a year later, while stationed in brazil, elbrick was kidnapped from a road-block on september 4, 1969, and held for 78 hours by the revolutionary movement 8th october (mr-8) in rio de janeiro. the ambassador's driver was released unharmed with a note demanding the release of 15 unnamed political prisoners and the publication of a three-page manifesto from revolutionary movement 8th october. if the demands were not met within 48 hours, mr-8 threatened to carry out 'revolutionary justice', by executing elbrick. the ambassador was released in exchange for the government's release of fifteen political prisoners. the kidnapping occurred as a means to bring media attention to the repression, imprisonment and torture of brazilian citizens by the brazilian military regime, though most of these citizens were left-wing militants and sympathizers. ambassador elbrick remarked, "being an ambassador is not always a bed of roses."