Getúlio Vargas

Getúlio Dornelles Vargas (19 April 1882 - 24 August 1954), nicknamed "the Father of the Poor," was a Brazilian lawyer and politician who served as Brazil's 14th and 17th president, from 1930 to 1945 and 1951 to 1954. He is regarded as one of the most important historical figures in Brazil.

Vargas, who was born in São Borja, Rio Grande do Sul, to a powerful local family, served in the Army for a short time before enrolling in law school. He began his political career as a district attorney before moving on to become a state deputy before an interim period. He entered national politics as a member of the Chamber of Deputies, then served as Minister of Finance under President Washington Luís before taking over as state president of Rio Grande do Sul.

Following an armed revolution in 1930, Vargas rose to power under a provisional presidency, remaining in power until 1934, when he was elected president under a new constitution. Three years later, he seized power under the guise of a communist insurgency, launching the eight-year-long Estado Novo dictatorship. After being sandwiched between Nazi Germany and the United States, he led Brazil into World War II on the side of the Allies in 1942. Though there was significant opposition to his government, the major revolts - the 1932 Constitutionalist Revolution in his provisional government, the Communist uprising of 1935 in his constitutional presidency, and the putsch of the Brazilian Integralist Action in his dictatorship - were all successfully suppressed, though the methods Vargas used to quell his opposition ranged from light peace terms to imprisoning political opponents.

Despite being deposed in 1945 after fifteen years in power, Vargas won the 1950 presidential election democratically and returned to the presidency. However, a growing political crisis led to his suicide in 1954, ending his second presidency prematurely. Historians regard Vargas as the most powerful Brazilian politician of the twentieth century. He is also one of a number of populists who emerged in Latin America during the 1930s, including Lázaro Cárdenas and Juan Perón, who promoted nationalism and sought social reform.