March 30, 1964
Álvaro Camara de Pádua
On the day after the release of the "Manifesto do Clube Naval à Nação," the association's president, Captain João Marcos Dias, and his board members received members of the Clube Militar and its president, Marshal Augusto Magessi. The gesture was a demonstration of support and unity among the Armed Forces in "the utmost expression of its solidarity, at this historic yet sadly noteworthy moment, in which everyone, with a single voice, calls for the restoration of discipline and order, the absolute guarantee of the principle of authority, and full respect for the country's legal provisions."
Marcos Dias emphasized that the presence of the board and members of the Clube Militar demonstrated "the conviction that the process of subversion imposed on the Navy represents a stage in the disintegration of the Armed Forces," and that this would never be accepted. He concluded by stating that the Marshal's presence confirmed that they would not succeed in "cubanizing" Brazil.
During the assembly, which lasted almost the entire day, the headquarters of Clube Naval, on Avenida Almirante Barroso, welcomed other illustrious guests. Marshals, admirals, and congressmen took turns giving speeches that recalled the Navy's heroic deeds and demanded respect for the institution's traditions.
Hours later, President João Goulart would give a speech at the Automóvel Clube that would seal his fate and that of the nation. The following day, newspaper headlines would feature not only coverage of both Clubs' manifestos, but also images of the address by an unrecognizable president. Weakened by yet another crisis in his government, within a few hours Jango would suffer his checkmate at the hands of the Army.
Image description: This is a black-and-white photograph of a group of people gathered indoors, possibly at a military club. The image shows a crowd arranged in rows, with the men wearing suits and ties. In the foreground are the faces closest to the camera, while in the background there are more people, filling the available space.Oficiais das três armas reunidos no Clube Naval.
Rio de Janeiro, 30 de março de 1964. Mendes. Correio da Manhã /Arquivo Nacional