From Dictator to Democrat to Martyr: The Unbelievable Saga of Brazil's Getúlio Vargas

History is filled with figures who defy simple categorization, but few are as confounding as Getúlio Vargas of Brazil. Imagine a dictator, an authoritarian who ruled with an iron fist for 15 years, being peacefully overthrown. Then, just five years later, imagine that same man winning a free and fair democratic election to reclaim the presidency. And to cap it all off, when faced with another coup, he chooses not exile or resignation, but a bullet to the chest, turning his political defeat into a dramatic, history-altering martyrdom. This isn't fiction; it's the incredible true story of the man Brazilians called the 'Father of the Poor.'

The 'Estado Novo' Dictatorship

Getúlio Vargas first seized power in 1930 through a military coup. For the next 15 years, he ruled Brazil, culminating in his highly centralized, authoritarian regime known as the 'Estado Novo' (New State) from 1937 to 1945. During this time, he was a classic populist dictator: he censored the press, banned political parties, and jailed opponents. Simultaneously, he introduced sweeping labor reforms, established a minimum wage, and championed industrialization, earning him the enduring loyalty of the working class. However, as World War II ended and democracy became the rallying cry of the free world, Vargas's dictatorial style became untenable. In 1945, his own military, which had fought alongside the Allies in Europe, forced him to resign.

The Stunning Democratic Comeback

Most dictators, once deposed, fade into obscurity or exile. Not Vargas. After a brief period of retirement on his ranch, he re-entered politics. Tapping into his immense popularity with the masses who fondly remembered his social policies, he ran for president in the 1950 election. He didn't seize power this time; he campaigned, he gave speeches, and he won. In a stunning political revival, Getúlio Vargas, the former dictator, was returned to the Catete Palace by a landslide democratic vote. His platform was one of economic nationalism, promising to protect Brazil’s resources and continue his fight for the common worker.

A Presidency Under Siege

Vargas's second term was nothing like his first. As a democratically elected leader, he couldn't simply rule by decree. He faced relentless opposition from all sides: conservative political rivals, a suspicious military, and a fiercely critical press led by his arch-nemesis, journalist and politician Carlos Lacerda. His nationalist policies, particularly the creation of the state-run oil company Petrobras in 1953, angered powerful international interests and their domestic allies. The political climate grew toxic, and by 1954, the country was at a boiling point.

The Final Crisis and a Fateful Choice

The crisis reached its peak in August 1954. An assassination attempt was made on Carlos Lacerda. While Lacerda survived with a minor injury, his bodyguard, an Air Force major, was killed. The investigation quickly traced the plot back to members of President Vargas’s personal security detail. The scandal, known as the 'Crime da Rua Tonelero,' was the final straw. The military, outraged by the murder of one of their own, delivered an ultimatum: resign or be forcibly removed. For the second time in his life, Vargas was cornered by his own generals. But this time, he would not simply step aside.

'I Leave Life to Enter History'

In the early hours of August 24, 1954, in his bedroom at the presidential palace, Getúlio Vargas wrote a dramatic suicide note. In it, he decried the 'international groups' and 'allied national groups' that had fought against him and the Brazilian people. He then took a pistol and shot himself through the heart. The note, later read to a shocked nation, ended with a line that would cement his legend:

Serenely, I take my first step on the road to eternity and I leave life to enter history.

His final act was a political masterstroke. Instead of being remembered as a deposed president, his suicide transformed him into a martyr. Massive crowds poured into the streets, mourning his death and rioting against his opponents. The coup plotters were forced to retreat, and the military takeover they had planned was delayed for another decade. Vargas, the complex figure who was both dictator and democrat, had written his own epic, tragic, and unforgettable final chapter.

Sources

• Encyclopædia Britannica: Getúlio Vargas
• Brown University Library: Getúlio Vargas and the Estado Novo
• The Brazilian Report: 64 years on, the suicide of Getúlio Vargas still echoes