Costa e Silva, Artur da

Costa e Silva, Artur da

(ərto͞or` dä koŏsh`tə ĕ sēl`və), 1902–69, president of Brazil (1967–69). An army general, he participated in the 1964 coup that deposed President João GoulartGoulart, João
, 1918–76, president of Brazil (1961–64). A rancher and attorney, he served as minister of labor, industry, and commerce (1953–54) and as vice president (1956–61).
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. He served as war minister (1964–66) under President Humberto Castelo BrancoCastelo Branco, Humberto
, 1900–1967, president of Brazil (1964–67). An army officer, he served as chief of staff of the Brazilian army before participating in the coup that ousted President João Goulart in Apr., 1964.
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 and succeeded him in office. As president, he rejected the calls for a general amnesty, refused to hold elections, and repressed student strikes. Emboldened by the nation's strong economic performance, he moved to silence his critics. In Dec., 1968, he assumed emergency powers, dismissing congress and imposing news censorship. After 1968, torture of dissidents became widespread. He suffered a stroke in Aug., 1969, at which time power passed to a military triumvirate.