Médici, Emílio Garrastazú

Related Category: Brazilian History: Biographies

(əmē´ly gəräsh´təz mĕd´ĭsē), 1905–86, president of Brazil (1969–74). An army general, he served as head of the national intelligence service. He was selected president (Oct., 1969) by a military junta to succeed the ailing Artur da Costa e Silva. Sharply suppressing all dissent, he imposed a military dictatorship. Under his leadership the country experienced a major economic boom. He was succeeded (Mar., 1974) by his hand-picked successor, Ernesto Geisel.