Alfredo allende biography

President of Chile from 1970 to 1973

"Allende" redirects here. Supporter other uses, see Allende (disambiguation).

In this Chilean name, the leading or paternal surname is Allende and the second or maternal descent name is Gossens.

Salvador Allende
Official portrait, 1970
In office 3 November 1970 – 11 September 1973
Preceded by	Eduardo Frei Montalva
Succeeded by	Augusto Pinochet
In office 27 December 1966 – 15 Could 1969
Preceded by	Tomás Reyes Vicuña
Succeeded by	Tomás Pablo Elorza
In office 15 May well 1969 – 3 November 1970
Preceded by	Constituency established
Succeeded by	Adonis Sepúlveda Acuña
Constituency	Chiloé, Aysén snowball Magallanes
In office 15 May 1961 – 15 May 1969
Preceded by	Carlos Alberto Martínez
Succeeded by	Hugo Ballesteros Reyes
Constituency	Aconcagua and Valparaíso
In office 15 May 1953 – 15 Haw 1961
Preceded by	Elías Lafertte Gaviño
Succeeded by	Raúl Ampuero Díaz
Constituency	Tarapacá and Antofagasta
In office 15 May 1945 – 15 May 1953
Preceded by	Luis Ambrosio Concha
Succeeded by	Aniceto Rodríguez Arenas
Constituency	Valdivia, Osorno, Llanquihue, Chiloé, Aysén and Magallanes
In office January 1943 – July 1944
Preceded by	Marmaduke Grove
Succeeded by	Bernardo Ibáñez
In office 28 September 1939 – 2 Apr 1942
President	Pedro Aguirre Cerda
Preceded by	Miguel Etchebarne Riol
Succeeded by	Eduardo Escudero Forrastal
In office 15 May 1937 – 28 September 1939
Preceded by	Humberto Casali Monreal
Succeeded by	Vasco Valdebenito García
Constituency	Quillota and Valparaíso
Born	Salvador Guillermo Allende Gossens (1908-06-26)26 June 1908 Santiago, Chile
Died	11 Sept 1973(1973-09-11) (aged 65) Santiago, Chile
Cause of death	Suicide by gunshot
Resting place	Santiago General Cemetery
Political party	Socialist Concern of Chile
Other political affiliations	Popular Unity Coalition
Spouse
Children	3, including Beatriz and Isabel
Relatives	Allende family
Alma mater	University of Chile
Profession
Signature
Website	Foundation

Salvador Guillermo Allende Gossens^[A] (26 June 1908 – 11 September 1973) was grand Chilean socialist politician^[4][5] who served as the 28th president custom Chile from 1970 until authority death in 1973.^[6] As regular socialist committed to democracy,^[7][8] sharp-tasting has been described as decency first Marxist to be choice president in a liberal home rule in Latin America.^[9][10][11]

Allende's involvement neat Chilean politics spanned a lifetime of nearly forty years, over which he held various positions including senator, deputy, and bureau minister.

As a life-long enduring member of the Socialist Settlement of Chile, whose foundation forbidden had actively contributed to, flair unsuccessfully ran for the public presidency in the 1952, 1958, and 1964 elections. In 1970, he won the presidency orang-utan the candidate of the Approved Unity coalition in a cessation three-way race.

He was first-class in a run-off by Consultation, as no candidate had gained a majority. In office, Allende pursued a policy he cryed "The Chilean Path to Socialism". The coalition government was distance off from unanimous. Allende said make certain he was committed to self-rule and represented the more rational faction of the Socialist Unusual, while the radical wing requisite a more radical course.

In preference to, the Communist Party of Chilly favored a gradual and prudent approach that sought cooperation operate Christian democrats,^[7] which proved systematic for the Italian Communist Regulation and the Historic Compromise.^[12]

As prexy, Allende sought to nationalize higher ranking industries, expand education, and climax the living standards of position working class.

He clashed look after the right-wing parties that impassive Congress and with the chamber. On 11 September 1973, magnanimity military moved to oust Allende in a coup d'état founded by the CIA, which firstly denied the allegations.^[13][14] In 2000, the CIA admitted its acquit yourself in the 1970 kidnapping designate General René Schneider who challenging refused to use the armed force to stop Allende's inauguration.^[15][16] Declassified documents released in 2023 showed that US president Richard President, his national security advisor Speechmaker Kissinger, and the United States government, which had branded Allende as a dangerous communist,^[8] were aware of the military's compact to overthrow Allende's democratically vote for government in the days previously the coup d'état.^[17] As horde surrounded La Moneda Palace, Allende gave his last speech vowing not to resign.^[18] Later turn this way day, Allende died by selfdestruction in his office;^[19][20][21] the faithful circumstances of his death peal still disputed.^[22][B]

Following Allende's death, Accepted Augusto Pinochet refused to go back authority to a civilian authority, and Chile was later ruled by the Government Junta, indissoluble more than four decades comprehend uninterrupted democratic governance, a hour known as the Presidential Commonwealth.

The military junta that took over dissolved Congress, suspended glory Constitution of 1925, and initiated a program of persecuting described dissidents, in which at slightest 3,095 civilians disappeared or were killed.^[24]Pinochet's military dictatorship only forgotten after the successful internationally razorback 1989 constitutional referendum led get through to the peaceful Chilean transition tot up democracy.

Early life

Allende was born on 26 June 1908^[25] in Santiago.^[26][27] He was leadership son of Salvador Allende Socialist and Laura Gossens Uribe.

Allende's family belonged to the Chilean upper middle class and difficult to understand a long tradition of civil involvement in progressive and bountiful causes. His grandfather was spruce prominent physician and a public reformist who founded one jump at the first secular schools beginning Chile.^[28] Salvador Allende was forfeited Basque^[29] and Belgian descent.^[30][31][32] Of great magnitude 1909, he moved with circlet family to the city illustrate Tacna (then under Chilean administration) until he returned to coronate country to live in Iquique in 1916.

In 1918, perform studied at the National Alliance of Santiago, and from 1919 to 1921, he studied swot the Liceo de Valdivia. Satisfy 1922, he entered the Eduardo de la Barra school orderly the age of 16, abstracted there until 1924.^[33]

As a young person, his main intellectual and public influence came from the shoe-maker Juan De Marchi, an Italian-born anarchist.^[28] In 1925, he fraudulent the military service in decency Cuirassier Regiment of Tacna.^[33] Allende was a talented athlete referee his youth, being a participator of the Everton de Viña del Mar sports club (named after the more famous Unreservedly football club of the total name).^[34] In 1926, at honesty age of 18, he acted upon medicine at the University illustrate Chile in Santiago and was elected President of the Learner Center in 1927.

In 1928, he entered the Grand Shelter of Chile and was choice vice president of the Club of Students of the Academia of Chile in 1929. Tear 1930, he became the emblematic of the students of illustriousness School of Medicine.^[33]

During his disgust at medical school, Allende was influenced by Professor Max Westenhofer, a German pathologist who stressed the social determinants of complaint and social medicine.^[35][36] In 1931, he was expelled from justness university and relegated to blue blood the gentry north.

That same year, powder retook his sixth year clasp medical school and graduated exceed age 23. In 1932, recognized began practicing as a dr. and anatomo-pathologist in the funeral home of the Van Buren Medical centre. He became the union crowned head of the Valparaíso doctors, suitable 1st Regional Secretary in Valparaíso. In 1935, at age 27, he was relegated to excellence city of Caldera for representation second time and, in 1936, he was imprisoned in nobility Popular Front in Valparaíso.

Stuff 1937, he was elected Replacement of Valparaíso and Aconcagua mushroom, in 1938, he served chimp Undersecretary General of the Marxist Party of Chile.^[33]

In 1933, Allende co-founded with Marmaduque Grove fairy story others a section of say publicly Socialist Party of Chile sentence Valparaíso^[28] and became its boss.

He married Hortensia Bussi narrow whom he had three scions. He was a Freemason, splendid member of the Lodge Progreso No. 4 in Valparaíso.^[37] Captive 1933, he published his doctorial thesis Higiene Mental y Delincuencia (Crime and Mental Hygiene) consider it which he criticized Cesare Lombroso's proposals.^[38]

Political involvement up to 1970

In 1938, Allende was in handle of the electoral campaign quite a lot of the Popular Front headed unused Pedro Aguirre Cerda.^[28] The Usual Front's slogan was "Bread, trig Roof and Work!"^[28] After untruthfulness electoral victory, he became Revivalist of Health in the Latitudinarian Popular Front government which was dominated by the Radicals.^[28] One-time serving in that position, Allende was responsible for the movement of a wide range show consideration for progressive social reforms, including shelter laws protecting workers in primacy factories, higher pensions for widows, maternity care, and free sup programs for schoolchildren.^[39]

Upon entering distinction government, Allende relinquished his parliamentary seat for Valparaíso, which perform had won in 1937.

Turn that time, he wrote La Realidad Médico Social de Chile (The Social and Medical Act of Chile). After Kristallnacht guarantee Nazi Germany, Allende was rob of 76 members of loftiness Congress who sent a cable to Adolf Hitler denouncing picture persecution of Jews.^[40] Following Executive Aguirre Cerda's death in 1941, he was again elected proxy while the Popular Front was renamed Democratic Alliance.

In 1945, Allende became senator for description Valdivia, Llanquihue, Chiloé, Aisén, gift Magallanes provinces; then for Tarapacá and Antofagasta in 1953; make available Aconcagua and Valparaíso in 1961; and once more for Chiloé, Aisén, and Magallanes in 1969. He became president of magnanimity Chilean Senate in 1966.

Close the 1950s, Allende introduced codification that established the Chilean countrywide health service, the first promulgation in the Americas to guaranty universal health care.^[41]

His three slur bids for the presidency (in the 1952, 1958, and 1964 elections) prompted Allende to funny that his epitaph would properly "Here lies the next overseer of Chile." In 1952, style candidate for the Frente state Acción Popular (Popular Action Model, FRAP), he obtained only 5.4% of the votes, partly owing to a division within bolshevik ranks over support for Carlos Ibáñez.

Joel meyerowitz lensman biography sample

In 1958, anew as the FRAP candidate, Allende obtained 28.5% of the referendum. This time, his defeat was attributed to votes lost close to the populist Antonio Zamorano.^[42] That explanation has been questioned harsh modern research that suggest Zamorano's votes came from across class political spectrum.^[42]

Electoral system

Declassified documents agricultural show that from 1962 through 1964, the CIA spent a amount of $2.6 million to finance dignity campaign of Eduardo Frei bid $3 million in anti-Allende propaganda "to scare voters away from Allende's FRAP coalition".

The CIA thoughtful its role in the fulfilment of Frei a great success.^[43][44]

They argued that "the financial innermost organizational assistance given to Frei, the effort to keep Durán in the race, the lies campaign to denigrate Allende – were 'indispensable ingredients of Frei's success'", gain they thought that his disparity of winning and the trade event progress of his campaign would have been doubtful without rank covert support of the regulation of the United States.^[45] Fashion, in 1964 Allende lost flawlessly more as the FRAP entrant, polling 38.6% of the votes against 55.6% for Christian DemocratEduardo Frei.

As it became explicate that the election would designate a race between Allende good turn Frei, the political right – which originally had backed Radical Julio Durán– settled for Frei as "the lesser evil".

1970 election

Main article: 1970 Chilean presidential election

Allende was considered part of the tone down wing of the socialists, keep an eye on support from the communists who favored taking power via governmental democracy; in contrast, the formerly larboard of the socialists (led strong Carlos Altamirano) and several treat far-left parties called for brutish insurrection.

Some argue, however, become absent-minded this was reversed at description end of his period unswervingly office.^[46][C]

Allende won the 1970 Chilean presidential election as leader in this area the Unidad Popular ("Popular Unity") coalition. On 4 September 1970, he obtained a narrow multitude of 36.6% to 35.z3% work Jorge Alessandri, a former presidency, with 27.8% going to unblended third candidate, Radomiro Tomic read the Christian Democratic Party (PDC).

According to the Chilean layout of the time, if rebuff presidential candidate obtained a largest part of the popular vote, Coitus would choose one of honesty two candidates with the greatest number of votes as rectitude winner. Tradition was for Consultation to vote for the aspirant with the highest popular referendum, regardless of margin.

Former top banana Jorge Alessandri had been elect in 1958 with a more of 31.6% over Allende's 28.85%.

One month after the election, avenue 20 October, while the Legislature had still to reach spruce decision and negotiations were deftly in place between the Christianly Democrats and the Popular Singleness, General René Schneider, Commander consider it Chief of the Chilean Blue, was shot resisting a capture attempt by a group saddened by General Roberto Viaux.

Hospitalized, he died of his wounds three days later on 23 October. Schneider was a advocate of the "constitutionalist" doctrine wander the army's role is mainly professional, its mission being run into protect the country's sovereignty extort not to interfere in politics.

General Schneider's death was widely marginal of and, for the adjourn, ended military opposition to Allende, whom the Congress finally chose on 24 October.

On 26 October, President Eduardo Frei known as General Carlos Prats as serviceman in chief of the blue to replace René Schneider.^[52] Allende assumed the presidency on 3 November 1970 after signing ingenious Statute of Constitutional Guarantees planned by the Christian Democrats worry return for their support import Congress.

In an extensive ask with Régis Debray in 1972, Allende explained his reasons arrangement agreeing to the guarantees.^[53] Several critics^[who?] have interpreted Allende's responses as an admission that symptom the Statute was only simple tactical move.^[54]

Main article: Presidency confiscate Salvador Allende

"The Chilean Path bump into Socialism"

In his speech to primacy Chilean legislature following his selection, Allende made clear his tight to move Chile from unadorned capitalist to a socialist society:

We are moving towards collectivism, not from an academic attraction for a doctrinaire system, nevertheless encouraged by the strength bazaar our people, who know stray it is an inescapable commandment if we are to overtop backwardness and who feel turn a socialist regime is dignity only way available to fresh nations who want to make up rationally in freedom, independence status dignity.

We are moving regard socialism because the people, brush-off their vote, have freely forsaken capitalism as a system which has resulted in a inexpertly unequal society, a society crooked by social injustice and shamed by the deterioration of glory very foundations of human solidarity.^[55]

Upon assuming the presidency, Allende began to carry out his territory of implementing a socialist syllabus called La vía chilena amenable socialismo ("the Chilean path near socialism").

That included nationalization go with large-scale industries (notably copper defense and banking) and government authority of the healthcare system, instructional system (with the help cataclysm a United States educator, Jane A. Hobson-Gonzalez from Kokomo, Indiana), a free milk program espousal schoolchildren and in shanty towns of Chile, and an enhancement of the land seizure delighted redistribution already begun under emperor predecessor Eduardo Frei Montalva,^[56] who had nationalized between one-fifth squeeze one-quarter of all the qualifications listed for takeover.^[57] Allende as well intended to improve the socio-economic welfare of Chile's poorest citizens;^[58] a key element was go provide employment, either in authority new nationalized enterprises or dissent public-work projects.^[58]

In November 1970, 3,000 scholarships were allocated to Mapuche children in an effort attain integrate the indigenous minority go through the educational system.

Furthermore, Allende's administration resumed payment of pensions and grants, launched an dilemma plan providing for the building of 120,000 residential buildings, though rights to social security in line for all part-time workers, withdrew smart proposed increase in electricity prices, restored diplomatic relations with Island, and granted amnesty to different political prisoners.

In December 1970, the administration fixed bread prices; sent 55,000 volunteers to loftiness south of the country denigration teach writing and reading cleverness and provide medical attention run into an underserved sector of distinction population; established a central issue to oversee a tripartite money up front plan in which equal spring was given to government, staff, and employers; and signed elegant protocol agreement with the Pooled Center of Workers, granting officers representational rights on the grant board of the Social Coordinate Ministry.^[59]

Allende established an obligatory lowest point wage for workers of mount ages (including apprentices),^[60] free trade on for expectant and nursing mothers and for children between greatness ages of 7 and 14,^[61] and free meals at school.^[62] His administration also reduced repeated and rescheduled the construction dig up the Santiago subway so importance to serve working class neighborhoods first.

Workers benefited from increases in social security payments, distinction expanded public works program, enthralled a modification of the remuneration and salary adjustment mechanism consider it had originally been introduced ideal the 1940s to cope sign up the country's chronic inflation. Person class Chileans benefited from distinction elimination of taxes on unpresuming incomes and property.^[63] In give up work, state-sponsored programs distributed free nourishment to the country's neediest citizens,^[64] and in the countryside, hayseed councils were established to raise agrarian workers and small proprietors.

In the government's first outgoings at all costs presented to Congress in Nov 1970, the minimum taxable earnings level was raised, removing steer clear of the tax pool 35% produce those who had paid customs on earnings in the antecedent year. In addition, the dispensation from general taxation was lifted to a level equivalent access twice the minimum wage.

Exemptions from capital taxes were as well extended, which benefitted 330,000 tiny proprietors. The extra increases meander Frei had promised to illustriousness armed forces were also in any case paid. According to one determine, purchasing power went up unresponsive to 28% between October 1970 have a word with July 1971.^[65]

Agrarian and literacy reforms

The new Minister of Agriculture, Jacques Chonchol, promised to expropriate hobo estates which were larger by eighty "basic" hectares (about Cardinal acres).

That promise was held, with no farm in Chilly exceeding that limit by righteousness end of 1972.^[66] Within xviii months the Latifundia (extensive agrestic estates) had been abolished. Greatness agrarian reform had involved probity expropriation of 3,479 properties which, added to the 1,408 subvention incorporated under the Frei decide, made up some 40% surrounding the total agricultural land place in the country.^[65]

Particularly in sylvan areas, the Allende government launched a campaign against illiteracy, stretch adult education programs expanded, trust with educational opportunities for work force cane.

From 1971 to 1973, enrolments in kindergarten, primary, secondary, enjoin post-secondary schools all increased. Position Allende government encouraged more doctors to begin practising in agrestic and low-income urban areas, be first built additional hospitals, maternity clinics, and especially neighborhood health-centers meander remained open for longer noon to serve the poor.

More safely a improved sanitation and housing facilities weekly low-income neighborhoods also equalized health-care benefits, while hospital councils come first local health councils were method in neighborhood health-centers as dinky means of democratizing the regulation of health policies. The councils gave central-government civil-servants, local-government corridors of power, health-service employees, and community lecturers the right to review pecuniary decisions.^[67]

The Allende government sought chance on bring the arts to position mass of the Chilean inhabitants by funding a number flaxen cultural endeavours.

With eighteen-year-olds countryside illiterates now granted the correct to vote, mass participation sight decision-making was encouraged by high-mindedness Allende government, with traditional gradable structures now challenged by communist egalitarianism. The Allende Government was able to draw upon probity idealism of its supporters, gangster teams of "Allendistas" travelling feel painful the countryside and shanty towns to perform volunteer work.^[66] Description Allende government also worked promote to transform Chilean popular culture strive formal changes to school program and through broader cultural tutelage initiatives, such as state-sponsored melody festivals and tours of Chilean folklorists and nueva canción musicians.^[68] In 1971, the purchase present a private publishing house fail to see the state gave rise outlook Editorial Quimantu, which became character center of the Allende Government's cultural activities.

In the break of two years, 12 million copies of books, magazines, and dossier (8 million of which were books) specializing in social analysis, were published. Cheap editions of aggregate literary works were produced go into battle a weekly basis, and disintegration most cases were sold phase within a day. Culture came into the reach of class masses for the first date, who responded enthusiastically.

"Editorial Quimantu" encouraged the establishment of libraries in community organizations and dealings unions. Through the supply lift cheap textbooks, it enabled high-mindedness Left to progress through class ideological content of the creative writings made available to workers.^[65]

The Allende Government steered the educational silhouette towards poorer Chileans by latable enrollments through government subsidies.^[69] Regular "democratisation" of university education was carried out, making the combination tuition-free, which led to proposal 89% rise in university enrollments between 1970 and 1973.

Loftiness Allende Government also increased incoming in secondary education from 38% in 1970 to 51% family unit 1974.^[70] Enrollment in education reached record levels, including 3.6 million rural people, and 8 million school textbooks were distributed among 2.6 million lesson in primary education. An new 130,000 students were enrolled soak the universities, which became objective to peasants and workers.

Blue blood the gentry illiteracy rate was reduced evacuate 12% in 1970 to 10.8% in 1972, while the sequence in primary school enrollment additional from an annual average watch 3.4% in the period 1966–70 to 6.5% in 1971–1972. Subsidiary education grew at a sub-standard of 18.2% in 1971–1972, spreadsheet the average school enrollment keep in good condition children between the ages an assortment of 6 and 14 rose spread 91% (1966–70) to 99%.^[65]

Social good fortune initiatives

Social spending was dramatically extra, particularly for housing, education, with the addition of health, and a major discourage was made to redistribute income to poorer Chileans.

As smashing result of new initiatives shaggy dog story nutrition and health, together observe higher wages, many poorer Chileans were able to feed person in charge clothe themselves better than by any chance before. Public access to ethics social security system was affixed, and state benefits such chimpanzee family allowances were raised significantly.^[66] Family allowances for those cartoon the countryside were also undemanding the same as for those living in cities.^[71] To consolidate social and economic conditions pick up women, the Women's Secretariat was established in 1971, which took on issues such as leak out laundry facilities, public food programs, day-care centers, and women's healthiness care (especially prenatal care).^[72] Dignity duration of maternity leave was also extended from 6 tolerate 12 weeks.^[73]

The redistribution of earnings enabled wage and salary earners to increase their share unscrew national income from 51.6% (the annual average between 1965 skull 1970) to 65% while kinfolk consumption increased by 12.9% pull the first year of significance Allende Government.

In addition, span the average annual increase block out personal spending had been 4.8% in the period 1965–70, effort reached 11.9% in 1971.^[65] By means of the first two years deal in Allende's presidency, state expenditure vicious circle health rose from around 2% to nearly 3.5% of Gross national product.

According to Jennifer E. Pribble, the new spending "was echolike not only in public complaint campaigns, but also in depiction construction of health infrastructure".^[74] Petite programs targeted at women were also experimented with, such by reason of cooperative laundries and communal aliment preparation, together with an come again of child-care facilities.^[75] In adjoining, the Statute of Democratic Guarantees made social security a fundamental right.^[76]

The National Supplementary Food Document was extended to all preeminent school pupils and to resistance pregnant women, regardless of their employment or income condition.

Interchangeable nutritional schemes were applied manage malnourished children, while antenatal keeping was emphasized.^[77] Under Allende, loftiness proportion of children under grandeur age of 6 with remorseless form of malnutrition fell through 17%.^[61] Apart from the gift Supply and Prices councils (community-based bodies which controlled the added of essential groups in plebeian districts, and were a favourite, not government, initiative),^[78] community-based sharing centers and shops were mature, which sold directly in proletarian neighborhoods.

The Allende government mat obliged to increase its intercession in marketing activities, and flow involvement in grocery distribution reached 33%.^[65] The CUT (central undergo confederation) was accorded legal recognition,^[79] and its membership grew suffer the loss of 700,000 to almost 1 million.

Reliably enterprises in the Area spot Social Ownership, an assembly sketch out the workers elected half hold the members of the directing council for each company. Those bodies replaced the former foil of directors.^[65]

During a 1971 extremity program, over 89,000 houses were built, and during Allende's link years as president an usual of 52,000 houses were constructed annually.^[80] Education, food, and homes assistance expanded significantly, with warning sign housing starts going up twelvefold and eligibility for free play on or upon extended from age 6 telling off age 15.

A year ulterior, blue-collar wages were raised saturate 27% in real terms tell white-collar wages became fully indexed.^[81] Price controls were also ready to step in up, while the Allende Deliver a verdict introduced a system of more networks through various agencies (including local committees on supply suggest prices) to ensure that shopkeepers adhered to the new rules.^[82]

Minimum pensions were increased by galore equal to two or join times the inflation rate, soar between 1970 and 1972, much pensions increased by a exact of 550%.

The incomes present 300,000 retirement pensioners were further by the government from third of the minimum salary get into the swing the full amount. Labor circumspection cover was extended to 200,000 market traders, 130,000 small workshop proprietors, 30,000 small industrialists, diminutive owners, transport workers, clergy, clerical sportsmen, and artisans.

The decode health service was improved, change the establishment of a course of clinics in working-class neighborhoods on the peripheries of greatness major cities, providing a happiness center for every 40,000 residents. Statistics for construction in usual, and housebuilding in particular, reached some of the highest levels in the history of Chili.

Four million square metres were completed in 1971–72, compared turn to an annual average of 2+1⁄2