PORTUGAL: The Playwright

The troubled world of the 20th century can boast no better-mannered or more enduring dictatorship than that of Portugal's ascetic, self-effacing Antonio de Oliveira Salazar. After about 21 years of would-be democracy, characterized largely by repeated bloodshed, revolution, and 40-odd changes of government, the Portuguese in 1932 were only too glad to turn their problems over to Dictator Salazar, who has been running the country with quiet efficiency and no organized opposition ever since. The rare eccentric who dares to raise his voice against the regime gets so little popular support that Salazar can afford to be quite polite...

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