On august 5th of 1954, Carlos Lacerda, leader of the brazilian oposition and the pro american party UDN suffered a assassination attempt in front of his house in the toneleiro street. in the following 15 days a political crisis erupted with Lacerda trying to capitalize on the attempt to remove his life long enemy, presidente Getúlio Vargas from power, even without a clear explanation of what happened on that day. On august 23 of 1954 Getúlio Vargas decided to take a leave of one week from the presidency to calm the demands for his resignation but just a few hours later he received the news that his war minister, Marshall Zenóbio da Costa switched sides and joined the anti Vargas faction and directly asked him to resign until the dawn of the following day or to be removed from power by force.
At this moment Getúlio had two opitions, either he would stay in power and be couped, or resign, he wouldn't resign as his sources told him that as soon he left the power he would be arrested and exiled, and he would not allow himself to be couped, and so around the 7:40 AM of august 24 of 1954 Getúlio Vargas committed suicide on his bed inside the catete palace with a shot into his heart, as he wrote "The army shall keep the public order, but if they decide to march on the catete, they will find here only my dead body"
The news of the death of Getúlio resulted on a massive public outrage and it was followed by minor riots in many cities, cars were overtuned, opposition newspapers were attacked, the american embassy was stoned, but as Getúlio ordered the army was sent to the streets and restored the order. The leader of the opposition, Carlos Lacerda, said on a interview that with that move Getúlio pull the rug out of his feet, and secured the continuation of his policies under his sucessor, Juscelino Kubitschek, that was elected president in 1955
"I gave you my life. Now I offer you my death. I fear nothing. Serenely I take my first steps towards Eternity and leave life to enter History." last words on Getúlio's suicide note.
This however was not the end, exactly ten years later, the same officers who took part on the foiled coup of 1954 succesfully reorganized themselves and couped president João Goulart, and began a twenty one years long Dictatorship.
R.I.P Getúlio Vargas I will pray for your soul today.
Letra/Lyrics:
Getúlio Vargas,
Tu vais na História ficar.
Deixas os braços do povo
Para subir ao altar.
Getúlio Vargas,
Teu vulto audaz, varonil,
Há de ficar para sempre
No coração do Brasil.
Dorme, teu sono tranquilo,
Dorme que a tua bandeira
Há de pairar altaneira
Sempre no azul da amplidão.
E as gotas que deste de sangue
Teu povo amigo há de tê-las
Brilhando junto às estrelas
No dia da redenção.
3:00
2:53
3:16
