| Alejandro Castro Ruz was born on August 31, 1926 | | | | discovered the Soviet Union’s missile |
| on the Caribbean island of Cuba, a Spanish speaking | | | | preparations in Cuba, Cuba’s economy |
| country with an estimated population of 11.3 million | | | | suffered a decline because of a naval blockade |
| citizens. He eventually became the greatest Marxist | | | | ordered by U.S. President Kennedy. As a result of the |
| revolutionary leader of Cuba as he led the small island | | | | blockade, Cuba became increasingly dependent on |
| into the global community where it has affected | | | | the U.S.S.R. Castro also implemented reforms such as |
| international decisions and played a significant role in | | | | the nationalization of industry and property. An |
| the world’s history over the past four | | | | anti-Castro community created in the U.S. by Cuban |
| decades. | | | | middle-class members and the fall of the Soviet Union |
| As a young boy Fidel worked in his family's sugar | | | | in 1990 brought much hardship to Cuba. Another |
| cane fields and, at the age of 6, convinced his | | | | disappointment before that time was the capture of |
| parents to let him go to school. He was intelligent and | | | | “Che” Guevara in Bolivia in 1967, for it |
| willing to learn, but he had inherited his | | | | extinguished Castro’s dream of extending the |
| father’s temperament which consisted of | | | | revolution throughout Latin American. |
| extreme violence and unpredictable tantrums. After | | | | Many more amazing and interesting facts about Fidel |
| attending two Jesuit institutions and a preparatory | | | | Castro could be found in our recent release of The |
| school in Havana where he was declared the | | | | World's Biggest Fidel Castro FACTS Collection at |
| school’s best athlete, he attended the | | | | Castro was listed at the top in the "Alleged |
| University of Havana's Faculty of Law in 1945. There | | | | Assassination Plots Involving Foreign Leaders,” |
| he earned a law degree, which was soon put to use | | | | an act that represented new U.S rules for |
| when he went into practice in Havana in 1950. As a | | | | assassination as an instrument of foreign policy. |
| lawyer Fidel devoted himself to helping the poor. | | | | Johnny Roselli was contacted by the C.I.A in 1960 to |
| During this period Fidel also married Mirtha | | | | help “return the good old days to |
| Díaz Balart on October 12, 1948 in a Roman | | | | Cuba.” Rumors declare that the C.I.A used |
| Catholic ceremony, but their marriage did not last, | | | | cigars contaminated with heavy toxins such as |
| most likely because she was inadvertently involved | | | | botulinum, along with explosive sea shells, a poisoned |
| with the Batista regime. | | | | scuba diving suit, and a gang style drive-by shooting |
| The political career of Fidel Castro began when he | | | | in their attempts to assassinate the Cuban leader. A |
| initiated a revolution against President Fulgencio | | | | few historians claim Kennedy created an obsession |
| Batista on July 26, 1953 after being rejected the | | | | with the assassination of Castro, and that with the |
| opportunity to campaign for a parliamentary seat in | | | | help of the C.I.A, he managed to recruit a man close |
| the election of 1952. After the uprising, Fidel was | | | | to Castro named Rolando Cubela, known as Amlash, |
| sentenced to thirty years in jail for his violent actions | | | | to do the job. After this attempt was abandoned, |
| against the President, and this day is commemorated | | | | Kennedy seems to have arranged secret negotiations |
| today as a national holiday in Cuba. On the 15th of | | | | for peace with Fidel Castro. |
| May 1955 he was released due to a general amnesty. | | | | Fidel Castro has recently started to have health |
| He attempted to fight the political and military regime | | | | problems as a result of his old age and several past |
| using fair, peaceful means at first, but then later he | | | | operations. Doctors have worked especially diligently |
| organized a resistance fighting force in Mexico which | | | | to diminish problems with his digestive system. |
| he named the 26th of July Revolutionary Movement. | | | | According to Dr. Jose Luis Garcia Sabrido, a Spanish |
| From the 2nd of December, when his first attack | | | | doctor, Castro can return to normal activities if he |
| took place, to New Year’s Day of 1959, his | | | | makes a full recovery. There are rumors that Castro |
| movement grew to a force of 800 men as it scored | | | | is dead, but Cuban officials strictly deny this. In fact, |
| victory after victory. A defeated Batista was forced | | | | according to doctors who have been treating Castro, |
| to flee the country, and a victorious Castro entered | | | | his health is improving. |
| Havana, laying the foundation for a new government | | | | Castro is now in his 80’s, and many Cuba |
| which was recognized by the United States on | | | | people fear the changes that will come after his |
| January 7, 1959. | | | | death. Cuba does not hold open elections, and Castro |
| Popular support from the people was Fidel | | | | has appointed his brother to be his successor. Of all |
| Castro’s greatest advantage against the | | | | the things Castro has given Cuba over these years, |
| attempt by the United States on the 17th of April | | | | he will be most remembered for giving it hope, |
| 1961 to destabilize Castro’s government. The | | | | freedom, and dignity. Regardless of the world view |
| C.I.A. and the 1300 men it had prepared invaded Cuba | | | | on Castro, he will go down in the history books as |
| through the Bay of Pigs, but the invasion failed when | | | | the first leader of a Communist State in the Western |
| the general population did not rise against Fidel Castro | | | | Hemisphere as well the the leader who held the |
| as hoped. After the Cuban Missile Crisis of October | | | | power longer than anyone else. |
| 1962, in which the United States government | | | | |