April 2, 1964
Francis Augusto Duarte
In the early hours of April 2, phones started ringing frantically in Brasília: it was the summons issued by the President of the National Congress, Senator Auro de Moura Andrade, for an extraordinary session, without stating the reason. Around 2:40 a.m., the session was opened. There was uproar and shouting, but the senator ignored it and declared the presidency vacant for João Goulart without putting it to a vote.
The scene was chaotic: there were cut microphones, blackouts, cursing, bells ringing, spitting, threats, and even lawmakers carrying revolvers at their waists. In the confusion that followed Auro's speech, the shouts of Tancredo Neves, the government leader in the Chamber, echoed: "Scoundrels! Scoundrels!"
The session lacked constitutional basis, since the only legal ways to remove a president were impeachment, resignation, or vacancy — the latter occurring only if he left the country. This was not the case, as proven by an official letter sent to the National Congress by the Chief of Staff, Darcy Ribeiro.
At 3:45 a.m., the president of the Chamber of Deputies, Ranieri Mazzilli, assumed the presidency of the Republic based on art. 79 of the 1946 Constitution. This action by Congress legitimized the coup, and the Judiciary endorsed it through the presence of the president of the Supreme Federal Court at the inauguration ceremony. However, the real power was in the hands of the Supreme Command of the Revolution, composed of General Costa e Silva, Admiral Augusto Rademaker Grünewald, and Brigadier Francisco de Assis Correia de Melo. They would be responsible for signing the first Institutional Act, days later.
Image description: This is a black-and-white photograph showing five men in an indoor setting. From left to right, the men are arranged in a straight line. The first man, on the left, is partially hidden by another man who is closer to the camera. This man is wearing dark glasses and appears to be looking to the side. Beside him, there is a man with short hair and a beard, wearing a black suit. He is smiling and looking at the man closest to the camera. The third man, in the center, is also smiling and looking at the man closest to the camera. He is wearing a black suit and has short hair. The fourth man, who is closest to the camera, is smiling and looking at the man closest to the camera. He is wearing a black suit and has short hair. The fifth man, on the right, is looking to the side and appears to be smoking a cigarette. He is wearing a black suit and has short hair. On the wall in the background, there is a painting of a man wearing a hat.Auro dá posse a Mazzili
. Brasília, 2 de abril de 1964. Revista O Cruzeiro de 10 de abril de 1964.
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