CASTRO REACTS TO EXTENSION OF ECONOMIC EMBARGO
The Prime Minister's remarks, which lasted for two hours, were delivered to a "capacity crowd" here in the Cuban capital. Castro cited the negative impact the embargo would have on the Cuban people themselves such as in their access to medicines.
When Fidel came to power in Cuba in 1959, the U.S. officially recognized his government but when he established a relationship with the U.S.S.R and expropriated American oil refineries on the island in 1961, diplomatic relations ended.
"Castro Denounces U.S. Before Enormous Crowd," JFK Day By Day: A Chronicle of the 1,036 Days of John F. Kennedy's Presidency, by Terry Golway and Les Krantz, Running Press Book Publishers, 2010.
"Cuban Sanctions," U.S. Department of State, www.state.gov/
"Fidel Castro," www.biography.com/
Havana (JFK+50) On February 5, 1962, it was reported that Cuban Premier Fidel Castro* reacted to the economic embargo** imposed on his island nation by calling President John F. Kennedy a "shameless person." Castro considered the embargo to be a criminal felony and pledged that his nation would not be intimidated by its neighbor to the north.
The Prime Minister's remarks, which lasted for two hours, were delivered to a "capacity crowd" here in the Cuban capital. Castro cited the negative impact the embargo would have on the Cuban people themselves such as in their access to medicines.
When Fidel came to power in Cuba in 1959, the U.S. officially recognized his government but when he established a relationship with the U.S.S.R and expropriated American oil refineries on the island in 1961, diplomatic relations ended.
*Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz was born in Biran, Cuba. His father had fought in the Cuban War for Independence on the side of Spain and in the Spanish-American War. Castro, who was raised in wealth, studied law at the University of Havana. FC, who led in the overthrow of Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista, served as prime minister (1959-1976), president (1976-2008), and 1st secretary of the Communist Party (1961-2011).
**An embargo on the sale of arms to Cuba was put in place by the Eisenhower administration in 1958 followed by an embargo on all exports except food & medicine in Oct. 1960. JFK extended the embargo to include almost all U.S. exports to Cuba in Feb. 1962.
**An embargo on the sale of arms to Cuba was put in place by the Eisenhower administration in 1958 followed by an embargo on all exports except food & medicine in Oct. 1960. JFK extended the embargo to include almost all U.S. exports to Cuba in Feb. 1962.
SOURCES
"Castro Denounces U.S. Before Enormous Crowd," JFK Day By Day: A Chronicle of the 1,036 Days of John F. Kennedy's Presidency, by Terry Golway and Les Krantz, Running Press Book Publishers, 2010.
"Cuban Sanctions," U.S. Department of State, www.state.gov/
"Fidel Castro," www.biography.com/
Fidel Castro
Photo by Ricardo Stuckert (2003)
Agencia Brasil Image
