In the Senate in 1961 Senator Juscelino Kubitscheck de Oliveira’s words: Mr. Chairman, As I am standing at the speaker’s desk of this Congress, I face the most serious incident in Brazilian republican life. I appeal to the common sense and the patriotism of those who can lead our country out of the agony, out of this perplexity and away from the fear that confines our country at this moment. It is not deemed opportune to discuss the causes of the crisis that we are facing. With God’s will, the causes will be an issue of discussion in a future when we will have overcome this nightmare. What brings me to this speaker’s desk is the imperious necessity of appealing to the military rulers not to act against national opinion. The public expects and demands that Vice-President João Goulart take office as President, as legitimate successor to the resigning President. I was not fully aware, Mr. Chairman, how deep the roots of respect for legal and constitutional order had grown in the heart and spirit of the Brazilian people. We are a true democracy, not only because this happens to be our political regime, but because democracy is sincerely and whole-heartedly our people’s desired form of government. Not only Mr. João Goulart’s partisans and friends fight for his rights as successor to the presidential office. Many of his political opponents, who were clearly against his policies until yesterday, do not hesitate today to require that the law be followed. Not only politicians but citizens demand that we abide by the letter of the constitution. The constitution must be adhered to because it has proven not to be made of dead words, but to be the lively expression of our people’s will. The military has never opposed the country’s opinion, and the will of this country’s people is to preserve democracy and follow the legal requirement that the legitimate representative of a national office shall take office. I submit my personal appeal to General Odílio Diniz, former Minister of Defense during my administration, that he sense and hear the national opinion, which should not be opposed by any force or in any circumstance. This is the appeal of a public representative to another public representative, of a Brazilian to a Brazilian, of a friend to a friend. I beg the Minister of Defense, guardian of the most noble and legitimate legal traditions, that he do not allow the law to be contradicted or the military and nation to be put in opposition. As I am submitting this appeal, which also includes a warning, I wish to assure the people of this country of Mr. João Goulart's intentions to preserve harmonious relations. The only feelings and aspirations that motivate the current President are This is all I have to say, Mr. Chairman, and I say it with truthfulness and vehemence. At the same time I insist on proclaiming my pride in belonging to a Congress capable of resisting oppression and of conserving faith in the constitutional and moral order…