João Fernandes Campos Café Filho (; 3 February 1899 – 20 February 1970) was a Brazilian politician who served as the 18th

president of Brazil The president of Brazil (), officially the president of the Federative Republic of Brazil () or simply the ''President of the Republic'', is the head of state and head of government of Brazil. The president leads the executive branch of the ...

, taking office upon the suicide of President Getúlio Vargas. He was the first

Protestant Protestantism is a branch of Christianity that emphasizes Justification (theology), justification of sinners Sola fide, through faith alone, the teaching that Salvation in Christianity, salvation comes by unmerited Grace in Christianity, divin ...

to occupy the position.

Biography

Early life and career

Café Filho was born in

Natal, Rio Grande do Norte Natal (), literally ''Christmas'' or ''natal'' ("birth") is the capital and largest city of the States of Brazil, state of Rio Grande do Norte, located in Northeast Region, Brazil, northeastern Brazil. According to Brazilian Institute of Geograp ...

, 3 February 1899. He was the founder of the ''Jornal do Norte'' (1921), editor of the ''O Correio de Bezerros'' in the city of Bezerros,

Pernambuco Pernambuco ( , , ) is a States of Brazil, state of Brazil located in the Northeast Region, Brazil, Northeast region of the country. With an estimated population of 9.5 million people as of 2024, it is the List of Brazilian states by population, ...

(1923), and director of the newspaper ''A Noite'' (1925), writing in the latter, articles in which he asked soldiers, corporals and young officers to refuse to fight the so-called " Coluna Prestes", which resulted in his conviction to three months in prison. He then escaped to

Bahia Bahia () is one of the 26 Federative units of Brazil, states of Brazil, located in the Northeast Region, Brazil, Northeast Region of the country. It is the fourth-largest Brazilian state by population (after São Paulo (state), São Paulo, Mina ...

in 1927, under the alias Senílson Pessoa Cavalcanti, but eventually returned to Natal, where he surrendered. In 1923, he ran unsuccessfully for councilman of Natal. He joined the Liberal Alliance, and was one of the founders, in 1933, of the Social Nationalist Party of Rio Grande do Norte (PSN). Café Filho was elected federal deputy (1935–1937) and stood out for the defense of constitutional liberties. Threatened with arrest, he sought asylum in

Argentina Argentina, officially the Argentine Republic, is a country in the southern half of South America. It covers an area of , making it the List of South American countries by area, second-largest country in South America after Brazil, the fourt ...

, returning to Brazil in 1938. He founded, along with Ademar de Barros, the Progressive Republican Party (PRP), for which he was elected federal deputy again (1946–1950). He was elected vice president by a coalition of parties that merged under the symbol Progressive Social Party (PSP). As vice president, he also served as the

president of the Senate President of the Senate is a title often given to the presiding officer of a senate. It corresponds to the Speaker (politics), speaker in some other assemblies. The senate president often ranks high in a jurisdiction's Order of succession, succes ...

. He took office as

president President most commonly refers to: *President (corporate title) * President (education), a leader of a college or university *President (government title) President may also refer to: Arts and entertainment Film and television *'' Præsident ...

following the suicide of incumbent Getúlio Vargas, 24 August 1954.

Presidency

After taking over as president, Café Filho appointed to his new cabinet

minister of finance A ministry of finance is a ministry or other government agency in charge of government finance, fiscal policy, and financial regulation. It is headed by a finance minister, an executive or cabinet position . A ministry of finance's portfolio ...

the economist Eugenio Gudin, supporter of a more orthodox economic policy, who sought to stabilize the economy and combat inflation. The Minister adopted key measures to contain credit and cutting public expenditure, seeking thereby to reduce the public concerned deficit in its assessment of the inflationary process. During the Café Filho government, the single tax on electricity was instituted, generating the Federal Electrification Fund, as well as the withholding tax on income from the labor wage. Notable in his administration was the creation of the Committee on Location of the New Federal Capital, and the inauguration, in January 1955, of the Paulo Afonso hydroelectric plant. Café Filho encouraged the inflow of foreign capital in the country, which would influence the process of industrialization that followed. Temporarily removed from the presidency on 3 November 1955, due to a cardiovascular disorder, on November 8 he was replaced by Carlos Luz, the president of the Chamber of Deputies. Recovered, Café Filho tried to reassume presidential powers, but, as part of the 1955 Brazilian coup d'état, his removal was approved by the

Congress A congress is a formal meeting of the representatives of different countries, constituent states, organizations, trade unions, political parties, or other groups. The term originated in Late Middle English to denote an encounter (meeting of ...

on 22 November 1955 and confirmed by the

Supreme Court In most legal jurisdictions, a supreme court, also known as a court of last resort, apex court, high (or final) court of appeal, and court of final appeal, is the highest court within the hierarchy of courts. Broadly speaking, the decisions of ...

in December. His removal through

impeachment Impeachment is a process by which a legislative body or other legally constituted tribunal initiates charges against a public official for misconduct. It may be understood as a unique process involving both political and legal elements. In Eur ...

, with the congress declaring him unable to discharge his duties, came after military pressure.

Post-presidency

After the presidency, Café Filho was appointed Councillor of the Court of Accounts of Guanabara (1961–1970). He died in

Rio de Janeiro Rio de Janeiro, or simply Rio, is the capital of the Rio de Janeiro (state), state of Rio de Janeiro. It is the List of cities in Brazil by population, second-most-populous city in Brazil (after São Paulo) and the Largest cities in the America ...

on 20 February 1970.

Honours

Foreign Honours

PRT Military Order of the Tower and of the Sword - Grand Cross BAR

Grand Cross of the Order of the Tower and Sword,

Portugal Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic, is a country on the Iberian Peninsula in Southwestern Europe. Featuring Cabo da Roca, the westernmost point in continental Europe, Portugal borders Spain to its north and east, with which it share ...

(20 September 1951) * PRT Three Orders BAR

Grand Cross of the Sash of the Three Orders, Portugal (22 April 1955)Banda da Grã-Cruz das Três Ordens: João Café Filho (Presidente dos Estados Unidos do Brasil)
(in Portuguese), ''Arquivo Histórico da Presidência da República''. Retrieved 29 September 2020.

References

External links

Biography and Presidency of Café FilhoThe History of the Chamber of DeputiesAverage GDP growth: Vargas – Rousseff
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cafe Filho, Joao 1899 births 1970 deaths People from Natal, Rio Grande do Norte Brazilian evangelicals Brazilian Presbyterians Presidents of Brazil Vice presidents of Brazil Presidents of the Federal Senate (Brazil) Recipients of the Order of the Tower and Sword 3 3 3 Social Progressive Party politicians Candidates for Vice President of Brazil Impeached presidents removed from office Impeached presidents of Brazil