The President Who Trusted Democracy Too Much

Added: 2026-06-01

[00:00:00]The president who trusted democracy died defending it. It's 1970 Chile.

[00:00:05]>> [music] >> Salvador Allende wins the presidency in a fair election promising socialism [music] through legal means. He nationalizes copper mines and redistributes land to peasants. [music] Workers cheer in the streets as wages rise. American companies lose millions.

[00:00:21]The CIA funds [music] strikes and protests to destabilize his government.

[00:00:25]But when tanks roll toward the presidential palace, [music] his supporters beg him to arm the people and fight back. Allende refuses. [music] He believes the constitution will protect him, that democracy is sacred.

[00:00:39]September 11th, 1973, [music] General Pinochet's forces surround La Moneda Palace. Allende takes his rifle [music] and makes his final radio broadcast, then shoots himself rather than surrender. The man who died for democracy was Salvador Allende. Was he naive [music] or principled?