As Brazil's longtime, stern-fatherly dictator, little, pear-shaped Getulio Vargas sponsored social legislation for Brazil's workers. It was a good pitch, and it built up a large following who ecstatically called themselves "queremistas" (literally, "wanters"a telescoped version of the slogan: "We want Getulio!"). The queremistas felt a personal relationship with their "papa of the poor."
In 1945 a military coup ended Vargas' 15-year regime, and the old man withdrew in good order to his ranch near the Uruguayan frontier at Itu. There he got into cowboy breeches and boots, and ostensibly retired from politics. Even after São Paulo's bumptious Governor Adhemar...
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