Café Filho facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
João Café Filho
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Official portrait, 1954
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| President of Brazil | |
| In office 24 August 1954 – 8 November 1955 |
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| Vice President | None |
| Preceded by | Getúlio Vargas |
| Succeeded by | Carlos Luz (interim) |
| Vice President of Brazil | |
| In office 31 January 1951 – 3 September 1954 |
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| President | Getúlio Vargas |
| Preceded by | Nereu Ramos |
| Succeeded by | João Goulart |
| Member of the Chamber of Deputies | |
| In office 5 February 1946 – 31 January 1951 |
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| Constituency | Rio Grande do Norte |
| In office 2 May 1935 – 10 November 1937 |
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| Constituency | Rio Grande do Norte |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 3 February 1899 Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil |
| Died | 20 February 1970 (aged 71) Rio de Janeiro, Guanabara, Brazil |
| Political party | PSN (1933–1937) PSP (1946–1965) |
| Spouse |
Jandira Fernandes de Oliveira
(m. 1921) |
| Children | 1 |
| Profession |
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| Signature |  |
João Fernandes Campos Café Filho (born February 3, 1899 – died February 20, 1970) was a Brazilian politician. He became the 18th President of Brazil after President Getúlio Vargas left office. He was the first Protestant person to hold this important position in Brazil.
Contents
Biography
Early Life and Career
João Café Filho was born in Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil, on February 3, 1899. He started his career in journalism. In 1921, he founded a newspaper called Jornal do Norte. He also worked as an editor for O Correio de Bezerros in 1923. Later, in 1925, he became a director at the newspaper A Noite.
While working at A Noite, he wrote articles that caused some trouble. He asked soldiers and young officers not to fight against a group known as the "Coluna Prestes". Because of this, he was sentenced to three months in prison. He managed to escape to Bahia in 1927, using a different name. However, he eventually returned to Natal and gave himself up. In 1923, he tried to become a councilman for Natal but was not successful.
Café Filho joined a political group called the Liberal Alliance. In 1933, he helped start the Social Nationalist Party of Rio Grande do Norte (PSN). He was elected as a federal deputy, which is like a member of parliament, from 1935 to 1937. During this time, he strongly supported people's freedoms.
He faced threats of arrest again and had to seek safety in Argentina. He came back to Brazil in 1938. He then helped create the Progressive Republican Party (PRP). He was elected federal deputy again for this party from 1946 to 1950. Later, he was elected Vice President of Brazil as part of a group of parties that formed the Progressive Social Party (PSP). As vice president, he also served as the president of the Senate.
Presidency
When João Café Filho became president, he chose Eugenio Gudin as his finance minister. Gudin was an economist who believed in a careful way of managing the economy. His main goals were to make the economy stable and to stop prices from rising too fast (called inflation).
To do this, the government took steps to control how much money was available for loans. They also tried to spend less public money. This was done to reduce the government's debt, which they believed was causing inflation.
During Café Filho's time as president, a special tax was put on electricity. This tax helped create the Federal Electrification Fund, which was used to improve electricity services. A tax was also introduced on money earned from work.
Other important things that happened during his presidency include:
- A committee was set up to find a new place for Brazil's capital city.
- The Paulo Afonso hydroelectric power plant was opened in January 1955. This plant helped produce electricity using water power.
- The government encouraged foreign companies to invest money in Brazil. This helped Brazil's industries grow.
On November 3, 1955, Café Filho had to temporarily leave the presidency because of a heart problem. On November 8, Carlos Luz, who was the president of the Chamber of Deputies, took over as acting president.
After recovering, Café Filho tried to return to his presidential duties. However, the Congress decided on November 22, 1955, that he could not return to office. This decision was later confirmed by the Supreme Court in December.
Post-Presidency
After his time as president, João Café Filho was appointed as a Councillor for the Court of Accounts in the state of Guanabara. He served in this role from 1961 to 1970.
He passed away in Rio de Janeiro on February 20, 1970.
Honours
Foreign Honours
Grand Cross of the Order of the Tower and Sword, Portugal (September 20, 1951)
Grand Cross of the Sash of the Three Orders, Portugal (April 22, 1955)
See also
In Spanish: João Café Filho para niños
