Richard M. Helms Dies at 89; Dashing Ex-Chief of the C.I.A.
By Christopher Marquis
WASHINGTON, Oct. 23 — Richard M. Helms, a former director of central intelligence who defiantly guarded some of the darkest secrets of the cold war, died today. He was 89.
... the most contentious criticism of Mr. Helms centered on Chile. In testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Mr. Helms insisted that the C.I.A. had never tried to overthrow the government of President Salvador Allende Gossens or funneled money to political enemies of the Marxist leader.
Senate investigators later discovered that the C.I.A. had run a major secret operation in Chile that gave more than $8 million to the opponents of Mr. Allende, using the International Telephone and Telegraph Corporation as a conduit. Mr. Allende died in a 1973 military coup, which was followed by more than 16 years of military dictatorship.
... Mr. Helms believed he had performed well in a job that, although many Americans considered it sinister and undemocratic, was nevertheless a cold-blooded necessity in an era of cold war.
... He was known as a charming conversationalist, a gregarious partygoer and an accomplished dancer, and he and his wife continued to be familiar figures on the capital party scene.
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Carl
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