The 1970 Chilean Presidential race was a three-way contest between former president, Jorge Alessandri (Alessandri), Socialist Salvador Allende (Allende), and Christian Democrat Radomiro Tomic (Tomic). The US assumed that Alessandri would win again, and invested less money into his reelection campaign. At the same time, money was funneled through the Central Intelligence Agengy (CIA) to assure that Allende would not win the election. When the results came back the United States, and in particular former President Richard Nixon was angry that Allende won a close race over Alessandri. It is believed that President Nixon feared that Allende's election had the potential to erode the image of U.S. superiority. .
Mr. Allende was the first democratically elected socialist ruler in world history. Further, he was elected within a geographic area that was considered the backyard of the United States. President Allende's main objective was to replace the economic structure controlled by the national and foreign monopoly capitalists, and large landowners. In effect, he sought to initiate socialism. The basis of his policy was to raise wages at the expense of profits. As a result, inflation rose and Chile's economy declined.
Fearful of another Socialist country forming, the United States cut of all trades to Chile and removed American businesses from the country. Chile soon ran into more economic problems. Without the help of the United States they had problems getting spare parts, technology, and new machinery. In 1973 enemies made an unsuccessful attempt to impeach Allende, but were unable to receive the necessary amount of votes to impeach him. On September 11, 1973 the brutal military coup came into power and overthrew Allende. Thus ending his reign as President and starting Pincochet's. .
Finally, on September 11,1973 came the brutal military coup that overthrew the government. During the period following Allende election in 1970 until the successful military coup, the U.