Jorge Antonio Rodríguez (Carora, February 16, 1942 – Caracas, July 25, 1976) was a student leader, terrorist[1] and Venezuelan politician.

On February 27, 1976, a guerrilla commando kidnapped William Niehous, the local president of Owens-Illinois, from his residence in Caracas.

The kidnappers, members of the Revolutionary Organization (OR), a faction derived from the MIR and linked to the Socialist League, justified their act by arguing that Niehous was an enemy of Venezuela.

[2] Jorge Rodríguez called for the creation of the Socialist League as a revolutionary left-wing party in November 1973, in which he served as general secretary.

[5] In the search and rescue of the kidnapped American, Jorge Rodriguez was arrested on Sucre Avenue, in front of the Miguel Antonio Caro high school.

During his captivity,[5] Niehous survived by setting weekly goals, teaching his captors how to play poker, and debating with them about capitalism and Marxism.

The Marxist group Comando Revolucionario Argimiro Gabaldón, of which Jorge Rodríguez was leader, claimed responsibility for the kidnapping, demanding a $3.5 million ransom, the distribution of food to the poor, and the publication of a statement against Owens-Illinois in foreign newspapers.

Two of his kidnappers, Gabriel Puerta Aponte and Carlos Lanz Rodríguez, became close advisers to Hugo Chávez.