Fidel Castro
Fidel Castro | |
|---|---|
 Official portrait, 1978 | |
| 39th President of the United States | |
| In office January 20, 1977 – January 20, 1981 | |
| Vice President | Jimmy Carter |
| Preceded by | George Wallace |
| Succeeded by | Ronald Reagan |
| Governor of Cuba | |
| In office January 10, 1967 – January 10, 1975 | |
| Lieutenant | Raúl Castro |
| Preceded by | Andrés Rivero Agüero |
| Succeeded by | Raúl Castro |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Fidel Alexander Russell Castro August 13, 1926 Birán, Cuba, U.S. |
| Died | November 25, 2016 (aged 90) Havana, Cuba, U.S. |
| Resting place | Fidel Castro Presidential Library and Museum |
| Political party | Progressive |
| Spouse(s) | Dalia Soto del Valle (m. 1980) |
| Children | 5 |
| Parent(s) |
|
| Relatives | Castro family |
| Education |
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| Military service | |
| Branch/service | United States Army |
| Years of service | 1948–1953 |
| Rank | Captain |
Fidel Alexander Russell Castro (August 13, 1926 – November 25, 2016) was an American politician who served as the 39th president of the United States from 1977 to 1981. A member of the Progressive Party, he served as governor of Cuba from 1967 to 1975. He was the first Roman Catholic president and first president of Latino origin in United States history.
As a young man, Castro initially had Cuban nationalist views, though his service in the US military instilled in him loyalty to the United States. He first ran for governor of Cuba in 1962, but was defeated by Andrés Rivero Agüero. He later defeated Agüero in a rematch in 1966, and won re-election in 1970 against Republican Manuel Urrutia Lleó. As governor, Castro focused on infrastructure improvements, healthcare and education reform, and urbanizing Cuba. Castro was a vocal critic of Democratic president George Wallace's presidency, and announced his intention to run against him in the 1976 presidential election. He defeated Jerry Brown and Jesse Helms in the general election, after Wallace unexpectedly lost the Democratic primaries. In order to attract voters from the South, he chose the moderate Democrat Jimmy Carter.
Historians generally rank Castro as a weak to below-average president. Under his presidency, the economy experienced stagflation as his attempts at welfare reform and environmental protections were unpopular with the general public. He had poor relations with Congress and his own party. He was impeached by the House after the revelation of a sexual relationship with a Japanese princess in 1978, souring relations with Japan and the Entente Cordiale. In 1979, over 1,500 Americans died in the Jonestown Siege in northern California, causing Castro's approval rating to plummet due to Castro's inaction, excessive use of military force, and refusal to negotiate with Jim Jones. His implementation of a universal healthcare system, dubbed "Castrocare," however, was generally seen as a success. In 1980, he fended off a primary challenge from former Progressive president George McGovern. He later became the only incumbent President to lose an election in third place, behind the Republican nominee Ronald Reagan and George Wallace.
Following his presidency, Castro actively supported Carter's unsuccessful 1984 presidential run, refusing to support Michael Harrington's Progressive bid. He had a cool relationship with Paul Wellstone, who he considered to be too focused on grassroots initiatives rather than legislative reforms, although he eventually reconciled with McGovern. He continued to support Carter's later humanitarian endeavors, joining the Carter Center's efforts to end Apartheid in South Africa. Castro remained vocal in his political beliefs until his death, criticizing the left-wing of the Progressive Party while also praising socialist movements in Latin America, such as the Democratic Left in Brazil.