1961

Elected Senator of Goiás state, and Defending João Goulart’s Presidency

JK passed on the presidential powers to his successor Jânio Quadros on January 31, 1961, exactly five years after he had assumed them himself. A peculiar period of the Brazilian history was to follow. President Jânio renounced the presidency of the republic seven months into his term. João Goulart, who had continued as Vice President of the republic after JK’s term, took over the presidency.

After having left office, JK travelled to Paris. He returned to Brazil in May, and immediately thereafter began campaigning for senator of Goiás state (state of Goiás). Elected senator on October 3, 1961, JK took his seat in the Senate. As senator, he continued to exhibit his usual energy. In the same year, PSD (the Social Democratic Party) asked JK to become President of the party. JK did not accept, mainly because of his frequent travels. He travelled in order to cultivate his political contacts and to understand the social and political conditions of the time. It seemed almost sure that JK would run for President again. All over Brazil, people spoke about “JK 65.” His candidacy should turn reality later; this time his slogan was to become “Education and Agriculture” (five years of agriculture for fifty years of abundance).