Fidel Castro
1926–2016 · Cuban (Birán / Havana) · Cold War, Cuban Revolution
Known for: Led the Cuban Revolution and ruled Cuba for 49 years—survived 638 assassination attempts by the CIA
Castro overthrew the Batista dictatorship in 1959 with a guerrilla army and ruled Cuba for 49 years—the longest-serving non-royal head of state in modern history. He survived an estimated 638 CIA assassination attempts (including an exploding cigar), the Bay of Pigs invasion, and the Cuban Missile Crisis.
He built a healthcare and education system that outperformed many wealthier nations while also imprisoning dissidents, suppressing free speech, and presiding over economic stagnation. He was a towering figure of the Cold War.
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