Daniel Leyva Fidel Castro's and the US Press: 1956-1961 On January 1st, 1959 Fidel Castro took control of Cuba, establishing a Marxist government right in America's backyard. How did he pull it off right under America's nose? Didn't anyone realize exactly how revolutionary this revolution would actually be? The answer is no, not really. Through propaganda and manipulation of the US press, Fidel Castro was able to downplay and avert the attention of the Press from role of communist influence and the anti-Americanism that was rampant throughout his 26th of July Movement. This is not to say that he never showed his true colors. If one examines the press coverage of the revolution prior to 1959 you will find many examples of anti-American sentiment in both deed and word. You can also see how Castro was able to maintain the perception that he was going to restore democracy on the island and make Cuba safe for Americans and their money. Within a few years, however, Fidel Castro would change Cuban society in such a drastic and revolutionary way that the United States wouldn't even recognized the country they once considered an informal 49th state (at the time of the revolution there were only 48). In examining the sympathy many felt for the revolutionaries in Cuba you must first take a look at the roots of the revolution. Just what were the Cubans revolting against? Cuba had been ruled by Fulgencio Batista y Zaldivar for twenty-five years (through puppets 1934-39 and himself 1940-44 and 1952-59), with U.S. support, and was notorious for holding power through manipulation, troops, and assassins. Cuba's primary source of income came from sugar, but was augmented by vigorous tourism based on hotels, casinos, and brothels. Yet this prosperity enriched only a few Cubans. For the majority, poverty (especially in the countryside) and lack of public services were appalling: with a national per capita income of $353 in 1958-among the highest in Latin America-unemployment and underemployment were rife, and the average rural worker earned $91 per year. Foreign interests controlled the economy, owning about 75 percent of the arable land, 90 percent of the essential services, and 40 percent of the sugar production. The first we hear of Fidel and the revolution is on July 26, 1953, It was on this day Fidel Castro led his followers on an abortive attack on the Cuban army barracks at Moncada in an effort to spark some sort of popular uprising. What appeared to be simple bad luck doomed the attack to failure and resulted in nearly one hundred deaths. The members of the movemiento were either killed or captured and sent to prison. At this point the press considered Fidel Castro hardly worth more than a paragraph or so of mention in the middle of the newspaper. In the New York Times there was a small paragraph simply stating the fact that some students attempted an abortive attack. Eventually we find out he is sent to prison and eventually released in equally unimpressive reports about the political goings-on in Cuba rather than any specific movement. In early December of 1956 Fidel begins to attract the media attention once again. On December 1st, 1956 we find a photo of a young Fidel with a thin moustache gracing the Front Page of the New York Times beneath the headline, "Cuba Quells Revolt: Hundreds Arrested." It reads :"Small groups of insurgents made lightning fast attacks on police stations and rural guard posts in the eastern province of Oriente today." (NY Times 12/1/56 1:5) In the report it is speculated that Fidel Castro, along with Dominican strong man Rafael Trujillo, and ousted Cuban President Prio Sacarres were behind the unrest that was breaking out in Oriente Province, Cuba's easternmost province. We learn that the insurgents wore armbands marked with the date 26th of July, commemorating the failed attack on the Moncada Barracks in 1953. Further in the article it reads "Castro Issues Manifesto," and explaines that Castro released ma statement from Mexico City calloing on "all democratic peoples of the continent" to back the "Cuban People in their heroic struggle." He called General Batista a traitor and stated that he sought liberty or death. (NY Times 12/1/56 12:4) Castro had yet to invade Cuba himself, but had left a man named ???? behind to pave the way for the invasion.