SALVADOR ALLENDE

AND THE 1973 CHILEAN COUP

recommened reading

For more on the geopolitical machinations behind the events in Chile in 1973, check out: Nixon, Kissinger, and Allende: U.S. Involvement in the 1973 Coup in Chile

Allende defeated the conservative candidate Jorge Alessandri in a very tight presidential race in 1970. Allende had previously unsuccessfully run for the presidency in the 1950s and 60s. He was able to win office in 1970 with the support of a coalition of liberals, socialists and communists.

US National Security Advisor Henry Kissinger famously declared that the United States would not let Chile "go communist" just because that was what its people had voted for. Allende was not actually a communist, but he was too leftwing for the Nixon administration, which was determined to maintain US geostrategic and economic interests in Latin America.

The US supported the 1973 coup led by General Augusto Pinochet, who became a key regional ally during the Cold War.

Attribution for music used in this episode:

Assassinations Podcast Theme Music (Intro, Outro, and Transitions) written and performed by Graeme Ronald

"B Latino" by PQ is licensed under CC BY 4.0 / A derivative from the original work

"Spartishinu" by PQ is licensed under CC BY 4.0 / A derivative from the original work

"Not Goodbye 2" by PQ is licensed under CC BY 4.0 / A derivative from the original work

"Scramble A" by PQ is licensed under CC BY 4.0 / A derivative from the original work

"Clair" by PQ is licensed under CC BY 4.0 / A derivative from the original work

"Ijexa" by Brown Afro-Latin Jazz Ensemble Concert December 05 with Lydia Perez-Nieves and Marcus Santos is in the Public Domain, CC0 / A derivative from the original work