Fidel Castro

About Fidel Castro

The Cuban revolutionary who established the first communist state in the Western Hemisphere. Castro overthrew the Batista dictatorship in 1959 and aligned Cuba with the Soviet Union. His regime survived the Bay of Pigs invasion, the Cuban Missile Crisis, and a US embargo lasting over 60 years. Castro implemented universal healthcare and education but suppressed political opposition. He was the longest serving non royal head of state in the 20th century, governing for 47 years. Castro died in 2016. His legacy divides Cubans between those who praise his social programs and those who condemn his authoritarianism.