CIA Midterm

Pinochet

a right-wing general who overthrew Chile’s left-wing president Salvador Allende in a military coup supported by the CIA.

Contras

a terrorist army created by the CIA to overthrow the left-wing Sandinista government in Nicaragua.

Sandinistas

a left-wing political party that ruled Nicaragua from 1979-1990. overthrown by Contras

CCF

a CIA-run organization that funded writers and publishing houses from 1950 to 1979.

Ramparts magazine

a left-wing magazine that published an exposé on CIA funding of anti-communist education groups in 1967.

CUT

Chile's largest labor federation, led by a communist, which strongly supported President Allende.

George Kennan

a US government official whose ideas formed the basis for the ‘Containment’ policy against communism.

What is NSC-68?

a key U.S. policy document issued in 1950 that outlined a strategy for combating the Soviet Union and expanding U.S. military capabilities during the Cold War. Developed by George Kennen, it called for a significant increase in military spending and a more aggressive stance in foreign policy.

Gremio

Gremios were conservative professional organizations in Chile that the CIA worked with to oppose President Allende.

Jay Lovestone

a former communist who led the AIFLD (American Institute for Free Labor Development) and collaborated with the CIA against left-wing labor unions.

Who were the leftist leaders linked to CIA plane crash assassinations?

Roldos Aguilera of Ecuador and Omar Torrijos of Panama

George Meany

the first president of the AFL-CIO (American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations) who cooperated closely with the CIA during his leadership.

Mossadegh

Iran's Prime Minister from 1951-1953; his government was overthrown by CIA's Operation Ajax.

What was the National Front under Mossadegh?

a political coalition in Iran formed in the early 1940s that sought to reduce foreign influence in Iran, particularly British control over the oil industry. Under Mohammad Mossadegh, the coalition achieved significant power and nationalized the Iranian oil industry in 1951.

Who was Reza Shah Pahlavi?

the ruler of Iran who took the throne after his father, Reza Shah, was removed by the British in 1941. He collaborated with the CIA to oust Prime Minister Mossadegh in 1953 and reigned until he was overthrown during the Islamic Revolution of 1979.

Kermit Roosevelt

a CIA operative who helped orchestrate the coup in Iran known as Operation Ajax.

Allen Dulles

served as CIA Director and oversaw several anti-democratic operations during his tenure.

John Foster Dulles

the Secretary of State who pushed anti-communist policies during the Eisenhower administration.

Rashidian Brothers

3 wealthy Iranians who aided the CIA in the success of Operation Ajax.

Gen. Zahedi

appointed Prime Minister of Iran by the CIA after Mossadegh's overthrow.

Qavam

an Iranian politician who attempted to reverse the nationalization of the AIOC and was ousted by protests.

Savak

the brutal secret police of the Shah, responsible for widespread human rights abuses.

Supplemental Agreement

a rejected oil deal proposed to Iran that would have maintained British control over its oil.

Baqai and Makki

former supporters of Mossadegh who turned against him during his rule. (turncoats)

Donald Wilber

a professor who helped create the plan for Operation Ajax.

50-50 Agreement

a deal splitting oil profits between the US and Saudi Arabia, suggested but rejected by AIOC.

AIOC

nationalized in 1951, leading to a key conflict with the US and Britain.

Rios Montt

a military ruler of Guatemala who was convicted of genocide against the Mayan people by the UN.

Historical Clarification Commission

a UN commission that found the US complicit in genocide against Mayans.

Army of Liberation

a mercenary force created to help overthrow the Guatemalan government in the early 1950s. Organized by the CIA, failed first stage of PBSUCCESS

Decree 900

a land reform program in Guatemala aimed at redistributing land to the poor. Headed by Arbenz, first time poor Gautemalans could afford their basic needs

Kekchi Indian Massacre

a massacre of 140 Kekchi Indians occurred as they petitioned for land protection from cattle ranchers. Massacred by government forces.

McCarthyism

the campaign led by Senator McCarthy (Wisconsin) against alleged communists in the US during the 1950s. Fear based campaign

Castillo Armas

led a coup against the left-wing Arevalo government in 1949, fled to Honduras, was a CIA contact, and led the successful coup against Arbenz in 1954, becoming Guatemala's president until his assassination in 1957.

United Fruit Company

a US-based company dominating Guatemala's economy since the early 1900s, primarily focused on banana production. It controlled local politics, influenced US policies against President Arbenz, and opposed his agrarian reforms.

Jacobo Arbenz

the left-wing president of Guatemala whose reform policies led to his overthrow by the US. Overthrown in operation PBSUCCESS.

Bishop Gerardi

a Guatemalan bishop whose report on military atrocities against the Mayans led to his assassination.

Operation PBSUCCESS

the CIA operation that ultimately ousted Jacobo Arbenz in Guatemala.

Gremios and the CIA

conservative organizations in Chile that the CIA sought out to support the coup against Allende.

National Front

a leftist political group in Iran led by Mossadegh, aimed at nationalizing oil.

CIA and Modern Art

The CIA funded modern art initiatives to showcase American culture as superior to Soviet artistic repression.

Tudeh Party

the Iranian Communist Party that supported Mossadegh and faced repression after WWII.

AFL-CIO's role

played a significant role in organizing labor movements while cooperating with the CIA against communism.

Operation Ajax details

involved the CIA and British intelligence in overthrowing Iran's Prime Minister Mossadegh.

What actions did the CIA take regarding the National Student Association (NSA) in 1947?

provided secret subsidies to the NSA through fake charitable foundations, trained officials in secrecy, and facilitated funding to organizations globally that opposed communist fronts.

What was the Congress for Cultural Freedom (CCF) and its purpose?

created by the CIA to showcase US art and literature, providing funding to various literary magazines, art exhibits, and cultural initiatives to promote American values over those of the USSR.

How did the CIA influence the art world?

a means of cultural diplomacy during the Cold War, funding artists and controlling institutions like the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) to reinforce a narrative of artistic freedom in the US.

What role did Iran play during WWII?

occupied by Soviet forces in the north and British forces in the center and south, serving as a crucial transportation route for supplies to aid the Soviet Union against Germany.

What happened in Iran after WWII regarding the Tudeh Party?

In 1946, following WWII, the Tudeh Party proclaimed the People’s Republic of Azerbaijan in northern Iran. Despite Soviet troops preventing Iranian soldiers from intervening, Iran’s Prime Minister Qavam convinced Stalin to withdraw, leading to the Republic's end by US General Norman Schwarzkopf, who brutally executed Tudeh leaders.