AMERICO DEUS RODRIGUES THOMAZ

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 06781999
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: March 8, 2023
• Document Release Date: July 25, 2019
• Case Number: F-2018-01465
• Publication Date: August 1, 1971

Approved for Release: 2019/07/12 C06781999
SEGRET"
PORTUGAL
Andric� Deus Rodrigues THOMAZ
President of the Republic
Adm. Amdrico Thomaz-WaS.
elected President of Portugal
in 1958 and unanimously
reelected for another 7-year
term in.July 1965. A longtime
friend of the late Prime Min-
ister Ant6nio Salazar, Thomaz
has cone to be regarded by
some as the guarantor of
Salazarist orthodoxy in Prime
Minister Marcelo Caetano's
policy Changes. Since Sala-
zar's death, much of the far
right has given its alle-
giance to Thomaz because of his conservative out-
look and his demonstrated constitutional powers.
A man of Absolute integrity, the President is
widely respected, has few (if any) political ene-
mies, and appears to enjoy to a considerable degree
the affection of his countrymen.
(1968)
rumors that he will not stand for reelection
in 1972 are numerous.
Thomaz and the Succession
The office of President of the Republic is
primarily ceremonial. The Constitution does, how-
ever, give the Presideht sole responsibility for
appointing or dismissing the Prime Minister. When
Salazar suffered a stroke in 1968, Thomaz--guided
by his loyalty to Salazar, his patriotism and his
respect for the constitution--was able to control
the pace of political events during the 19-day
succession period. The dignified way in which he
carried out his duties during this difficult period
contributed to the smoothness of the transition
from Salazar to Caetano, and Thomaz emerged from it
with his political position considerably enhanced.
The growing political strength of the President
vis-a-vis the Prime Minister was one of the most
..SEGRE'r
GROUP 1
Excluded from cult:melt
downgratling and
declassification
Approved for Release: 2019/07/12 C06781999
Approved for Release: 2019/07/12 C06781999
-SE-GRET-
Amgrico Deus Rodrigues THOMAZ (cont.)
important political developments in the period
immediately after Salazar's stroke. Since then
Caetano's own base of support has grown stronger;
nevertheless, the strongly-held views of the power
structure--and particularly of Thomaz--will
prob-
ably continue to limit Caetano's ability to move
independently or rapidly in new directions.
Attitude toward the United States
In the late 1930's and early 1840's, Thomaz
served as right-hand man to the strongly pro-German
Minister of the Navy, Manuel Ortins de Bettencourt.
It was during this period that he gained a reputa-
tion for being unsympathetic to the United States--
a reputation his later behavior belied. Since
World War II Thomaz has generally been friendly
toward the United Stites.
Early Life and Career
Amgrico Deus Rodrigues Thomaz was born in
Lisbon on 19 November .1894. Joining the navy as
a midshipman in 1914, he studied for 2 years at
the Lisbon Naval School. From 1916 to 1918 he
served on transports ferrying Portuguese troops
to France, and from 1920 to 1936 he was assigned
to the hydrographic service.
From 1936 to 1944 Thomaz was Chief of cabinet
to Minister of the Navy Bettencourt. During his
tenure as chief of cabinet he served as chief of
the National Merchant Marine Council, the Commis-
sion for the Study and Revision of Statutes for
Naval Officers, and the Council of Geographic
Missions and Colonial Investigations in the Minis-
try of ColonieS.
' As Minister of the Navy from 1944 to 1958,
Thomaz made important contributions to the expan-
sion of the navy and merchant marine. He also
- 2 -
-SECA-ET-
Approved for Release: 2019/07/12 C06781999
Approved for Release: 2019/07/12 C06781999
�SECRET�
Amdricp Deus Rodrigues THOMAZ
(cont.)
contributed to the reorganization of the navy
necessary for its alignment with the defense plans
of NATO.
He was
promoted to Admiral of the Navy in August 1970.
and it seems likely that he has been seen in person
by far more people than Salazar ever was, even
though the latter was in office four times as long.
Personal Data
The President is a quiet but forceful man, with
the dignity and formality one might expect from a
man of his background. An avid sportsman, he enjoys
hunting, at which he is an expert, and he has a
keen interest in football. He reads English and
French, but does not speak either language. He
holds numerous Portuguese and foreign decorations.
Family
President Thomaz is married to the former
Gertrudes Ribeiro da Costa
The couple has two
daughters.
August 1971
- 3 -
�SEGRE�T--
Approved for Release: 2019/07/12 C06781999