Orlando Letelier

Chile state institutions Social democracy 1932.4.13.–1976.9.21. ✕ Killed by a car bomb in Washington

Allende's ambassador to Washington and Defence Minister, killed by a DINA car bomb in the US capital

On the morning of 11 September 1973 Defence Minister Letelier, unable to reach the military commanders, went to the Defence Ministry himself and was arrested as soon as he got there.

Born in Temuco, Letelier worked at the Copper Office until he was fired in 1959 for backing Allende's campaign, and joined the Socialist Party of Chile that year. As ambassador to the United States from 1971 he defended the nationalisation of copper; recalled in 1973, he served in turn as Foreign, Interior and Defence Minister. On the day of the coup he was the first senior official arrested, as soon as he reached the Defence Ministry; he was tortured for a year in camps including Dawson Island and released in September 1974 on condition that he leave Chile. Criticising the junta's repression and economics from the Institute for Policy Studies in Washington, he was killed by a car bomb at Sheridan Circle on 21 September 1976 together with his American colleague Ronni Moffitt. DINA agent Michael Townley and DINA chief Manuel Contreras were among those convicted.

Also known as: Marcos Orlando Letelier del Solar