Capanema: The story of the Minister of Education who attracted intellectuals, tried to control power and survived the Vargas Era

The story of the Minister of Education who attracted intellectuals, tried to control power and survived the Vargas Era. Between 1927 and 1979, Gustavo Capanema Filho played a prominent political role in Brazil. A key figure in unraveling the motivations, agenda, and nature of those seeking power, he is recognized for his tenure as Minister of Education and Health between 1934 and 1945. However, his involvement in political debate was not limited to the reforms he promoted in education: he was also one of the tools of the Estado Novo to co-opt intellectuals to the regime, thanks to his connections with figures such as Carlos Drummond de Andrade and Cândido Portinari. A rare example of a figure who renewed his power as best he could, occupying different positions, but always pragmatically, Capanema knew how to act in a way that preserved his status. This is the story that deserves to be told.