January 16, 1908 - Ernesto Geisel
Geisel presided over Brazil's military dictatorship during a period marked by systematic state repression, including the use of torture and forced disappearances, even as he oversaw a gradual political liberalization known as abertura. His tenure illustrates the contradictions of authoritarian rule: a leader who initiated a controlled opening toward democracy while security forces continued operating outside legal accountability. The gap between his stated reformist direction and documented atrocities carried out under his government remains a defining tension in how his presidency is historically assessed.
From Wikipedia
Ernesto Beckmann Geisel (Portuguese pronunciation: [eʁˈnɛstu ˈbɛk(i)mɐ̃ ˈɡajzew], German pronunciation: [ɛʁˈnɛsto ˈbɛkman ˈɡaɪzl̩]; 3 August 1907 – 12 September 1996) was a Brazilian Army officer and politician, who served as the 29th president of Brazil from 1974 to 1979, during the Brazilian military dictatorship.
Born to German Lutheran immigrants, Geisel attended military prep schools from an early age. He then moved to Rio de Janeiro, graduating as an artillery officer from the Military School of Realengo, now the Military Academy of Agulhas Negras. He entered politics in 1964 when he was appointed Chief of the Military House under President Castelo Branco. He was part of the group of Castelo Branco's military supporters who opposed Marshal Costa e Silva's candidacy for the presidency. Castelo Branco promoted him to the rank of Army General in 1966 and appointed him Minister of the Superior Military Court in 1967. During the Emílio Médici government, he became president of Petrobras, while his brother, Orlando Geisel, served as Minister of the Army. Orlando's support was decisive in Médici's decision to select him as a presidential candidate.
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