February 16, 1959 - Fidel Castro - a podcast by Stephen Hammond

Fidel Castro sworn in as Cuba’s prime minister, becomes country's youngest leader. In 1951, Cubans were denied democratic elections when right-wing dictator General Fulgencio Batista seized power. Three years later, on July 26, 1953, Fidel Castro – who had sought office in the 1951 election – led an attack on the Cuban government. Unfortunately for Castro, more than half his men were either captured or killed, and he was sentenced to 15 years in prison for conspiring to overthrow the government. When General Batista granted a general amnesty two years later, Castro and his brother Raúl went to Mexico to organize the revolutionary 26th of July movement. They were joined by Argentina’s Ernesto “Che” Guevara, Latin America’s most famous Marxist. Despite setbacks over the years, Castro and his group won the support of many impoverished Cubans. On January 1, 1959, General Batista fled Cuba for the Dominican Republic. Castro became the military’s commander-in-chief then due to other political changes, was sworn in as Cuba's prime minister on February 16, 1959, at the age of 32. American opposition to Castro grew as the Cuban government nationalized U.S. assets and began long-awaited agrarian reform. When the United States made several attempts to overthrow the Cuban government, the Soviet Union stepped in to support the country with supplies and trade. Castro went on to become president of Cuba, and his dictatorship lasted decades.

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