BIO: AUGUSTO PINOCHET UGARTE

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 00201548
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: March 16, 2022
• Document Release Date: October 12, 2016
• Case Number: F-2016-02447
• Publication Date: May 17, 1976

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Au gusto PINOCHET Ugarte CHILE
(Phonetic: peenohSHAY)
President; Commander
in Chief of the Army
Addressed as:
Mr. President
Army Commander since
August 1973, Maj. Gen.
Augusto Pinochet became
President after he led
the September 1973 coup
against President (1970-
13) Salvador Allende.
Pinochet is totally
dedicated to the estab-
lishment in Chile of a
new political and economic order free of all
vestiges of Marxism. A man known for his tough-
ness, he will not tolerate any opposition to the
government. He is an inflexible anti-Communist
and dislikes politicians of all persuasions,
blaming them for the chaos that necessitated the
Allende overthrow.
To international ciltics, Pinochet is the
personification of all the evils they see in
Chile, and he is the butt of continual, abusive
personal criticism from abroad. Defensive in
the face of criticism of his regime, he readily
blames such excoriation on an international cam-
paign orchestrated by the Soviet Union euld Cuba
to bring about the demise of the government, and
he is quick to brand almost any form of opposi-
tion to the junta as a spinoff of that campaign.
The President views the international system in
cold war terms, and he points to Communist
sictories in Southeast Asia and the Cuban inter-
Nwition in Angola to prove the fallacy of the US
policy of detente. Pinochet admires the United
States but is perplexed by the US posture toward
Chile. He has been disappointed and frustrated
with the level of US assistance and the lack of
moral backing, claiming "we have been better
allies to you than you heve to us." Pinochet is
unsophisticated in international relations and
believes that Chile does not deserve the pariah
status that its human rights practices have
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produced. He nevertheless .ecognizes that there
have been human rights abuses and has shown a
desire to remedy the situation, but he has been
unwilling or unable to effect the significant
improvements demanded by critics. He has visited
the United States at least three times, most
recently in 1968.
Domestically, Pinochet's predominance and
influence within the government have grown at
the expense of his fellow junta members since
the coup--not without some strains. He is widely
accepted as President, and there is no effective
opposition to his rule. Not a charismatic man,
he is nevertheless genuinely popular in Chile.
He frequently travels within the country making
public appearances, exhorting people to work
together for the national reconstruction and
condemning Chile's critics. Pinochet's forays
at times give him the semblance of a grassroots
politician, and he is always well received. He
fancies himself as a father figure to the country
and has expressed a desire to be an elected Presi-
dent one day. He has had several run-ins with
the Catholic Church and the Christian Democratic
Party over human rights matters and violations
of the political recess, but, recognizing the
influence and importance of both institutions,
he has avoided a showdown that could irretriev-
ably break relations. Pinochet lacks economic
expertise and has entrusted economic policy
making to qualified technicians. He has thus
far fully supported the tough austerity measures
that have been implemented, despite criticism
about the adverse impact on tho lower classes.
Outwardly tough, rigid and disciplined,
Pinochet, 60, can be warm and friendly. Quiet,
mild-mannered and businesslike, he is dedicated
and hard working; he nevertheless enjoys parties.
He likes Scotch and pisco sours. He is inter-
ested in sports and likes to discuss world mili-
tary problems. Pinochet avidly practices
gymnastic exercises every morning. He has
written at least three books on seography, one
of which has been used as a high school text.
Married to the former Lucia Hiriart, the Presi-
dent has five children and seven grandchildren.
He speaks some French and only a little English.
17 May 1976
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