Américo de Deus Rodrigues Tomás, also spelled Américo Thomaz (November 19, 1894 - September 18, 1987). Portuguese admiral and politician. Minister of Navy in 1944. Elected president of the Republic in 1958 (in rigged elections), re-elected in 1965 and 1972 (by Parliament, whose elections were also rigged). During this time, Portugal was ruled by the authoritarian regime of António de Oliveira Salazar and the president of the republic had only a figurative role. Just once Tomás used his presidential prerrogative: to dismiss Salazar when he became incapacitated by a severe stroke in September, 1968. Tomás appointed Marcello Caetano to replace Salazar as prime-minister. When in April 25, 1974, the "Carnation Revolution" deposed Caetano, Tomás was also overthrowned and sent to exile in Brazil until 1980, when he returned to Portugal.