Career
Botelho Moniz owed his political and military career (Minister of the Interior and of Defense, Chief General of the Armed Forces, representative of the Portuguese Army, as an observer, on the East Front of the Second World War) to Fernando Santos Costa"s close protection. The attempt to overthrow António de Oliveira Salazar failed because the "coup" was badly prepared, enabling the dictator to react promptly. Some believe that Botelho Moniz developed contacts with the United States, as the Americans, under President John F. Kennedy"s new policy, were allegedly willing to discreetly support changes in the political orientation of the Portuguese administration.