Américo Tomás

Américo Thomaz

Américo Thomaz
President of Portugal
Order:	14th (6th since the 1926 revolution, 4th of the Estado Novo)
Term of Office	August 9, 1958 - April 25, 1974
Predecessor:	Francisco Craveiro Lopes
Successor:	António de Spínola (as Head of the National Salvation Junta)
Date of Birth	November 19, 1894
Place of Birth:	Lisbon
Date of Death	September 18, 1987
Place of Death:	Cascais
Nickname	Cabeça-de-Abóbora (pejorative, literally Pumpkin-Head, equivalent to Meathead)
Wife:	Gertrudes Rodrigues
Occupation:	Naval officer (Rear-Admiral)
Political Party:	National Union

Américo de Deus Rodrigues Tomás (pron. IPA [ɐ'mɛɾiku dɨ deuʃ ʁu'dɾigɨʃ tu'maʃ]), also spelled Américo Thomaz (November 19, 1894 - September 18, 1987). Portuguese admiral and politician. Minister of Navy in 1944. Elected president of the Republic in 1958 (in rigged elections), re-elected in 1965 and 1972 (by Parliament, whose elections were also rigged). During this time, Portugal was ruled by the authoritarian regime of António de Oliveira Salazar and the president of the republic had only a figurative role. Just once Tomás used his presidential prerogative: to dismiss Salazar when he became incapacitated by a severe stroke in September, 1968. Tomás appointed Marcello Caetano to replace Salazar as prime minister. He took a much more active role in the government after Caetano took power, and became the rallying point for hard-liners who thought that even Caetano's cosmetic reforms went too far.

When in April 25, 1974, the "Carnation Revolution" deposed Caetano, Tomás was also overthrown and sent to exile in Brazil until 1980, when he returned to Portugal.

The pompous style with which he was referred to by the compliant state media (His Excellency the President of the Portuguese Republic Rear-Admiral Américo de Deus Thomaz), as contrasted by the virtual powerlessness of his office under Salazar, made him a target of frequent jokes.

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