state visit, his government was overthrown in a military coup led by Emmanuel Kwasi Kotoka . Several commentators, including former CIA officer John Stockwell , have confirmed the CIA's extensive involvement in the coup. [59] [60] [61] Chile 1970-73 Main articles: 1973 Chilean coup d'tat and United States intervention in Chile The U.S. Government's hostility to the election of Socialist President Salvador Allende in Chile was substantiated [62] in documents declassified during the Clinton administration ; involving the CIA, which show that covert operatives were inserted in Chile, in order to prevent a Marxist government from arising and for the purpose of spreading anti-Allende propaganda. [63] [64] The CIA, as recounted in the Church Committee report, was involved in various plots designed to remove Allende and then let the Chileans vote in a new election where he would not be a candidate: It tried to buy off the Chilean Congress to prevent his appointment, worked to sway public opinion against him to prevent his election, and financed protests designed to bring the country to a stand-still and make him resign. The CIA, acting with the approval of the 40 Committee -- the body charged with overseeing covert actions abroad -- devised what in effect was a constitutional coup. The most expeditious way to prevent Allende from assuming office was somehow to convince the Chilean congress to confirm Jorge Alessandri as the winner of the election. Once elected by the congress, Alessandri -- a party to the plot through intermediaries --