Fernando Collor Nixon?

The parallels between August 1992 in Brasilia and August 1974 in Washington were eerily exact. Like Richard Nixon 18 years earlier, President Fernando Collor de Mello vowed to fight to the end against impeachment and removal from office. But Collor too saw many of his strongest supporters -- including even the politician who served as best man at his 1984 wedding -- turn against him. Many advised him to resign before he is thrown out and thus spare the nation a prolonged governmental paralysis. Collor's hopes of hanging on nearly disappeared last week when a congressional commission concluded after a three- month investigation that he and members of his family had received $6.5 million from his former campaign fund raiser, who extorted large sums from businessmen hoping for government contracts or favors. Lawmakers will vote on whether to accuse Collor formally and start a trial in the Senate sometime this month -- if the President can survive in office even that long.