From the heights of
Brasília…
The
Kubitschek Presidency, a Half-Century On:
Five
Phases of Assessment in Fifty Years since
the
Inauguration of JK (1956-2006)
Edward A.
Riedinger
Visiting
Research Associate
Michaelmas Term, 2006
Centre for Brazilian
Studies,
14 November 2006
Abstract
This essay reviews five phases in the assessment of the
presidency of Juscelino Kubitschek since his inauguration half a century ago in
1956. The introduction explains the
relationship of the author as secretary for English correspondence to Dr.
Kubitschek from 1972 to 1976. The next
parts trace the 50-year period in terms of: 1) Rise and fall, 1956-1964; 2)
exile and hope, 1964-1976; 3) recognition, 1976-1985; and 4) apotheosis,
1985-2006. The fifth and final part
(2006 on) provides a profile of the research needs and resources for developing
a phase of concentrated scholarship on Juscelino Kubitschek and the Brazilian
presidency. Such a focus of research is
urged based on the exceptional character of the Kubitschek presidency in
relation to the other periods in the history of the Brazilian republic.
All
images reproduced here are exclusively for educational purposes. Citation of any source does not imply support
for or agreement with the same.
Copyright © of text only Edward Anthony Riedinger 2006
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Introduction
1. My Role with
Juscelino Kubitschek
I first met and began to work with Dr. Kubitschek in
February, 1972, doing so until June, 1976, just before he died. I usually met with him twice a week and
helped him with translations, composition of letters or other documents in
English, and conversed with him so that he could maintain some basic fluency in
the language. During my last two years
with him, I kept a record of our conversations as a collection of
interviews. Although he was fluent in
French, he only began to learn English after he became president, having a
British tutor at the Catete. Preceding
me as his secretary/tutor was the Canadian poet, Edward Lacey.
During the period I worked for him, I was preparing my
doctoral dissertation for the History Department at the
What most struck me, or anyone else, about him was his
confidence and optimism. Nonetheless, he
was a very serious person. Although his
public rhetoric was to make things simple, direct, and positive, he very much
appreciated subtle, complex thought. He
was not himself an original thinker; but he was surrounded, and absorbingly
admired, by a generation of some of the most outstanding literary, cultural,
and intellectual figures in Brazilian history.
It has been said that in the second half of the twentieth century, the
2. His Role with
Others at the Time I Worked with Him
There was a small "court-in-exile" that
consisted of:
- His office secretary at Banco DENASA and Manchete, Dona Elizabeth.
- His chauffer and "quebra-galho," Geraldo (who
died in the auto accident on the Via Dutra with him).
- Secretary/tutor for French, Geraldo França de Lima, a
mineiro novelist, who had known George Bernanos (Journal d'un curé de
campagne) who lived in exile in
- Secretary/tutor for English, myself.
- His wife, Dona Sara; and two daughters: Marcia, Maria
Estela, who were occasionally present. I
watched the TV announcement, with him and Da. Sara, of Ernesto Geisel as
president
- Head of Manchete
and casual publicity/political adviser, Adolfo Bloch ("urso branco")
How he dealt with these people suggested how he may have
done so with the staff (ministers, advisers, patrons, etc.) of his government
aides: If you knew something, you were
consulted, an ‘’authority.” He would be
effusively grateful yet could also be demanding and immediate.
3. The Dynamics of
His Formation
These personal and intellectual qualities underlay the
boldness and style with which he acted politically and socially. This boldness, however, must partially have
been rooted in the confidence he acquired by 1) overcoming his childhood of
poverty, 2) being sustained by the devotion of his mother, and 3) accumulating
the experience of his work-intensive youth.
These factors obtain, of course, beyond or in addition to whatever comes
with alpha plus male genes. Bold and
confident, he knew it was he who could enact, that he would fulfill, the
vanguard ideas and creations presented to him.
He would mark his passage in history by wedding the substance of
economic development with the style of international high modernism, generously
lubricated with affable politics. (His
tomb in Brasilía is marked “The Founder.”
As president he could well be designated “The Enactor.”)
The name “Kubitschek” was somewhat prominent in late
nineteenth century Minas politics due to his maternal great uncle, João
Nepomuceno Kubitschek. Elected to the
state constituent assembly after the declaration of the Republic, he became
vice-presidente (ie, lieutenant
governor) of Minas Gerias from 1894 to 1898.
During this period the transfer of the state’s capital from Ouro Preto
to the newly-planned
Juscelino knew he belonged and could aspire to a higher
socio-economic status. By studying at a
seminary at reduced tuition, working as a telegraph operator to go through
medical school, going on for advanced surgical specialization in Paris,
marrying socially upward, and establishing himself as a very successful
surgeon, he proved overwhelmingly to himself and others the socio-economic
status to which he had a right. He
secured a sequence political positions that consolidated and acknowledged it.
●_________
One
1. Rise and Fall
1956-1964
His presidency was exceptional. The regime that followed him had no tolerance
for exceptions.
At the heart of the campaign of 1954-55 and the
presidency of 1956-61 was this extremely confident and energetic personality,
resolutely assertive, rarely abrasive, and always conciliatory. He is somewhat the FDR figure of Brazilian
history -- or FDR is somewhat the JK figure of the
His presidency was economically and politically
successful based on a very delicate and rare balance in Brazilian history. On the one hand, the dominant
Furthermore, as the fruits of economic development
emerged (the buying power of the minimum wage increased--but would erode with
inflation), social pressures for political extremes were somewhat
mitigated. However, Juscelino in no way
had an unchallengeable political base.
His assets were considerable but had to be continually nurtured. At the core of his support was the PSD of
Minas Gerais and steady popular support.
He had some penetration in the PTB and connections in the PR and even
UDN. He had mutual assurances with
communists and solid relations with most of the Catholic hierarchy, especially
the bishops of the Northeast. He had
constantly to negotiate and conciliate the political environment, at which he
was quite good. Thereby a real
equilibrium of legislative/executive checks-and-balances operated.
"To keep his campaign promises in spite
of all his political and economic harassments will be a racking task even for a
President with Juscelino Kubitschek's energy. But he seems confident that he
can deliver, just as he did in Minas Gerais. "I take office," he said
last week, "with a serene conviction that I can and will be a good
President for my country." 4
The "anos dourados" of JK were essentially a
conjuncture of events in which targeted increases of foreign capital investment
produced a widening distribution of industrial, multiplier-effect economic
goods within a government environment of open, give-and-take politics, mirrored
in a cultural environment of great originality and vibrancy. The smiles, abraços, and bossa echoed
that. During those years more than two
billion dollars of US, European (especially German), and Japanese capital
entered the country, mostly for the “metas” projects. In today’s values, this would at least be 25
billion dollars. However,
However, what brought the golden years together also
unraveled them. Accelerated rates of
development that required deficit spending beyond outside capital investment
provoked inflation with factors of demand pushing prices up and supply pulling
them up. Eroding thereby the rising
expectations of social benefits, this deterioration fed political animosities,
particularly based on perceptions of unfair, corrupt distribution of retracting
resources. 5
Definitely Juscelino intended to return to the presidency
in 1965 (his announcement of his candidacy in March, 1964 was one of the elements
that fed into the coup begun on the
31st of that month). From
records I last saw at his office (about 1977) in Manchete, but which may now be in the JK mausoleum (where the
furniture from that office is now on display), he intended to base a good part
of his next government on export agriculture.
With his own presidential ambitions for 1965, his strategy may have
little interest in a PSD candidate winning the presidency in 1960. Such a person would diminish Jusceliono’s
party leadership during his next campaign.
Moreover, by this time, he had a decade of national experience with the
PTB. He knew both the advantages of an
alliance with it and populists and also the disadvantages. There was an essential policy alienation from
such and alliance with consequent unreliability. He had probably gained as much political
penetration in that direction as he would ever have or could risk.
Most advantageous for him actually was for Juraci
Magalhães and the UDN to come to power.
Magalhães was in the UDN as a kind of para-PSD. He had been and interventor and governor in
Juscelino’s meeting with JFK at the White House in
January, 1961, may well have been prompted by Juscelino's plans for re-election
in 1965. Anticipating that Kennedy would
be a two-term president (1961-1969) and that he himself would be returning to
Brasília in 1966, he would have hoped that a strong relationship with a liberal
Democrat would be much more helpful than the frustrating one he had with
Eisenhower and Dulles.
|
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Message to President Kubitschek
of |
|
January
31st, 1961 |
|
[ Released January 31, 1961 Dated January 29, 1961 ] Dear Mr. President: I welcome the thoughtful message which you sent to me on the
occasion of my inauguration, not only because of the constructive and
friendly spirit which motivates your comments, but also because I share Your
Excellency's deep concern for the social, political, and economic well-being
of the peoples of our hemisphere. One of the cardinal objectives of my
administration will be the association of the May I take this opportunity, Mr. President, to extend to you,
as you leave the high office in which you have so faithfully served your
country, my personal best wishes and those of the people and government of
the United States of America, for your continued health and prosperity. JOHN F. KENNEDY |
The politics of Juscelino’s foreign relations, especially
in
However, Jânio substituting Jângo resulted in the worst
case scenario for any hope of an environment of stability and advantageous
foiling that could foster Juscelino’s return.
Indeed, the economic and political situation spinning totally out of
control in the 39 months from January, 1961 to March, 1964, Juscelino was permanently
marginalized from any future political role. 8
●_________
Two
2. Exile and Hope
1964-1976
--Cassação,
exile (
--Return to private business, Banco DENASA de
Investimentos
--Publication of memoirs
Meu
caminho para Brasília: v. 1. A
experiência da humildade.--v. 2. A
escalada política.--v. 3. Cinqüenta anos em cinco 1974-
Por que
construí Brasília, 1975
--Election to
--MDB Elections of 1974 and Geisel distensão. 9
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Porcentagem de Cadeiras na
Câmara dos Deputados, por Partido (1966-1978) |
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├ Juca Pato award for Intelectual do Ano
from the União Brasileira de Escritores, in São Paulo, 1975
Vítima de tanto levar na cabeça, Juca Pato
tinha que conformar-se, pois sempre "podia ser pior" 10
├ End of DENASA, 1975
Working in office at Banco DENASA
├ Maria Victória Benevides book, O governo Kubitschek, 1976 11
See context of other publications, p. 20.
├
Via Dutra on the way to Luziana, Goias, 1976
Car accident on Via Dutra (near
Resende), Sunday, 22 August 1976
“E estava justamente em Luziânia
quando, a 7 de agosto de 1976, os repórteres o procuraram para saber se era
mesmo boato a notícia de que ele morrera na Via Dutra. "Estão querendo me
matar, mas ainda não conseguiram", comentou com amigos. No dia 22 de agosto
de 1976, JK morreu num acidente de carro, exatamente na Via Dutra. O Opala do
presidente, guiado pelo motorista Geraldo Ribeiro, seguia de São Paulo para o
Rio de Janeiro quando foi atingido por um ônibus, passou para a outra pista e
bateu de frente num caminhão carregado de gesso.
Não faltam teses conspiratórias para explicar o que o inquérito policial
apontou como simples desastre. Há quem diga que havia explosivos no automóvel.
Outros apostam que um tiro disparado por ocupantes de um veículo
não-identificado acertou o motorista Geraldo, que perdeu o controle do Opala.
"A versão oficial é uma grande montagem", acusa o perito criminal
Alberto Carlos de Minas. Em 1996, ele foi um dos responsáveis pela reabertura
do caso. As investigações não avançaram e o inquérito, após 20 anos, acabou
prescrevendo. No entanto, Alberto Carlos e Serafim Jardim - presidente da Casa
de Juscelino em Diamantina - ainda hoje se dizem convictos de que JK foi morto
por ordem dos militares no poder.
Os indícios são muitos, de acordo com a tese conspiratória. Em agosto de 1976,
o diretor do serviço secreto chileno, Manuel Contreras Sepúlveda, enviou carta
ao general João Baptista Figueiredo, então chefe do Serviço Nacional de
Informações, dizendo-se preocupado com o possível triunfo do Partido Democrata
nas eleições americanas. "Temos conhecimento do reiterado apoio dos
democratas a Kubitschek e Letelier." Orlando Letelier, ministro do
presidente chileno deposto, Salvador Allende, morreria num atentado em
Washington, pouco antes da morte de JK. As fotos dos cadáveres de JK e do
motorista simplesmente não foram anexadas ao inquérito. O caixão com o corpo do
motorista foi lacrado, sem que se pudesse checar se ele levou um tiro na
cabeça, como especulam os juscelinistas. Em 1996, o corpo foi exumado.
"Pode ter sido imaginação minha, já que estava eufórico demais. Mas vi um
orifício no crânio de Geraldo. Dias depois, os legistas responsáveis pelo laudo
avisaram que o crânio se fragmentara, algo incomum com o manuseio de
profissionais", afirma o perito Alberto Carlos de Minas. O mistério
contribui ainda mais para perpetuar o mito Juscelino Kubitschek.” 12
Note:
Remembering the role of Nixon and Kissinger in the overthrow and death of
Allende, the above (paragraph 3) has a particularly chilling reverberation.
General Juan Manuel Guillermo Contreras
Sepúlveda was the head of Augusto Pinochet's National Intelligence
Directorate (DINA) and one of the most powerful and
feared men in Chile after a military coup overthrew Socialist President Salvador Allende on September 11, 1973.
Documents released by the CIA in 2000 revealed that Contreras was a CIA paid asset from 1975 to 1977.
From 1973 to 1977, he led the agency on
an international hunt to track down and murder the political opponents of the
dictatorship, particularly members of the Communist and Socialist Parties and the Movement of
the Revolutionary Left (MIR). According to the
report "CIA activities in Chile" released on September 19, 2000, the US government policy community
approved CIA's contact with Contreras from 1974 to
1977 to accomplish the CIA's mission in Chile.
13
●_________
Three
3. Recognition (Remembering a Hope)
1976-1985
├ Funeral,1976
Mass funeral
cortege, Brasília
“Roberto Marinho
pede que JK tome cuidado com os militares. JK sofre um atentado, mas consegue
escapar ileso. JK compra uma fazenda e vai morar lá, mas esse não é o seu
estilo de vida. Corre a notícia de que JK morreu, mas ele reúne a imprensa para
desmentir o boato. Duas semanas depois, JK e seu motorista, Geraldo Ribeiro,
morrem num acidente de carro; os dois são velados lado a lado no saguão do
prédio da Manchete. Arrasada, Sarah recebe os pêsames de amigos e familiares. O
povo homenageia JK cantando “Peixe vivo” diante de seu caixão. Marisa chora
copiosamente ao presenciar tudo aquilo. A pensão de Guiomar progride e vira
hotel. O povo se aglomera no aeroporto para receber o corpo de JK. Uma multidão
forma o cortejo em homenagem a JK nas ruas, com faixas, cartazes e lágrimas. Na
missa de corpo presente, na Catedral de Brasília, Ana e Sérgio se reconciliam.
Numa igreja do Rio de Janeiro, Marisa sofre terrivelmente pela morte de JK. Com
a permissão de Sarah, o povo carrega o caixão de JK. O caixão segue num carro
do Corpo de Bombeiros até o cemitério. No cortejo, Silvinha e Leonardo se
reconciliam. Lílian e Alzira fazem as pazes durante o enterro. Sarah fica com a
bandeira que cobria o caixão e dá seu último adeus ao marido.” 14
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├ Birthplace Museum in Diamantina, 197? Casa de Juscelino Kubitschek |
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Esta é uma casa modesta, construída de pau-a-pique, típica do século
XVIII. Lá o ex-presidente da República Juscelino Kubistschek passou sua
infância. Após sua morte a casa foi transformada em um museu que expõe
fotografias, textos e até violões usados nas serestas que ele participava. |
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├ Sílvio Tendler
Documentary, Os anos JK, uma trajetória política,
1980 15
The Memorial JK was formally opened by Da. Sara and Pres.
João Figueiredo on 12 September 1981 (the 79th birthday of Juscelino).
├ Tancredo Neves Campaign, 1985 
“In 1984 many public
demonstrations were held in main Brazilian cities making clear that military
rule could not continue. Brazilians started to demand changes in the electoral
system, aiming to directly elect the President. As public pressure built up,
the opposition party (MDB) proposed a law to implement this change. Congress
was controlled by the government party (ARENA) and failed to pass the law.
The momentum though was seized by Tancredo Neves of Minas Gerais,
Getúlio
Dornelles Vargas' minister of
justice in the 1950s, and former federal deputy, senator, and prime minister.
[Cabo eleitoral of JK in 1954-55). Neves was a sensible politician with a
reputation for honesty.
His abilities allowed him to build up an alliance between
the opposition party (MDB) and defectors from the government party (ARENA): The
Democratic
It presented Tancredo Neves as opposition candidate
against Paulo Maluf
in the Electoral College. As public opinion put pressure on Electoral College
demanding the end of the regime, Tancredo was elected my majority vote in January 15, 1985.” 16
The presidential campaign of Tancredo Neves was based on
the principle that the return to a civilian, democratic government depended on
a senior statesman of the moderate opposition, committed to national
reconciliation. This had been the hope
of Juscelino for his own “last hurrah.”
●_________
Four
4. Apotheosis (Into the National
Pantheon)
1985-2006
├ Currency, 1986
├ Como se faz um presidente: A campanha de JK, 1988
The publishing of this book reflected the key importance
in the mid-eighties that the election of Juscelino had assumed as a marker of
successful civilian government. The
proposal for its publication came from the political adviser
"Orestes Quércia e Fernando
Collor de Mello também se apresentaram ao eleitorado como herdeiros de JK.
Quércia abraçou a imagem de tocador de obra, enquanto Collor quis ser um ícone
da modernidade. Collor não tem o bom humor de JK. Pelo contrário, ele tem um
fígado shakespeariano." 17
├ Isto É
Man-of-Century, 2000
|
|
├ G Globo
Novela, 2006 18
●_________
Five
5. Getting Serious and
Studious:
2006-forward
├ Why is such study important?
Posterior to key presidents and their presidencies, a succession
of popular and scholary studies accumulates:
Franklin D. Roosevelt, Domingo Sarmiento, Bartolomé Mitre
├ Recognizing his distinction by what he was:
--Establishing a model for a Brazilian presidency: socio-economic achievement, political vibrance,
cultural character/definition/projection, and engagement of a national spirit.
--Holistic, integrated developmentalist vision and
conscientious synergistic actions across economic, political, diplomatic, and
cultural spectrum.
--Without JK and Brasília, the renaissance in the tropics
would not have had such an extended character.
It would have subsided with the Generation of '45, concretism, and bossa nova. Brasilia revived the modernism of 1922 in
architecture, landscape and interior design, and sculpture, transforming
├ Recognizing him by what he was not:
--Not a type of:
patriarch of a plantation empire or republic (Pedro II, Campos Salles,
Rodrigues Alves, Arthur Bernardes; "caudilho" (Getulio) or
"jagunço" corporate president (Costa e Silva, Medici, Geisel,
Figueiredo); certainly not a species of jaded playboy (Collor), Graucho Marx
(Itamar), or strong technocrat but relatively limp politician (FHC)
├ What has
been done:
--Presidency and Historical Context of Presidency
Brasil
política, 1964-1975, F. Pereira, 1975; Brasil de Getúlio Vargas a Castello Branco,
T. Skidmore, 1976; O governo Kubitschek,
M. V. Benevides, 1975; Estado e partidos políticos no Brasil, 1939-1964, M. C.
Campello de Souza, 1976; A bancada
federal mineira, 1945-1975, D. V. Fleischer, 1977; O governo Kubitschek, R. Maranhão, 1981; Ideologia da cultura brasileira, 1933-1974, C. Mota, 1985.
Unrest in Brazil, 1955-1964, J. Dulles, 1970; Brazil, a study in development progress, S. Robock, 1975; The revolution that never was: Northeast Brazil, 1955-1964, J. Page,
1972.
├ What Is to
be done:
--Biography and/or Separate Monographs
--psycho-social/family dynamics
--a generation of mineiro politicians
--the Brazilian standard and exceptionality
as a politician
--interaction with intellectuals and
artists
--economic policy and practice
--public policy and parallel state agencies
--the profit in construction (roads,
buildings – Pampulha, Brasília), in land being turned into real estate
--originality of hemispheric policy
├ What documentation is where (some possible
leads to sources, not definitive listing)
--Public Documents
Primay
-- Centro
de Pesquisa e Documentação de História Contemporânea do Brasil (CPDOC) of the
Fundação Getúlio Vargas -- Rio (as much for materials as staff connections to
sources) http://www.cpdoc.fgv.br/nav_jk/htm/apresentacao/apresentacao.asp
--JK Mausoleum library and museum --
Brasília (as much for materials as staff
connections to sources) http://www.memorialjk.com.br/
Secondary
--Arquivo
Nacional -- Rio
--Museu
da República -- Rio
--Federal
police files – Rio, Brasília
--Academia
Mineira de Letras – Belo Horizonte
--Arquivo
Público Mineiro, Arquivo Público da Cidade de Belo Horizonte
--Private Sources
--Manchete,
family of Adolpho Bloch, Carlos Heitor Cony, Dona Elizabeth (former secretary)
--Ma. Estela, surviving daughter
--Marcia, deceased; second husband,
Fernando Bujones (Cuban ballet dancer); first husband, Bartolomeu Barbará,
investment banker; JK grandaughter, Alejandra Kubitschek Bujones
myth and reality
There is a sense in which Juscelino’s life can almost be
read as an epic tale:
Once upon a time there was a poor boy from the interior of
However, leaving office, armed forces of oppression
detained and exiled him, taking over the realm. They allowed him to
return to the country, but required him to live in obscurity. On a
fateful journey, accompanied by a faithful courtier, he died in a tragic
accident. Rumors of assassination circulated. Now the armed forces
of oppression collapse. The outrages they were committing proved worse
than any of which they had accused him.
The people now freely remembered his spirit, deeds, and
glory. They and the government enshrined him among the nation’s highest
symbols and elevate him into the pantheon of guiding national heroes.
O peixe viveu.
1902-1976
ReFERENCES
1 Kubitschek, Juscelino, A experiência da humildade, vol. 1 in Meu caminho para Brasília; Montello, J., A oratório atual do Brasil, 1959.
2 http://www.cpdoc.fgv.br/,
1 November 2006, see section, "Os anos JK."
3 Kubitschek,
Juscelino, Meu caminho…; Thomas E. Skidmore, Politics in Brazil,
1930-1964; an experiment in democracy, 1967.
4 "The
Man from Minas" (cover story), Time,
14 February 1956.
5 Kahil,
R., Inflation and economic development in
Brazil, 1973; Skidmore, Thomas E., The
politics of military rule in Brazil, 1964-85, 1988.
6 Kubitischek,
Juscelino, Interviews with Juscelino Kubitschek de Oliveira, (President of Brazil, 1956-1961)
/ conducted by Edward A. Riedinger, 1974-1975.
7 From “The American
Presidency Project “ at the
8 Kubitischek,
Juscelino, Interviews with....; Skidmore,
Thomas, The politics of military rule in
9 http://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/PMDB, 4 November 2006; http://www.fugpmdb.org.br/do_mdb_ao_pmdb.pdf,
4 November 2006 includes a list of all MDB members of Congress during the
seventies.
10 For
details of award, see http://www.concursosliterarios.com.br/materias.php?cd_secao=7&codant=,
7 November 2006.
11
A flurry of titles, in Portuguese and English, on the
Kubitschek presidency and its historical context appeared during the
seventies:
Portuguese: Brasil
política, 1964-1975, F. Pereira, 1975; Brasil
de Getúlio Vargas a Castello Branco, T. Skidmore, 1976; O governo Kubitschek, M. V. Benevides,
1975 (see further at end of this note); Estado
e partidos políticos no Brasil, 1939-1964, M. C. Campello de Souza, 1976; A bancada federal mineira, 1945-1975, D.
V. Fleischer, 1977; O governo Kubitschek,
R. Maranhão, 1981; Ideologia da cultura
brasileira, 1933-1974, C. Mota, 1985.
English:
Unrest in
"A
estabilidade do governo de Juscelino Kubitschek era aparente ou verdadeira? Em
busca desta resposta, Maria Victoria Benevides mostra como a política econômica
- cujo o núcleo básico era o Programa de Metas, compromisso de campanha do
presidente eleito - se tornou compatível tanto com as Forças Armadas como com o
Congresso Nacional, palco de aliança majoritária entre PSD e PTB. Atrelado ao
desenvolvimento econômico, ocorre também um desenvolvimento político, fruto da
postura conciliadora do presidente. Manter a estabilidade política não se deveu
somente ao desempenho de Juscelino, mas também devido a intervenção militar do
general Lott na manutenção da ordem para assegurar o desenvolvimento econômico,
mesma postura que os militares no poder, após 1964, utilizaram para dominar a
cena política brasileira por mais de 30 anos." -- Patrício Bentes at http://afiliados.submarino.com.br/books_productdetails.asp?Query=ProductPage&ProdTypeId=1&ProdId=31637&ST=SE#synopsys
12 Isto é, http://www.terra.com.br/istoe/biblioteca/brasileiro/seculo/indice.htm, 12 November 2006
13 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manuel_Contreras,
4 November 2006
14 TV Globo blurb for miniseries, JK, chapter "Missão
Cumprida" http://jk.globo.com/Series/JK/0,,AA1164666-5072,00.html,
5 November 2005
15 For
list and description of other documentaries of Sílvio Tendler, see http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0854913/,
30 October 2006
16 http://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tancredo_Neves, 8 November 2006 and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tancredo_Neves,
8 November 2006
17 Bolívar Lamounier (Da independência a Lula: Dois
séculos de política brasileira, 2005) as quoted in http://www.terra.com.br/istoe/biblioteca/brasileiro/seculo/indice.htm, 12 November 2006
18 A
synopsis of the chapters in the miniseries is available at http://jk.globo.com/Series/JK/0,,5071,00.html, 12 November
2006. It seems to be a signal that one
has entered a certain "niche" of the historical pantheon when one's
life can be broadcast as fictionalized drama.
AUTHOR
Edward A. “Ted” Riedinger, Professor and
Head of Latin American Library at Ohio State University and Adjunct Professor
in Departments of History and of Spanish and Portuguese; Adjunct Professor, Center
for Latin American Studies, Ohio University, Athens. Author
of Como se faz um presidente: A campanha de JK (Nova Fronteira,
1988). Recent
publications: "Comparative
Development of Brazilian Studies in the