CH–8. Editorial Note
On September 4, 1958, presidential elections were held in Chile. No candidate received a majority of the popular vote. Jorge Alessandri, representing the Conservative and Liberal Parties received 31 percent, and Salvador Allende, candidate of the Popular Action Front, received 29 percent. According to provisions of the Chilean Constitution, the Chilean Congress met in joint session on October 24 to elect a president from among the two leading candidates. The official count gave Allesandri 147 and Allende 26, with 14 votes cast as blanks. Allesandri took the oath of office on November 3, 1958. Documentation on the election is located in decimal files 725.00(W)/9–1258 and 725.00(W)/10–3158.