General René Schneider Assassinated by CIA-Backed Conspirators

Chilean Army Commander-in-Chief General René Schneider is shot by right-wing extremists backed by the CIA in a botched kidnapping attempt. Schneider, a staunch constitutionalist who opposed military intervention against Allende, dies three days later. The attack backfires: it galvanizes congressional support for Allende's confirmation and eliminates the key obstacle to his presidency.