1973年9月11日清晨，智利首都圣地亚哥的宁静被爆炸声打破。陆军司令皮诺切特发动军事行动，坦克驶向总统府拉莫内达宫。时任总统萨尔瓦多·阿连德在得知消息后，拒绝离开。他身穿防弹衣，手持卡宾枪，对警卫说：​​总统不会离开，除非踩着他的尸体。

Far from being a new debate brought on by current events, the discussion over extending home rule to Washingtonians has been ...