“I don't see why we need to stand by and watch a country go Communist due to the irresponsibility of its own people”. Henry Kissinger, then National Security Adviser and future secretary of state, said a few months prior to self-proclaimed Marxist, Salvador Allende's democratic election as President of Chile. This quote encapsulates American political ideology during the Cold War and sheds light on the nature of the Allende regime that was toppled just three years after its democratic victory. The statement from Henry Kissinger expresses the United States' sentiment towards Allende and the platform on which his campaign ran. Why was the United States so scared of a potentially successful Allende presidency? He was a self-proclaimed Marxist,
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Each country had their own interest in investing in a particular candidate but the United States spent significantly more than Cuba in a concerted effort to prevent Allende from emerging successful in his presidential bid. According to the (Covert Action in Chile 1963-1973 declassified staff report) the CIA spent “from $800,000 to $1,000,000 on covert action to affect the outcome of the 1970 Presidential election”. In contrast to that “CIA estimates the Cubans provided about $350,000 to Allende’s campaign, with the Soviets adding an additional undetermined amount”. A significant portion of this money was spent on propaganda in the form of posters and leaflets to picture books and was carried out through editorials, radio and press outlets, and news articles (same source). This was not the first time the United States had taken great lengths to ensure that Allende was not elected president, according to the (Declassified report) in the 1964 election “The Central Intelligence Agency spent more than $2.6 million in support of the election of Christian Democratic candidate, in part to prevent the accession to the presidency of Marxist Salvador Allende”. There is no reference of Cuba or the Soviet Union interfering in the 1964 election so in this case the United States acted alone and promoted their cause in Latin America. Despite the efforts of the CIA, …show more content…
He believed that each country had a right to national liberation and commented on one of the United States’ chief rivals during the cold war, Cuba “the Cuban Revolution has had an enormous influence, because we have seen still more clearly what imperialism is and how there are no frontiers when it is attempting to defend its interests”. Allende took several subtle jabs at American foreign policy throughout his interview. He stressed the idea that it was not the United States place to implement their ideology, or prevent another, across Latin
Each country had their own interest in investing in a particular candidate but the United States spent significantly more than Cuba in a concerted effort to prevent Allende from emerging successful in his presidential bid. According to the (Covert Action in Chile 1963-1973 declassified staff report) the CIA spent “from $800,000 to $1,000,000 on covert action to affect the outcome of the 1970 Presidential election”. In contrast to that “CIA estimates the Cubans provided about $350,000 to Allende’s campaign, with the Soviets adding an additional undetermined amount”. A significant portion of this money was spent on propaganda in the form of posters and leaflets to picture books and was carried out through editorials, radio and press outlets, and news articles (same source). This was not the first time the United States had taken great lengths to ensure that Allende was not elected president, according to the (Declassified report) in the 1964 election “The Central Intelligence Agency spent more than $2.6 million in support of the election of Christian Democratic candidate, in part to prevent the accession to the presidency of Marxist Salvador Allende”. There is no reference of Cuba or the Soviet Union interfering in the 1964 election so in this case the United States acted alone and promoted their cause in Latin America. Despite the efforts of the CIA, …show more content…
He believed that each country had a right to national liberation and commented on one of the United States’ chief rivals during the cold war, Cuba “the Cuban Revolution has had an enormous influence, because we have seen still more clearly what imperialism is and how there are no frontiers when it is attempting to defend its interests”. Allende took several subtle jabs at American foreign policy throughout his interview. He stressed the idea that it was not the United States place to implement their ideology, or prevent another, across Latin