An Epitaph for Allende's Dream

SFehranicie SEP 1 3 1973 tr Co 1 @ 11471 An Epitaph for Allende's Dream New York Three years ago, short- ly before the end of Sal- vador Allende's f our t h campaign for the pr es dency of Chile, he reflect- ed on his previous failures and said: "If I lose this time, too, I'll just keep trying until the day I die. And if I don't make it then, my epitaph should read: 'Here lies Salvador Allende, a f uture president of Chile.' " The military coup d'etat that overthrew the first free- ly elected Marxist in the Western Hemisphere also ended the nearly life-long dream of a driven, complex man whose own biography encompassed many of the UPI Telephoto paradoxes of the revolution ALLENDE AND HIS WIFE IN 1970 he led. Fe had just been sworn in as president Even as a young medical student, preparing for the most middle class of profes- sions, Allende h a d been PARTY jailed for radical political The next year, Allende activities; as a Marxist and a group of former stu- chief of state, pledged to dent leaders and Marxists rescue the millions of Chi- founded the Chilean Socialist ate in 1945 and. soon began invoked after an attack on lean peasants from exploita- Party. His political activi- planning for the day he the life of the commander in tion by the ruling wealthy ties made difficult for him knew he would run for the chief of the army, prevented families, he never lost his to find a job, and he prac- presidency. H e received any public celebrations to taste for $30 bottles o f ticed medicine in provincial only 6 per cent of the vote in mark his election. scotch.. cities. his first try in 1952, a cam- The next three years saw LIFE In 1937, at the age of 29, he paign he ,later minimized by a steady erosion of support calling it "a mere salute to galvador Allende was bom was elected a deputy from for his government as Al- Valparaiso to the lower house the flag." But he increased lende was forced to turn July 26, 1908, in the port city his margins in 1958 and 1964. of Valapariso, the son of of Congress. Two years later from his goal of reforming Chile's privileged class. His h e became minister of Meanwhile, he enhanced Chilean society to an in- father, also named Salva- health in the popular front his national stature by suc- creasingly desperate at- dor, was a wealthy lawyer government o f President cessfully introducing more tempt to hold onto power. who died when Allende was Pedro Aguirre Cerda. than 100 bills in the Cham- Allende and his wife had 17. That year a major earth- o f Deputies, mainly three married daughters. The young Allende first quake killed 20,000 Chileans, dealing with social security, They lived in Santiago in a became involved in politics and Allende was appointed health and women's rights, pink stucco house filled with as a medical student at the to head the relief efforts. He and his stature as a Socialist paintings, sculptures a n d won a national reputation University of Chile during leader by visits to the Soviet souvenirs of Allende's world the dictatorship of General during that disaster, and Union, China, North Korea travels. He was a connois- Carlos Ibanez, who ruled also met his future wife, and North Vietnam and seur of wine and in younger from 1927 to 1931. He was Hortensia Bussi, a student at friendship with Fidel Castro. days had earned the nick- jailed twice for his activi- the University of Chile. Soon after the earthquake, Allende won a plurality in name El Pije (The Dandy) ties, but was popular with• for his stylish dress. h i s fellow students, who Allende published a book, the national election on Sept. "Socio-Medical Problems .of 4, 1970, but tensions that less Even before the pressures elected him vice president of of the presidency became the Student Federation in Chile," in which he blamed than three years later would 1932, the year he received the country's capitalistic bring about his downfall acute, he rarely slept more than five hours a night. his medical degree. structure for many of the were evident even before he health problems of the poor. was officially elected presi- "I really don't work," he Politics rather than medi- dent by a joint session of said in -1970. "Working for dne had become the central Congress on October 24. A the people is a pleasure." focus of his life. national state of emergency, New York Times He was elected to the Sen- .

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