Also on This Day
- Lead Story
- First barrel ride down Niagara Falls, 1901
- American Revolution
- British naval fleet attacks Norfolk, Virginia, 1775
- Automotive
- George Washington Bridge is dedicated, 1931
- Civil War
- Union General Don Carlos Buell is replaced, 1862
- Cold War
- Leftist Salvador Allende elected president of Chile, 1970
- Crime
- Marv Albert faces sentencing in sexual assault case, 1997
- Disaster
- Commuter trains collide in England, 1947
- General Interest
- Thirty Years War ends, 1648
- U.N. formally established, 1945
- Burton buys Liz a diamond, 1969
- The Concorde makes its final flight, 2003
- Hollywood
- Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid opens, 1969
- Literary
- Raymond Chandler starts his last novel, 1958
- Music
- James Brown records breakthrough Live at the Apollo album, 1962
- Old West
- Western Union completes the first transcontinental telegraph line, 1861
- Presidential
- Truman declares war with Germany officially over, 1951
- Sports
- Toronto Blue Jays finally win a World Series for Canada, 1992
- Vietnam War
- U.S. president pledges support to South Vietnam, 1954
- Manila Conference attendees issue "Declaration of Peace", 1966
- World War I
- Battle of Caporetto , 1917
- World War II
- The United Nations is born, 1945
Oct 24, 1970:
Leftist Salvador Allende elected president of Chile
Salvador Allende, an avowed Marxist, becomes
president of Chile after being confirmed by the Chilean congress. For
the next three years, the United States would exert tremendous pressure to try to destabilize and unseat the Allende government.
Allende's election in 1970 was his third attempt at the presidency. In 1958, and again in 1964, Allende had run on a socialist/communist platform. In both elections, the United States government (as well as U.S. businesses such as International Telephone and Telegraph (ITT), which had significant investments in Chile) worked to defeat Allende by sending millions of dollars of assistance to his political opponents. In 1970, the United States again worked for Allende's defeat, but he finished first out of the four candidates. However, since he had garnered less than 40 percent of the popular vote, the final decision had to be made by the Chilean congress. The United States worked feverishly to derail Allende's selection but the election was upheld on October 24, 1970. Allende immediately confirmed the worst fears of U.S. officials when he extended diplomatic recognition to North Vietnam, North Korea, and Cuba, and also began to take action to nationalize the holdings of U.S. corporations in Chile, notably ITT and Kennecott Copper. U.S. officials also believed that Allende was supporting revolutionary activities in Latin America and viewed him as a significant threat to hemispheric security and U.S. economic interests in Chile.
Yet, Allende posed an interesting problem. Unlike Castro, he had come to power peacefully and democratically. Thus, the United States could hardly launch a Bay-of-Pigs-like attack on the Allende regime. Undaunted, the administration of President Richard Nixon began to formulate plans to destabilize the Chilean government and see to the removal of Allende. These plans came to fruition in 1973 when a coup by the Chilean military overthrew Allende and assassinated him.
Allende's election in 1970 was his third attempt at the presidency. In 1958, and again in 1964, Allende had run on a socialist/communist platform. In both elections, the United States government (as well as U.S. businesses such as International Telephone and Telegraph (ITT), which had significant investments in Chile) worked to defeat Allende by sending millions of dollars of assistance to his political opponents. In 1970, the United States again worked for Allende's defeat, but he finished first out of the four candidates. However, since he had garnered less than 40 percent of the popular vote, the final decision had to be made by the Chilean congress. The United States worked feverishly to derail Allende's selection but the election was upheld on October 24, 1970. Allende immediately confirmed the worst fears of U.S. officials when he extended diplomatic recognition to North Vietnam, North Korea, and Cuba, and also began to take action to nationalize the holdings of U.S. corporations in Chile, notably ITT and Kennecott Copper. U.S. officials also believed that Allende was supporting revolutionary activities in Latin America and viewed him as a significant threat to hemispheric security and U.S. economic interests in Chile.
Yet, Allende posed an interesting problem. Unlike Castro, he had come to power peacefully and democratically. Thus, the United States could hardly launch a Bay-of-Pigs-like attack on the Allende regime. Undaunted, the administration of President Richard Nixon began to formulate plans to destabilize the Chilean government and see to the removal of Allende. These plans came to fruition in 1973 when a coup by the Chilean military overthrew Allende and assassinated him.
Fact Check We strive for accuracy and fairness. But if you see something that doesn't
look
right, contact
us!
This Week in History, Oct 24 - Oct 30
- Oct 24, 1970
- Leftist Salvador Allende elected president of Chile
- Oct 25, 1971
- The U.N. seats the People's Republic of China and expels Taiwan
- Oct 25, 1983
- United States invades Grenada
- Oct 26, 1955
- Diem declares himself premier of Republic of Vietnam
- Oct 27, 1962
- The United States and Soviet Union step back from brink of nuclear war
- Oct 28, 1962
- The Cuban Missile Crisis comes to an end
- Oct 29, 1956
- Israel invades Egypt; Suez Crisis begins
- Oct 30, 1953
- Eisenhower approves NSC 162/2
No comments:
Post a Comment
Please leave a comment-- or suggestions, particularly of topics and places you'd like to see covered