May 2004, he was one of the sources for a Larry Rohter story on Lula's alleged alcoholism; he told a New York Times correspondent about having advised Lula "to get hold of this thing and control it". Brizola died on 21 June 2004, after a heart attack. He planned to run for the presidency in 2006 and, although ailing, had just received his former associate Anthony Garotinho and his wife Rosinha Garotinho the day before. On 29 December 2015, a congressional bill was approved by President Dilma Rousseff inscribing Brizola's name in the Book of Heroes of the Motherland, the official registry of all deceased Brazilians "who offered their lives to the Motherland, her defense and building, with exceptional commitment and heroism". References External links Leonel Brizola 1922 - 2004 – Socialist International honours the memory of Leonel Brizola Leonel Brizola and Jimmy Carter visiting a slum in Rio, 1984 1922 births 2004 deaths Brazilian Labour Party (historical) politicians Brazilian Methodists Democratic Labour Party (Brazil) politicians Governors of Rio de Janeiro (state) Governors of Rio Grande do Sul Mayors of Porto Alegre Members of the Chamber of Deputies (Brazil) from Rio Grande do Sul Members of the Legislative Assembly of Rio Grande do Sul Political refugees in the United States Brazilian emigrants to the United States Candidates for Vice President of Brazil