Julio Mesquita joined the staff of "O Estado de Sao Paulo" in 1885 and became a director in 1891, when he also began his first term as a deputy of the Sao Paulo state assembly. Until his death in 1927, Mesquita guided the newspaper's growth in all respects--editorial, political, technological, and economic. Julio de Mesquita Filho assumed leadership of the paper after his father's death. In 1930 "O Estado" backed Getulio Vargas for president, only to turn against him when Vargas' dictorial intent became apparent. In 1940 Vargas took over the paper and in 1945 the government returned the paper to the Mesquitas and "O Estado" immediately resumed its anti-Vargas stance, only to see Vargas' hand-picked successor elected to office. "O Estado" was a leader in modern production techniques in the post-World War II period and also set high standards in employee benefits and working conditions. In the early 1960s, "O Estado" opposed the left-leaning government in power and supported the military takeover of 1964. Four years later the political climate, including institutionalized press censorship, was such that Mesquita Filho ceased writing editorials. At his death in 1969, "O Estado" was a prime target of government repression. (Author/RB)