Editing Orlando Letelier (section)

==Allende Government and Diplomatic Roles==
(1970–1973)
When Allende won the presidency in 1970, Letelier became a key figure in his administration. Appointed Ambassador to the United States in 1971, he played a critical role in negotiating the nationalization of Chile’s copper mines, owned by U.S. companies like Anaconda and Kennecott. Letelier’s diplomatic skills secured international support for Allende’s policies, despite U.S. opposition led by President Richard Nixon and National Security Advisor Henry Kissinger, who sought to “make the Chilean economy scream,” per declassified Nixon tapes. As ambassador, Letelier also defended Chile’s nationalist experiment against U.S. media criticism, building ties with U.S. figures like Senator Edward Kennedy.

In 1973, Letelier returned to Santiago, serving as Minister of Foreign Affairs (May–June 1973), Minister of the Interior (June–August 1973), and Minister of Defense (August–September 1973). His rapid ascension reflected Allende’s trust in his ability to navigate Chile’s escalating political crisis, fueled by U.S.-backed destabilization efforts, including CIA funding of opposition groups and media, as detailed in The Pinochet File by Peter Kornbluh. On September 11, 1973, General Augusto Pinochet’s military coup overthrew Allende, who was killed in La Moneda Palace. Letelier, as Defense Minister, was arrested during the coup and detained at the Military Academy before being sent to Dawson Island, a remote prison camp in the Strait of Magellan.