MARCELO CAETANO (PORTUGAL)

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 06790246
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 7
• Document Creation Date: March 8, 2023
• Document Release Date: August 6, 2019
• Case Number: F-2018-01466
• Publication Date: August 1, 1971

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PORTUGAL
Prime Minister
Marcelo Caetano, Portu-
gal's leading authority on
administrative law, became
Prime Minister in September
1968, succeeding the gravely
ill Ant6nio Salazar. Presi-
dent Am4rico Thomaz' selec-
tion of Caetano brought to
end Salazar's 40-year rule.
escribed as a reasonable
onservative, Caetano has a
uch more modern outlook
an his predecessor.
Marcelo Jose das Neves Alves CAETANG
(Pat $970)
As one of the principal
signers, in the 1940's and 1950's of Portugal's
1 orporate state (Estado Novo), Caetano generally
upported Salazar's policies. The "corporative
ystem" limits individual participation in govern-
tdies--economic, social and cultural. through
ntal bodies to representation rough functional
Caetano's move away from the regime in the
1 te 1950's seems not to have been rrompted by any
b sic disagreement with the principles of the cor-
p rate state, but rather by a genuine doubt that
S lazar's uncompromising authoritarianism was the
^ ght way to administer it. Ia . any event, when
e ultra-conservative ruling elite and military
e tablishment called Caetano from the University
t become Prime Minister, it was because they were
c nfident that he was a product of the regime and
w uld revitalize rather than destroy it.
Caetano has acted as a balance between the
nservative forces and those younger elements
within the regime who desire more rapid changes.
This balance may reflect a duality in Caetano's
thinking between his belief in social democ-
ra y and economic opportunity and his belief in
m 'ntaining the authority of the current political
st ucture.
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Marcelo Jose das Neves Alves CAETANO (cont.)
Caetano Takes Hold
Caetano has softened some of the more reprel-
sive policies of the Salazar era, and he has
implemented some measures to increase social anl
economic opportunities. The Constitutional Reforms
of the 1970's propose greater educational opportun-
ities for all students, more flexible educational
programs, easing of press censorship, an increas
in judicial rights for accused persons, and greater
autonomy for overseas territories. In addition,;
Caetano has drafted a law giving women equal voqr.g
rights.
Caetano's emergence since 1968 as a popular i
national leader has been attributed in part to his
efforts to bring the executive closer to the pe4le.
His periodic television "fireside chats" and his!
visits around the country have been well received,
and his visit to Portuguese Africa in April 1969
apparently enhanced his image. He is regarded as.
a relaxed and informal leader who is sincerely con-
cerned with the problems of the average citizen.
. An able politician, Caetano has also been 1
successful in securing a political base for himself
within the government an within the government- I
controlled and only legal political party, the
1
National Popular Action (ANP). (Until February
1970 this was known as the National Union party.) 1
Since he has been Prime Minister, Caetano has been
placing men of his own choice in important positidns.
He has now practically replaced the leadership of 1
the ANP with Men closer to his views. In addition'
he has been systematically replacing the civil 1
governors, who supervise elections in each district.
1
The Cabinet changes he made in January 1970 hai/e
substantially increased Caetano's freedom to maneuT
ver. He reduced the number of portfolios from 15 1
to 10, he abolished the position of Minister of
1
tate--assuming its coordinating function himself--
d he merged several other ministries into "super1
Inistries" rotiponsible for broad policy areas.
1
1
1
1
1
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Fers
Marcelo Jos6 das Neves Alves CAETANO
(cont.)
Furthermore, the men he has selected for his
ministries illustrate the importance he attaches
to being supported by assistants who are loyal to
him personally. Pro-Caetano members also dominate
the National Assembly elected in October 1969.
International Political Views
Under Caetano's leadership Portugal has
assumed a more active role in international rela-
tions. He remains characteristically Portuguete
in his approach to problems, but does not advoeate
the aloof isolationism of Salazar. He has made
it clear that he would like to see Portugal more
receptive to modern influences and development:
The Prime Minister is a strong backer of NATO,
and has indicated that NATO is extremely important .
to Portugal because it is the only military alli-
ance in which his country participates. This As
a change from the lukewarm support Portugal gave
NATO under Salazar. Many Portuguese feel that 1
NATO--originally set up to counter Communism in
Europe--ought to appreciate more deeply than it
does that their provincial wars are in fact a-
lonely fight against Communism in Africa. Caeetano,
in a veiled reference to Portuguese Africa; has
expressed the same view. He stated that while the
NATO alliance has generally gone far beyond its!
original concept, the vital interests of many
members are being threatened in areas outside ot
the treaty area and that fact is not being fully
taken into account.
Caetano is a firm anti-Communist and strongl
critic of the USSR; however, he permitted the first
tourists from the Soviet Union to enter Portugal
in April 1969.
Attitude Toward the United States
A desire for improved relations with the United
States appears to be a distinct part of Caetanolt
policy for ending Portugal's isolation. The Priine
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Marcelo Josd das Neves Alves CAETANO (cont.)i
Minister has declared his interest in a "renewal
of dialogue" with the United States after solpe
years of what he described as "misunderstandings"
between the two governments. (Some Portuguese
regard US advocacy of self-determination in Africa
as an advance move toward "economic imperali6m"--
the takeover of the Portuguese patrimony in Africa
by US financial and economic interests.) AcCording
to Caetano, the first Portuguese concern is cor
better US understanding of the Portuguese position
both at home and in Africa.
Early Life and Career
Marcelo Jose das Neves Alves Caetano was porn
in Lisbon on 17 August 1906 of lower middle glass
parents; his mother died several years later.,
His father, a customs official, is thought to: have
been of partly Goanese extraction. (Goa was a
Portuguese enclave in Western India.) Caetanb
received a law degree with highest honors in 1927
and a doctorate in 1931 from the University of
Lisbon.
An early follower of Salazar, Caetano ire*
quently. contributed pro-Salazar articles to.the
daily press. Salazar, who was Minister of Fiilance
from 1928 to 1932, rewarded him with a positicn
as juridical auditor in the Ministry (1929-30.
Appointed a law professor at the University
of Lisbon in 1933, Caetano taught administrative
law and inaugurated a course on the legal aspects
of the Portuguese corporative system. He soon
became Salazar's chief adviser on the interprelta-
tion of the corporative laws.
Caetano was also charged with drawing up 6 new
administrative code for Portugal, which became
operative in 1941 and is still in effect. In con-
nection with his work on the administrative code,
Caetano went on a special mission to the Azores
and the Madeira Islands and drafted the "Statute
of the Autonomous Districts of the Adjacent Islands,"
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Marcelo Josd das Neves Alves CAETANO
1 (cont.)
which covers the local administration of those
areas. From 1940 until 1944 Caetano served as
National Commissioner of Mooidade Portuglluesas. the
Portuguese youth movement.
After serving for 3 years as Minister of
Colonies (1944-47), Caetano became President of
the Executive Committee of the National Union.
Feeling this to be a secondary role, he esigned
and returned to university life for a short time.
From 1950 to 1955 he was President of th Corpo-
rative Chamber, in which he had earlier served as
a representative of the insurance companies and
as Vice President (1942-49).
In 1955 Salazar named Caetano Minister of the
Presidency, a post equivalent to that of la Deputy
Prime Minister. He dismissed him in 1958,. That
dismissal was believed to have been prompted by
Caetano's alleged association with dissident ele-
ments; it is also believed to have been prompted
by the rift between Caetano and his chief, rival
at the time, the extremely conservative Minister
of Defense, Fernando dos Santos Costa.
1
Returning to the academic world, Caetano was
named Rector of the Classical University of Lisbon
in 1959. He resigned the post in 1962.afier police
entered the University without his permision to
arrest student demonstrators. It is uncertain
whether his resignation was a libertarian 'gesture
or simply outrage that he had not been properly
consulted by the authorities.
1
From 1962 until his designation as Pril,ne
Minister, Caetano taught administrative law and
political science at the University, but 41d no
public office. This was considered politically
beneficial when he was being considered as1
Salazar's successor.
In addition to government service, Caetanodevoted himself to scholarly investigation) he has
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oelo Jose das Neves Alves CAETANO (cont.)
tten and published many works on his specialties
rporative theory and its application, adminis-
tive law, municipal and colonial reform, and .
ance). He also, maintained a lucrative law prac-
vel
Caetano has traveled extensively throughout
tuguese Africa and Europe, and has visited
zil. He headed the Portuguese delegation to
funeral of former President Dwight Eisenhower
April 1969. /t was not only the first visit
a Portuguese Prime Minister to the United
tes, but also Caetano's first trip to this
ntry.
onal Data
Tall and lanky, Caetano has sharp features,
lips and neatly-combed gray hair, and he
s gold-rimmed glasses. H..; is hard-working,
ious and intellectually inclined. He� lives
ly and is highly respected for his intellec-
integrity, honesty and clean personal life.
ough he can be witty and charming, other
uguese sometimes regard him as having an
pendent personality.
ends to be withdrawn and formal
on first contact, but is very warm
rd peop e in whom he develops confidence.
s said to rely greatly on his friends and
udge them subjectively. He has a reputation
his days at the university of enjoying con-
ation and the exchange of ideas.
Fluent in French, Caetano reads and may
rstand some English, but does not speak it.
s the recipient of several Portuguese and
ign decorations.
The Prime Minister's wife, the former Teresa
a de Barros Alves
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(b)(3)
(b)(1)
(b)(3)
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JOA-113
Wm'
4.� �
P.
s.
Marcelo Jose das Neves Alves CAETANO
(cont.)
died in January 1971. For
official functions Caetano's attractive daughter
Ana Maria (33) acts as hostess. She reputedly
trained as a nurse
I Caetano also has three
sons: Joao, an architect; Jos Maria, the govern-
ment's representative on the administrative board
of Companhia de Seguros de Creditos; and Miguel,
an economist who heads the Division of Regional
Planning in the Prime Minister's Technical Secre-
tariat. I
Caetano has 12 orandchildren.
Rui Alves da Silva Sanches,
the Minister of Public Works and Communications,
is the Prime Minister's cousin.
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August 1971
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