DICTATORS

Program 03-09-07-A

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To The Best of Our Knowledge
from Wisconsin Public Radio

There's another September 11th. On that day thirty years ago, a military coup overthrew Chile's elected president, Salvador Allende. Newly declassified documents show the C.I.A.'s extensive involvement in the coup. In this hour of To the Best of Our Knowledge, the Pinochet file. Also, stories of disgraced dictators in exile - from Idi Amin to "Baby Doc" Duvalier.

SEGMENT 1:

Isabel Allende tells Jim Fleming what happened on September 11, 1973, when a military coup in Chile overthrew her uncle, Salvador Allende. Allende's books include the novel "In the House of the Spirits" and her new memoir "My Invented Country: A Nostalgic Journey Through Chile." Also, Peter Kornbluh directs the National Security Archive's Chile Documentation Project. He's just published "The Pinochet File," which uses recently declassified documents to prove that there was American involvement at the highest levels of government in the efforts to foment chaos in Chile. Kornbluh tells Jim Fleming that Henry Kissinger went after Salvador Allende against the advice of his own advisors. Also, University of Wisconsin historian Florencia Mallon tells Steve Paulson about Chilean singer Victor Jara - one of the thousands of Chileans rounded up during the coup and executed. And we hear the voice of Victor Jara.

SEGMENT 2:

Italian journalist Riccardo Orizio tracked down seven former dictators living in exile around the world. He tells Anne Strainchamps what it was like to meet and talk with them. His book is "Talk of the Devil." Orizio says Idi Amin seemed nostalgic for his glory days, and probably mad, but felt no remorse.

SEGMENT 3:

Mario Vargas Llosa is one of the godfathers of Latin American writing. His novel "The Feast of the Goat" deals with the Dominican Republic under the dictatorship of Rafael Trujillo. Vargas Llosa tells Steve Paulson why he found the subject so compelling and what became of his own political ambitions. Vargas Llosa once ran for president in his native Peru.

Cassette copies are available at 1-800-747-7444. Ask for program number 03-09-07-A.

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Books:

• Isabel Allende, My Invented Country: A Nostalgic Journey Through Chile (Harper Collins)
• Peter Kornbluh, The Pinochet File: A Declassified Dossier on Atrocity and Accountability (The New Press)
• Riccardo Orizio, Talk of the Devil: encounters with seven dictators (Walker)
• Mario Vargas Llosa, The Feast of the Goat: a novel (FSG)

Music:

• After Return:
  Tokiko Kato w/ "Yaisa Maneena"
  on "Songs from the Cold Seas" CD
  Columbia

  After Isabel Allende:
  Sting w/ "They Dance Alone (Gueco Solo)"
  on "Fields of Gold" CD

  Victor Jara's songs:
  --"Camillo Torres" on "Te Recuerdo, Amanda" CD
  Disques Dom
  --"Te Recuerdo, Amanda" on same album
  --"El Arado" on "Canto a lo Humano" CD
  Alerce Producciones Fonograficas

  Music Option:
  Victor Jara w/ "Manifiesto"
  on "Canto a lo Humano" CD

  After Riccardo Orizio:
  Chuck E. Weiss w/ "Do You Know What I Idi Amin"
  on "Extremely Cool" CD
  Rykomusic

  After Mario Vargas Llosa:
  Ananda Shankar Experience w/ "Betelnutters"
  on "The World Presents Global Hits: Beats" CD
  Public Radio International

Distribution dates:

week of 09/07/2003 - hour 1

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Questions and comments can be addressed to: flemingj@wpr.org

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