Rondon Pacheco (31 July 1919 – 4 July 2016) was a Brazilian politician. He served as Chief of Staff of Brazil to President Artur da Costa e Silva, from 1967 to 1969 during the Brazilian military government. In 1971, Pacheco was appointed Governor of his home state of Minas Gerais by President Emílio Garrastazu Médici.[1] He held the office of Governor from 1971 until 1975.[1][2][3]
Rondon Pacheco | |
|---|---|
 Pacheco in 1969 | |
| Governor of Minas Gerais | |
| In office 15 March 1971 – 15 March 1975 | |
| Preceded by | Israel Pinheiro da Silva |
| Succeeded by | Aureliano Chaves |
| Chief of Staff of the Presidency of Brazil | |
| In office 15 March 1967 – 30 October 1969 | |
| President | Artur da Costa e Silva |
| Preceded by | Luís Augusto Fraga Navarro de Brito |
| Succeeded by | João Leitão de Abreu |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 31 July 1919 Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil |
| Died | 4 July 2016 (aged 96) Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil |
| Political party | UDN ARENA PDS PSDB |
| Spouse | Marina de Freitas Pacheco |
| Profession | Politician |
Biography
editPacheco was born in Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, on 31 July 1919.[1] He studied law at the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG).[2] He credited a class speech he delivered at UFMG in 1943 with sparking his interest in politics.[2]
Political career
editIn 1947, Pacheco was elected to the state Legislative Assembly of Minas Gerais as a member of the National Democratic Union (UDN).[2] Three years later, in 1950, he was elected to the federal Chamber of Deputies in Rio de Janeiro, which was still the national capital at the time.[1][2]
President Artur da Costa e Silva, the leader of the Brazilian military government, appointed Pacheco as his Chief of Staff from March 1967 until October 1969. The Chief of Staff is a senior aide to the Brazilian president and a member of the Cabinet of Brazil.
President Emílio Garrastazu Médici appointed Pacheco as the Governor of Minas Gerais from 1971 until 1975.[1][3] In 1973, the state government under Governor Pacheco signed an agreement with Fiat Automobiles to open an automotive plant in the city of Betim, near Belo Horizonte.[1][2] The Fiat plant opened in 1976.[1]
Pacheco joined the Democratic Social Party (PDS) in 1976.[2] He endorsed the candidacy of PMDB presidential candidate, Tancredo Neves, in the 1985 election.[2] Pacheco left politics in 1986 after an unsuccessful bid for a seat in the Federal Senate.[2][3]
A biographical documentary film on Pacheco's life, Algodão entre Espelhos, was released in 2012.[2]
Pacheco had been hospitalized for pneumonia at a hospital in Rio de Janeiro from 9 June until 12 June 2016.[1] He was then transferred to a hospital in his hometown of Uberlândia from 12 June until he was discharged from that facility on 29 June 2016.[1] Rondon Pacheco died in Uberlândia, Minas Gerais on 4 July 2016, at the age of 96.[1] He was survived by his wife, Marina de Freitas Pacheco, and two daughters, Vera and Maria Vitória.[2] Their son died in an accident during the late 1960s.[3]
Rondon Pacheco's funeral was held at the Palácio dos Leões (Palace of the Lions) in Uberlândia, with burial in the cemitério São Pedro.[2][3]
Pacheco was the second former Governor of Minas Gerais to die in less than two months, following the death of Hélio Garcia on 6 June 2016.[1][3][4]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Morre ex-governador de Minas Gerais Rondon Pacheco". ISTOÉ. 4 July 2016. Retrieved 25 July 2016.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Tavares, Renata (4 July 2016). "Ex-governador de MG e ministro durante a ditadura, Rondon Pacheco morre aos 96". Universo Online. Retrieved 25 July 2016.
- ^ a b c d e f Viegas, Fernanda (4 July 2016). "Morre ex-governador de Minas Gerais Rondon Pacheco". O Tempo. Retrieved 25 July 2016.
- ^ "Hélio Garcia, ex-governador de Minas Gerais, morre em Belo Horizonte". G1. 6 June 2014. Retrieved 25 July 2016.