By Jaime Suchlicki* United Nations during the Cuban missile crisis In 1962, the Soviet Union surreptitiously introduced nuclear missiles into Cuba. A surprised, embarrassed and angry President John F. Kennedy blockaded the island and after eleven tense days the Soviet Union withdrew its missiles. The crisis, which brought the world to the brink of a nuclear …
“LESSONS FROM THE CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS”- October, 1962 Read More »
Aircraft Hijacking. The first political hijack in Cuban history was on October 21, 1958, by members of Raúl Castro’s rebel army. Posing as passengers on a Cubana Airlines Viscount, they hijacked a flight from Miami to Varadero. The hijackers were among the 17, of the 20 on board, who were killed when the craft crashed while …
This Day In Cuban History – October 21, 1958. Aircraft Hijacking. Read More »
Grito de Yara. Carlos Manuel de Céspedes y del Castillo’s call to rebellion, which initiated the Ten Years’ War, was issued from this town near his plantation of La Demajagua, on October 10, 1868, against Spain, in the name of the newly organized Junta Revolucionaria de Cuba. The manifesto proclaimed Cuban independence from Spain, stating that this …
This Day In Cuban History – October 10, 1868. Grito de Yara. Read More »
“Che” Guevara (Ernesto Guevara de la Serna y Lynch, 1928-1967). Argentine revolutionary, Cuba’s former minister of industries, guerrilla theoretician, and Fidel Castro’s trusted adviser. Born on June 14 in Rosario, Argentina, of Spanish and Irish descent, he suffered from asthma, spending his childhood in a mountain town near Rosario. At an early age he read …
This Day In Cuban History – October 9 1967. “Che” Guevara is executed in Bolivia Read More »
Compañía Cubana de Aviación (CCA). Cuba’s most important civil aviation company was founded October 8, 1929 as the Compañía Nacional Cubana de Aviación Curtiss, S.A., a subsidiary of North American Aviation. After a year of preparation, including personnel training, it began operating Cuba’s first regularly scheduled air transport service, flying daily over the 925 km between Havana …
This Day In Cuban History – October 8, 1929. (Founded) Compañía Cubana de Aviación Read More »
Tomás Estrada Palma is remembered as the presidential paradigm of financial honesty. On his inauguration day, May 20, 1902, the treasury of the Republic had $539,994; two years later, it had more than seven million. Under Estrada Palma 25% of the budget went to education. The president’s motto was “more teachers than soldiers.” On …
Gerardo Machado y Morales (1871-1939). President of Cuba, 1925-1933. Bon in Santa Clara, September 28, he spent his childhood at the family cattle estate, attended private schools and in his early 20s engaged in growing and selling tobacco. His father fought for the rebels in the Ten Year’s War, becoming a major, and Gerardo joined …
This Day In Cuban History – Gerardo Machado y Morales, (Born) September 28, 1871 Read More »
On September 23, 1728, the humbled origins of the University of Havana, led and managed since January 5 of the same year by the Dominican fathers at the Convent of San Juan de Letrán, behind the Palace of the Captains Generals of Cuba, became the “Real y Pontificia Universidad de San Gerónimo de La Habana.” …
This Day In Cuban History – September 23, 1728. Origins of the University of Havana. Read More »
On September 18, 1896, General Antonio Maceo secured the military supplies that came from the U.S. shores and landed on María la Gorda inlet at Cabo Corrientes 10 days before. It was a dangerous clandestine military operation since it required a difficult march from the Cuban army bases in the Rubí Mountains to the westernmost …
This Day in Cuban History – September 18, 1896. The Ríus Rivera Supply Expedition Read More »
Ramon Grau San Martín (1887-1969), President of Cuba, 1933-1934, 1944-1948. Born in Pinar del Rio, September 13, he dreamed of becoming a physician, although his father, a prosperous tobacco grower, wanted him to continue his business. Despite family opposition he entered the University of Havana, graduating M.D. in 1908, and then traveled to France, Italy, …
This Day in Cuban History – September 13, 1887. Born Ramón Grau San Martín Read More »
