Salvador Allende: “I Am Essentially a Man of Action”
After becoming Chile’s president, Salvador Allende discussed his background and political outlook with the French writer Régis Debray. In this excerpt from their conversations, he also spoke about the danger of a violent right-wing counterrevolution in Chile.
Chilean president Salvador Allende attends a press conference in Santiago prior to the 1973 congressional elections. (Bettmann / Getty Images)
After his victory in the 1970 presidential election and inauguration as Chile’s president, Salvador Allende sat down with the French left-wing writer Régis Debray for a wide-ranging discussion of his political vision. The record of their discussion was published in English translation by New Left Books in 1971 under the title Conversations With Allende. Verso has now republished the book with a new introduction by the Chilean scholar Camila Vergara. In the following extracts from Conversations With Allende, the socialist leader discusses his background and political formation as well as the danger of a violent right-wing backlash against his Popular Unity government.
Régis Debray
Comrade President, does a man change when he is in power?
Salvador Allende
Well, Régis, people always used to call me “comrade Allende” and now they say “comrade President.” Obviously, I’m aware of the responsibility that this implies.
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