Fernando Henrique Cardoso

Fernando Henrique Cardoso (Portuguese: [feɾˈnɐ̃dw ẽjˈʁiki kaʁˈdozu]; born 18 June 1931), also known by his initials FHC ([ˈɛfjɐˌɡaˈse]), is a Brazilian sociologist, professor and politician who served as President of Brazil from 1 January 1995 to 1 January 2003. He was the first President to have been reelected for a subsequent term. An accomplished scholar, Cardoso was awarded in 2000 with the prestigious Prince of Asturias Award for International Cooperation.

Personal and professional life

Cardoso descends from wealthy Portuguese immigrants. Some of his ancestors were politicians during the Empire of Brazil. He is also of Black African descent, through a Black great-great-grandmother and a mulatto great-grandmother. Cardoso described himself as "slightly mulatto" and allegedly said he has "a foot in the kitchen" (a nod to 19th-century Brazilian domestic slavery).

Born in Rio de Janeiro, he has lived in São Paulo for most of his life. Cardoso is a widower (he was married to Ruth Vilaça Correia Leite Cardoso until her death on 24 June 2008) and has four children. Educated as a sociologist, he was a Professor of Political Science and Sociology at the Universidade de São Paulo. He was President of the International Sociological Association (ISA), from 1982 to 1986. He is a member of the Institute for Advanced Study (Princeton), an honorary foreign member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and has penned several books.