O homem e o poder: a trajetória de vida e a atuação política do Major-Coronel Theodorico Bezerra – de Santa Cruz a Tangará-RN (1903-1965)

Abstract

This study follows the line of research, History and Regionalities, linked to the area of History and Historical Culture of PPGH UFPB. It analyzes the moment that Major-Coronel Theodorico Bezerra was president of the Social Democratic Party (PSD) in Rio Grande do Norte, between the years 1949-1965 and his life story, from the relations that remained in the hotel industry, trade and industry, until to become a landowner and invest all the profits achieved in Natal at the Farm Irapuru / Tangará, transforming this property into an empire (private world). Besides the family influence, he inherited the contacts in Natal. All this, helped him become a prominent political. This analyze is made from family Bezerra and Ferreira de Souza who had a prominent role in politics of Santa Cruz and the State in the First Republic (1889-1930) and epoch Vargas (1930-1945). Also, is investigated the advertising strategies and electoral frauds used by Major-Coronel Theodorico Bezerra to get the vote of the voters in benefit of himself, of his family and political allies. From this context the aim is to understand how he managed to occupy and stay in direction of the largest and most powerful political party of Rio Grande do Norte state and create a collective memory of himself, from three points: the farm Irapuru / Tangará, the Grande Hotel / Natal and the direction of the PSD Potiguar.