Marcello Caetano

Marcello Caetano , 1906-80, Portuguese lawyer and statesman. He received a doctorate in law (1931) from the Univ. of Lisbon, where he taught after 1932, serving as professor (1940-68) and as rector (1959-62). A close associate of António de Oliveira Salazar , he was instrumental in planning the dictator's corporate form of government, the Estado Novo, and from the 1930s held various positions in the regime. He served as minister for the colonies (1944-47) and deputy prime minister (1955-58). He became prime minister of Portugal in 1968 after Salazar had been incapacitated by a stroke. While adhering to the basic conservative policies of his predecessor, including retention of the Portuguese overseas colonies, suppression of dissent, and staunch anti-Communism, he initiated modest political and economic reforms. Caetano's government was overthrown by a military coup in Apr., 1974, and he was exiled to Madeira and later to Brazil.

Caetano, Marcello José das Neves Alves (1904–81) Portuguese statesman. He was Prime Minister from 1968 to 1974. He was ousted from power by General Spinola in 1974 in a putsch which brought to an end half a century of dictatorship in Portugal, established by Caetano's predecessor, SALAZAR.

Caetano, Marcello José das Neves Alves (b. 17 Aug. 1906, d. 26 Oct. 1980). Prime Minister of Portugal 1968–74 Born in Arganil, he studied law and in 1933 became professor of constitutional and administrative law at the University of Lisbon. A close associate of Salazar, he helped to draft the 1933 constitution. As Minister for Colonies (1944–7) he encouraged further economic, political, and administrative integration of the colonies with metropolitan Portugal. He was President of the Chamber of Estates (1949–55), and Deputy Prime Minister in 1955. He left politics in 1959 to become Rector of Lisbon University. When Salazar had a stroke in 1968 he returned and became Prime Minister. He introduced liberal reforms in the economic sphere, but held back from political reform. Ultimately, he became hostage to his intransigence towards the colonies, as the Portuguese were exhausted by unwinnable colonial wars. He was deposed in a military coup, and went into exile in Brazil.