Jacobin Radio: The Americans Disappeared by Pinochet w/ John Dinges

Jacobin Radio

Jacobin

Socialism, History, News, Left, Jacobin, Alternative, Socialist, Politics

4.7 • 1.5K Ratings

🗓️ 24 May 2025

⏱️ 59 minutes

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Summary

Journalist and author John Dinges joins Suzi to discuss his new book, Chile in Their Hearts. The book reopens the case of Charles Horman and Frank Teruggi — two young Americans who went to Chile to experience the radical democratic socialist experiment of Salvador Allende’s Popular Unity government — and were detained and executed in the days following the brutal military takeover of September 11, 1973.

The story was immortalized in Costa-Gavras’ Oscar-winning film Missing, which depicted Horman as the man who knew too much about U.S. involvement in the coup. That became the widely accepted story of Horman’s death, as well as that of Frank Teruggi, who was arrested, tortured and killed during the coup’s brutal early days. But John Dinges, himself a young journalist who lived in Chile from 1972-1978, uncovered circumstances and facts of their cases that challenge this version as a myth. His meticulous examination of the evidence reveals the shoddy investigation of the facts and the coverup behind its false conclusions.

Jacobin Radio with Suzi Weissman features conversations with leading thinkers and activists, with a focus on labor, the economy, and protest movements.

Transcript

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0:00.0	This is Jacavan Radio. I'm Susie Wiseman. Today, journalist and author John Dingus
0:20.1	joins us to discuss his gripping new book, I have to say,
0:24.4	Chile in their hearts, the untold story of two Americans who went missing after the coup.
0:30.4	John Dingus lived in Chile during the popular unity government of Salvador Allende,
0:35.4	and also in the years following the terror and the coup of 1973.
0:40.6	The book reopens the haunting case of Charlie Horman or Charles Horman and Frank Tarugi,
0:47.0	two young Americans who came to experience and support Chile's experiment of a democratic
0:52.9	and peaceful transition to socialism under President
0:56.3	Salvador Allende. They were each separately detained, went missing, and executed in the days
1:03.1	following the military takeover. The story was immortalized in the Oscar-winning film Missing,
1:10.3	which depicted Horman as the man who knew too much about U.S.
1:14.5	involvement in the coup, but Chile in their hearts challenges that version and uncovers the sham investigation and cover-up behind its false conclusions.
1:24.4	We're going to speak with John Dingus about what really happened, what's newly
1:28.3	revealed through declassified documents, eyewitness testimony, and his meticulous
1:33.5	thorough investigation of the evidence, and we'll ask why this story still matters today.
1:38.7	That's when our program returns in just a moment.
1:57.7	Jackman Radio is supported by the Lech-Voenza Grand Lecture Tour.
2:02.8	Lech-Voenza led Poland's Solidarnash movement, helped topple Soviet rule,
2:08.4	and change the course of history. From shipyard worker to Nobel Peace Prize winner and president of Poland, Vowenza changed the course of history. Now Vowenza comes to North America for the
2:14.5	first ever speaking tour. Be part of this historic event. Meet the Winsa
2:19.8	live on stage as he takes you behind the scenes of history's greatest turning points and the
2:25.3	greatest challenge of our time. Join the conversation that could shape the future. Register now
	...

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