not afraid to inspire individuals of a more serious nature, rio de janeiro has also been the home of some of the country's leaders, including the two-term president fernando henrique cardoso.

an economist, sociologist, writer, and professor, cardoso was one of brazil's most intellectual leaders of the modern era.

born in 1931, in rio de janeiro, cardoso had a tumultuous career, exiled during the military coup, in 1964, founder of various political groups, and member of the brazilian government on a number of separate occasions, until elected president, in 1994, which is where he remained for two-terms, until 2002, after playing a pivotal role in helping with the country's rising inflation problems.