Joaquim Nabuco e Oliveira Lima em diálogo: separados pelos Estados Unidos

Abstract

Manoel de Oliveira Lima (1867-1928) and Joaquim Nabuco (1849-1910)  had a lot in common and played relevant roles as diplomats and men of letters. They also had their political differences that they were able to over- come in order to create what it seemed like a solid friendship for two decades until their opposite views on the United States, its role in the continent and the relations with Brazil, set them apart. Their relationship had experienced previous controversies and disagreements before, but it was only when Nabuco experienced what he considered an attack on his legacy by Oliveira Lima that their friendship ended definitely. This article aims to analyze the context of the rupture, its background and how in the end it was a hurt ego more than an irreconcilable ideological battle what prompt them to cut ties. Moreover, it seeks to highlight how this episode helped to forge Oliveira Lima’s image as a difficult character, a rebel diplomat, and, finally, as anti-American.