the military regime set up by the 1964 coup d'état; he was born only a month before the coup that overthrow Dom Pedro II. He was married to Iolanda Barbosa Costa e Silva, the daughter of a soldier...
, who became president of Brazil in 1967. Also in this year Médici was appointed chief of the National Information Service (SNI).
Presidency
Two years later he become commandant of the Third Army and was chosen to become president of BrazilBrazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
by the Military High Command. Médici had his presidency confirmed by the electoral college formed by the National Congress,succeeding Gal. Costa e Silva, who had suffered a stroke. Médici took oath on October 30, 1969 and served until the end of his term, March 15, 1974.
During his tenure, Médici established a strong military government, the most repressive of Brazil's military regimes, accompanied by torture and strict censorship of the press. During his rule an existing guerilla activity was defeated, led by Carlos Marighela and Carlos Lamarca
Carlos Lamarca
Carlos Lamarca was a Brazilian Army Captain who deserted to become a communist guerilla member. He was a part of the revolutionary guerrilla group Popular Revolutionary Vanguard and became, along with Carlos Marighella, one of the major elements of communist subversion in Brazil...
. The movement was destroyed and Marighela and Lamarca killed.
The Brazilian economy grew rapidly at a rate of 10% per year during his term. Large construction projects were undertaken, including the Transamazônica road, the Itaipu Dam and Rio–Niterói bridge. On the other side, the economic growth benefited mainly the richer classes — by the end of 1970, the official minimum wage
Minimum wage
A minimum wage is the lowest hourly, daily or monthly remuneration that employers may legally pay to workers. Equivalently, it is the lowest wage at which workers may sell their labour. Although minimum wage laws are in effect in a great many jurisdictions, there are differences of opinion about...
went down to US$40/month, and the more than one-third of Brazilian workforce which had theirs wages tied to it lost about 50% of its purchasing power in relation to the 1960 levels at the end of Juscelino Kubitscheck administration.
The official censorship tightened its grip over the media, and the import of the men's magazines Playboy
Playboy
Playboy is an American men's magazine that features photographs of nude women as well as journalism and fiction. It was founded in Chicago in 1953 by Hugh Hefner and his associates, and funded in part by a $1,000 loan from Hefner's mother. The magazine has grown into Playboy Enterprises, Inc., with...
, Penthouse
Penthouse (magazine)
Penthouse, a men's magazine founded by Bob Guccione, combines urban lifestyle articles and softcore pornographic pictorials that, in the 1990s, evolved into hardcore. Penthouse is owned by FriendFinder Network. formerly known as General Media, Inc. whose parent company was Penthouse International...
and Lui
Lui
Lui is a French adult entertainment magazine created in November 1963 by Daniel Filipacchi, a fashion photographer turned publisher, Jacques Lanzmann, a jack of all trades turned novelist, and Frank Ténot, a press agent, pataphysician and jazz critic..The objective was to bring some charm "à la...
and the West German
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
news magazine Der Spiegel
Der Spiegel
Der Spiegel is a German weekly news magazine published in Hamburg. It is one of Europe's largest publications of its kind, with a weekly circulation of more than one million.-Overview:...
was banned because they offended “morality and proper behavior”.
Nixon, Allende, and Castro
Richard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
and Médici discussed coordinating efforts to help Cubans and Chileans overthrow Fidel Castro
Fidel Castro
Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz is a Cuban revolutionary and politician, having held the position of Prime Minister of Cuba from 1959 to 1976, and then President from 1976 to 2008. He also served as the First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba from the party's foundation in 1961 until 2011...
and Salvador Allende
Salvador Allende
Salvador Allende Gossens was a Chilean physician and politician who is generally considered the first democratically elected Marxist to become president of a country in Latin America....
respectively. National security advisor Henry Kissinger
Henry Kissinger
Heinz Alfred "Henry" Kissinger is a German-born American academic, political scientist, diplomat, and businessman. He is a recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize. He served as National Security Advisor and later concurrently as Secretary of State in the administrations of Presidents Richard Nixon and...
's account of the December 9, 1971, White House visit by Médici was written "for the president's file" and classified Top Secret
Top Secret
Top Secret generally refers to the highest acknowledged level of classified information.Top Secret may also refer to:- Film and television :* Top Secret , a British comedy directed by Mario Zampi...
. It was declassified on September 4, 2008, and made public in July as part of a State Department publication on U.S. foreign policy.
Kissinger's memo shows it was Nixon who raised the subject of Allende during the meeting, asking for Médici's views on Chile: "Médici said Allende would be overthrown", [Nixon] then asked whether Médici thought that the Chilean armed forces were capable of overthrowing Allende Médici replied that he felt that they were and made clear that Brazil "was working towards this end." The memo notes Nixon and Médici also discussed whether Cuba should have readmission to the Organization of American States
Organization of American States
The Organization of American States is a regional international organization, headquartered in Washington, D.C., United States...
. For his part, Médici noted that Peru was trying to persuade the OAS to consider readmitting Cuba and asked Nixon how they should cooperate to oppose the move. Nixon said he would study the issue and reply to Médici "privately." The OAS voted to lift sanctions on Cuba in 1974.
See also
- List of Presidents of Brazil
- History of Brazil (1964-present)
- 1964 Brazilian coup d'état