SINTITUL-3 · Aptitudes of a Great Leader (Mario Vázquez Raña) / 171 Simply Stupendous (Mary...

Original title in Spanish: Absuelto por la historiaEditing: Lourdes Tagle Rodríguez, Diley Milián López

and Josefina Ezpeleta LaplaceDesign: Enrique Mayol Amador and Yodanis Mayol GonzálezPhotos: Liborio Noval and Estudios RevoluciónComposition: Liuba Paramónova

© 2003, Luis Báez© 2003, Angie Todd© 2003, Editorial JOSÉ MARTÍ

ISBN 959-09-0263-4

INSTITUTO CUBANO DEL LIBROEditorial JOSÉ MARTÍPublicaciones en Lenguas ExtranjerasCalzada No. 259, e/ J e I, VedadoCiudad de La Habana, CubaE-mail: [email protected]

To Jesús Montané Oropesa, who dedicatedhis life to Fidel and the Revolution

There are solar and telluric men; they look likethe eagle, they glitter like a star, they feel like thebowels of the Earth, the breast of the seas andthe continental immensity would feel.

JOSÉ MARTÍ

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The support and encouragement of Rosa MiriamElizalde has been invaluable in realizing thisbook. Likewise, my old comrade Mario Mainadéplayed an important role in seeking material. AnaMaría Radaelli, Alberto González Guethón,Estela Bravo, Félix Albisu, Julia Osendi, AlfredoSuárez, Marta Rojas, Manuel González Bello, Anto-nio Martínez, Rogelio Polanco, Pedro de la Hoz,Lázaro Barredo, Reynaldo Taladrid, AlejandroBáez Delgado, Susana Lee, Gabriel Molina, Gusta-vo Robreño, Liborio Noval, the Prensa LatinaDocumentation Center and Estudios Revoluciónall collaborated in different ways.

CONTENTSTestimony of Patience / 19Maestro of Generosity / 23He Travels into the Future (Abdelaziz Bouteflika) / 29To Live (Abel Santamaría) / 30Offering Their Heart (Adolfo Pérez Esquivel) / 30An Intelligent Adversary (Agostino Casaroli) / 31Relationship of Friends (Alejandro Alexiev) / 32A Concretization (Alejo Carpentier) / 33Impressive Moments (Alexei Dementiev) / 33Significant Successes (Alfonso López Michelsen) / 34All the People Support Him (Alfred Gruenther) / 35The Chosen One (Alfredo Guevara) / 36Things Are Different (Alfredo Sánchez Bella) / 37The Weight Would Kill Him (Alicia Alonso) / 38An Inspiration (Alice Walker) / 39I Feel Honoured (Amadou-Mahtar M’bow) / 39So That I Would Live (Ana Fidelia Quirot) /40The Man of that Situation (André Bretton) / 40Full of Surprises (André Voisin) / 41I Can’t Explain It (Antonio del Conde, “El Cuate”) / 41A Creator (Antonio Núñez Jiménez) / 42The Good Fortune (Antonio Puigret) / 42My Saints Are Protecting Him (Arcadio Calvo) / 43He Taught Us to Win (Armando Hart) / 43The Material of a Hero (Armando Llorente) / 47Absolute Dominion (Arthur Miller) / 48He Doesn’t Foster A Cult (Arthur Schlessinger Jr.) / 48History Makes Friends (Arturo Alape) / 50Constantly Constructing (Athos Fava) / 50All My Respect (Augusto Roa Bastos) / 51Difficult to Imagine (Beatriz Allende) / 52Ahead of History (Beatriz Pagés) / 53An Honor for Me (Belisario Betancurt) / 54

12 LUIS BÁEZ

Humane Spirit (Ben Bella) / 55Popular Essences (Benjamín Carrión) / 55Great Leaders (Berta Zapata) / 56Few Are Born (Blas Roca) / 56If You Knew Him (Bob Taber) / 58True to Your Trust (Camilo Cienfuegos) / 58Listening to Him without Blinking (Carlos Altamirano) / 59Power of Conviction (Carlos María Gutiérrez) / 61No Historical Accident (Carlos Rafael Rodríguez) / 62He Saw It All from so Close (Celia Sánchez) / 63Reaching the Sky (Celia Sandy) / 64Being Cuban (Celso Delgado) / 64We Refused (Charles De Gaulle) / 65He Moved History (Christian Poncelet) / 66Ecumenical Amplitude (Cintio Vitier) / 66Revived in Cuba (Claude Roy) / 68Full of Tenderness (Conchita Fernández) / 69Hard to Kill (Danny Glover) / 69Much Delicacy (Darío Castrillón Hoyos) / 69Full of Optimism (David Rockefeller) / 70Talking with Him (Deng Xiao Ping) / 71Capacity for Flexibility (DeWayne Wickman) / 71Living History (Diego Armando Maradona) / 75A Chapter Apart (Dolores Ibárruri, “La Pasionaria”) / 75It Has Decided to Spare Him (Edgardo De Habich) / 76National Dignity (Eduardo Galeano) / 76Prophet of Disaster (Elio Gáspari) / 79The Impossible into Victories (Enrique De La Osa) / 80I Didn’t Always Believe (Enrique Núñez Rodríguez) / 81His Simplicity (Ernesto Cardenal) / 82He Has Done More Than Anyone (Ernesto Guevara) / 82Back to Tomorrow (Ernesto Madero) / 85The Ideology of Martí (Eusebio Leal) / 86Looking at the People (Ezequiel Martínez Estrada) / 91Reaffirming Faith (Fabricio Ojeda) / 92The Highest Exponent (Faure Chomón) / 93

13ABSOLVED BY HISTORY

Robinson’s Spring (Faustino Álvarez) / 93Man of the Present (Fausto Bertinotti) / 94Steadfast and Valiant (Fernando Enrique Cardoso) / 94Authentic Values (Fernando Gutiérrez Barrios) / 95Profound Vision (Francisco Caamaño) / 96Principal Artificer (Francisco Juliao) / 96Traditional Vitality (Francisco Rabal) / 97Tremendous Thing (Francisco Repilado, “Compay Segundo”) / 97Talking with Feeling (Frank Fernández) / 98Genuinely Evangelical (Frei Betto) / 99Voracious Reader (Gabriel García Márquez) / 100I Admire His Leadership (George Mcgovern) / 101Out of the Ordinary (Gerard Bourgoin) / 102Convincing the Sphinx (Germán Pinelli) / 102His Truth (Gianni Minà) / 103He Is Not an Ordinary person (Goar Mestre) / 103Very Attractive Figure (Graham Greene) / 104Being Inspired (Gregory Peck) / 104Full of Concerns (Gro Harlem Brundtland) / 105Historical Character (Giulio Andreotti) / 105Positive Contribution (Harold Cooley) / 106New Era (Harold Cruse) / 106Any Nation (Harry Belafonte) / 107The Best for His People (Harry S. Truman) / 107One of Us (Haydée Santamaría) / 108He Transmits Tenderness (Hebe De Bonafini) / 109The Living Word (Héctor Mújica) / 111One of the Greatest Statesmen (Heinz Dieterich) / 111Very Thoughtful (Herb. D. Haliwal) / 112Popular Backing (Herbert. L. Matthews) / 112We Will Never Forget (Ho Chi Minh) / 114Their Contributions (Howard Felix Harian Cooke) / 115Indomitable People (Hosuari Boumedienne) / 115He Belongs to the World (Hugo Chávez) / 11620th Century Quixote (Igor Ivanov) / 118Principal Author (Brazilian Intellectuals) / 119

14 LUIS BÁEZ

Dream Makers (Cuban Intellectuals) / 119A Humanist (Jack Nicholson) / 120Current of Sympathy (Jacques Duclos) / 120They Should Be Congratulated (James Wolfensohn) / 121A Very Special Man (Javier Grass) / 121A Book (Jean Bertrand Aristides) / 123The Peoples’ Hope (J. J. Servan Schreiber) / 123One of His Soldiers (Joaquín Balaguer) / 124Bolívar’s Legacy (John. F. Kennedy) / 125A Hope (John William Cooke) / 125Praying for Him (John XXIII) / 125Born of the People (Jorge Amado) / 126Impossible to Dishearten Him (Jorge Ricardo Masetti) / 126I Cannot Conceive (Jorge Timossi) / 127A Man of Convictions (José Bono) / 128Impact on History (José Figueres Ferrer) / 128One of the Great Statesmen (José López Portillo) / 129Very Profoundly (José María Velasco Ibarra) / 130Wide-Ranging Knowledge (José Miguel Insulza) / 131Firmly in the Saddle (José Miguel Irrisari) / 132He Beat Us (José Pardo Llada) / 132Determination to Win (José Ramón Fernández) / 135More Solid than a Rock (José Saramago) / 136Sacred Son of the Homeland (Juan Almeida Bosque) / 137Highest Level (Juan Antonio Samaranch) / 138He Hasn’t Fallen from the Skies (Juan Bosch) / 139The Great Virtue (Juan Domingo Perón) / 141He Had the Gospels in Mind (Juan Emilio Friguls) / 141Not a Second of Vacillation (Juan Marinello) / 142Unique Experience (Juan Pablo Letelier Morel) / 148They Would Have Been Friends (Julian Mayfield) / 148Sculptor of the Revolution (Julio Cortázar) / 149An Exceptional Man (Kenneth Kaunda) / 150An Experience of a Lifetime (Kevin Costner) / 150More than Charisma (Kirby Jones) / 151Proud to Visit It (Koffi Annan) / 151


The Revolution Is Growing (Lázaro Cárdenas) / 152Profound Thought (Lázaro Fariñas) / 153His Image (Lee Lockwood) / 154Solid Axis (Leonel Brizola) / 155Clear Comprehension (Leonid Brezhnev) / 156Ardent Heart (Leonid Kuchma) / 156We Are Iron-Willed (Liber Seregni) / 157They Would Applaud (Louis Farrakhan) / 158A Generous Person (Lucius Walker) / 158The First Voice (Luis Corvalán) / 159He Will Pass into History (Luis Echeverría) /159He Has Something Special (Luis Ignacio Da Silva, “Lula”) / 160Such a Great Weight of History (Luis Ortega) / 161One of the Great Leaders (Luis Suárez) / 162The Latin American of the Century

(Manual Cabieses Donoso) / 162Importance of Science (Manuel Elkin Patarroyo) / 165Symbol of Independence (Manuel Fraga) / 165Architect of a Revolution (María Asunción Mateo) / 166Our Fellow Number One (Mario Benedetti) / 167Vigorous Leader (Mario Moya Palencia) / 170Aptitudes of a Great Leader (Mario Vázquez Raña) / 171Simply Stupendous (Mary Hemingway) / 171He Speaks the Truth (Massimo D’alema) / 172He Has Never Been an Ordinary Man (Max Azicri) / 172One against All the Rest (Max Lesnick) / 174Catalyzing Movement (Michael Manley) / 179Herald of the Future (Miguel Barnet) / 180My Golden Dream (Naomi Campbell) / 181At Our Side (Nelson Mandela) / 181Great Animator (Nelson Pereira Dos Santos) / 183Telluric Dynamism (Nicolás Guillén) / 183It Will Continue to Shine out (Nikita Khrushchev) / 184Great Confidence (Norman Grimard) / 185Fascinating Character (Oliver Stone) / 186A Great Friend (Omar Torrijos Herrera) / 186

16 LUIS BÁEZ

It Will End Victorious (Oscar Niemeyer) / 188Complete Figure (Oswaldo Guayasamín) / 189Intelligence (Otelo Saraiva De Carvalho) / 189Full of Good And Glory (Pablo Armando Fernández) / 190We Would Be Erased (Pablo Neruda) / 191With How Much Heroism (Paulo Evaristo Arns) / 191His Sincerity (Percival J. Patterson) / 192Indelible Memories (Phan Van Dong) / 192More Notable (Philip Brenner) / 193Great Confidence (Pierre Salinger) / 194Unique Example (Pietro Nenni) / 194He Merits All Homage (Pino Rauti) / 195A Figure of this Century (Pompeyo Márquez) / 195They Never Grow Old (Rafael Alberti) / 196Great Desire (Rajiv Gandhi) / 197Alternative Law (Ramiro Barrenechea) / 197Feet on the Ground (Ramiro Correia) / 198He Has Demonstrated (Ramsey Clark) / 198The Authority (Raúl Castro) / 199He Broke with All Schema (Raúl Lorenzo) / 200His Appreciation (Raúl Roa García) / 205The Truth (René Cabel) / 206The Valid (René Portocarrero) / 207It Has Surpassed (Elite Magazine) / 208He Is an Icon (Richard Copland) / 208Authority of Leadership (Richard Nixon) / 209Sermon on the Mount (Robert F. Williams) / 209We Need It (Robert Mugabe) / 210In the Face of All the Pressure (Robert Redford) / 210His Best Title (Robert Suro) / 211A Recollection (Roberto Fernández Retamar) / 212The Greats (Roberto Mata Echaurren) / 215A Great Pedagogue (Rodney Arismendi) / 216You Can Converse with Him (Roger Etchegaray) / 220Great Vision of the World (Roger Ireson) / 221Maestro of Seduction (Román Orozco) / 221


My Admiration Was Born There (Rómulo E. Betancourt) / 222A Jules Verne (Rosemberg Pabón Pabón) / 224Authentically National (Salvador Allende) / 225A Hero of Our Times (Samora Machel) / 226Genuinely Cuban (Santiago Carrillo) / 227The Miracle of Living (Sara González) / 228A Better World (Saúl Landau) / 229The Light in Latin America (Sekou Toure) / 230A Fight for Life (Sergio Ramírez) / 231Sense of Humor (Stan Dromisky) / 232He Has Propelled It (Sydney Pollack) / 232Amazing Risks (Tad Szulc) / 233Genuine and Impassioned Humanism (Thabo Mbkei) / 234Moments Never to Be Forgotten (Timur Gaidar) / 237An Anthological Poem (Tomás Borge) / 238Inspiring Example (Vasco Gonçalves) / 238Symbol of Solidarity (Vo Nguyen Giap) / 240The Man of the Century (Volodia Teitelboim) / 241Authentic Leader (Waldo Frank) / 242So Pure (Walter H. Berukoff) / 243His Figure (Wifredo Lam) / 243A Fascinating Man (Wole Soyinka) / 244Reaching a Great Doorway (Wolfgang Larrazábal) / 245Dreams (Wright Mills) / 246World Leader (Yasser Arafat) / 246He’s Not Going to Abandon You (Spontaneous Words

from A Marielito) / 247Profoundly Pedagogic (José Antonio Barroso) / 249Sources / 253

18 LUIS BÁEZ


TESTIMONY OF PATIENCE

I have seen the sheets that comprise this book grow-ing day by day. A book that was born of tenacityand loyalty and that could not have been made in anyother way. At the moment of combing the news,pursuing it until he makes it his own, of findingsomeone we all want to hear interviewed, of seek-ing in events the seam that makes them transcen-dent, and applying himself to that as if he was thelast stoic of the Cuban written press, there is no-body more stubborn than Luis Báez—a warm manwith no false modesty or vain posturings.

You can call at his house at 3:00 A.M. with noproblem. You will find him working on his nextbook, amazed at the history he has in his hands,and in passing he will tell you the news of the daythat is about to dawn, because he has just returnedfrom the newsroom of Granma or Juventud Rebel-de, has already reviewed the digital editions of theprincipal world dailies and, probably, by then hasan exact idea of the direction events of the previ-ous day are to take.

There is nothing like his astrologer’s regard toknow where an event could lead us and to whatlimits the exercise of the press can reach, withoutever hiding his impassioned defense of the Revolu-tion and its ver y concrete political claims.

20 LUIS BÁEZ

Without any doubt, it is an amazing case of pas-sion for the finest occupation in the world, as GabrielGarcía Márquez has called journalism. Whoever paysattention to his extensive bibliography, which alreadystands at eleven published works and thousands ofpieces in the principal Cuban media, has to wonderwhere he found the time to link so many person-alities under one sole credit and has done so withsuch professional rigor to a point that one cannotstudy journalism in Cuba in the latter half of the20th century without having recourse to his name.

His interviews can be enjoyed in various con-texts: from the portrait of the figures to the provoca-tive style, the sensibility alert to surprise us and leaveus in suspense, the subtle strategy of making us feelthat what we are reading inevitable leaves a markon us. I dare to affirm that there is not one of Báez’works that lacks that essential touch which com-pensates in bounds for one’s reading.

As I stated before, I have had the privilege ofbeing present for the framework of this volume, whichreally was born on the day that this grand-leaguejournalist met with Fidel Castro for the first time.From then—maybe without knowing it—Luis be-gan to write it, to fill it with infinite patience andjoy, with a will that in the end made accomplicesof many colleagues and even those attesting , who


sent him the words of other known figures or suggest-ed where he might find other opinions.

In that way Absolved by History, where morethan 200 people just reply to one question, is thefruit of solidarity, indebted at the same time to LuisBáez’ admiration and profound af fection for ourComandante en Jefe; someone that we are able tosee in his magnificent stature and following his in-tense, prodigious life step by step, through distinct—and not always devoted—regards.

It is very difficult not to find here the exceptionalrevolutionary, a man who is the embodiment andconscience of his country, along with the loving, fer-tile side of the journalist who has made it possibleto contain in one single volume such a multifacet-ed and exceptional testimony.

It is a book that anticipates for us the eternallife of a man and which talks to us of a biographyfinally constructed by many, where there are r e-current traits like will, which is always a discoveryin Fidel; or ethics, an everyday fact in him. Andthe unadorned, irreversible truth is that Luis, withhis inveterate mania to save history, has placed be-fore our eyes what, to a certain extent, is a compen-dium of ourselves: that intimate part of our exist-ence which has made a vote of faith with Fidel andwhich is, as can be seen here, accompanied by the

22 LUIS BÁEZ

words and admiration of the most different per-sonalities, some of them anchored, like him, in thedefinitive history of humankind.

ROSA MIRIAM ELIZALDE


MAESTRO OF GENEROSITY

Ninety miles of sea, a slim belt of Caribbean bluewaters, separates two worlds: Cuba and the UnitedStates. Those ninety miles have been converted intoa trench, a barricade, barbed wire, high tension, into thedemarcation line of two worlds, two concepts, twosystems. They have become a historical limit.

Up until January 1, 1959, Washington had ampleexperience with its backyard Latin American politi-cians: it knew the price of each one and always had anindulgent smile for the promises that they had to maketo gain power.

I have not forgotten the time in the early monthsof the revolutionary triumph when Operation Truth,organized in Havana on account of the internationalcampaigns against the shootings brought hundredsof media representatives to the capital and a Mexi-can journalist commented to me:

I was astounded at Fidel Castro’s way of speak-ing. His promises were really ridiculous in the lightof the experience of what Yankee imperialism al-lows in our countries. But he talked as if he wastotally determined to carry them out. At that momentit was impossible to confirm what had happened:An honest man had made his appearance.

From when people are born until they disappearfrom the Earth they pass through a stage of constantevolution in which sentiments, principles, ideas, notions,

24 LUIS BÁEZ

values are gradually formed and developed andwhich have their basis at home, in school, in teach-ers. Everything that is inculcated is of great impor-tance.

Nobody inculcated Fidel’s political ideas; he reachedthem as a result of his meditations, reflections, ob-servations of realities and an analysis of what oth-ers did and said.

This is of great importance in people’s motiva-tion, as they reach certain conclusions, certain ideasthat motivate them to fight, that is why they are re-ally convinced of what they are doing.

If that was not the case, the opposite could occur; inother words, they would be less and less interestedin things, subjective elements would have more influ-ence, which could lead to smugness. The idea thatone has more knowledge than the rest, that one isessential, irreplaceable, becoming infatuated with whatone is and does.

Fidel has always been on his guard against theabove-mentioned factors, because he has the con-viction that nobody can attribute to himself themerits of an entire people and millions of anony-mous beings who make their everyday contribu-tion to society. He maintains a constant concern atthe existing indifference and apathy towards theeconomic, social and human tragedy experiencedby the so-called Third World countries at the be-ginning of the 21st century.


For him the principle of fraternity and solidar-ity among peoples cannot be delayed; moreover, hebelieves that this principle must be an essential part ofthe concept of the new international economic order.

It is not only about reparations for historical in-justices, but also a moral imperative for humankind.

Based on those principles, which embody an ideaof justice and solidarity among the peoples, inter-national cooperation must constitute one of thebasic pillars of that new order.

Fidel is an invariably cordial man. He is an ex-cellent and untiring conversationalist who has muchto say on any issue.

Modest in his personal life. Simple. Without vani-ties. Without ambitions. Always concerned abouthis country’s fate. A sincere man who has alwaysbelieved in his ideas and who is totally convincedof the certainty of his points of view.

He is not the kind of person in whom personalpassions influence proposals and decision making.A maestro of generosity: When he judges others healways fears offending them. His personal magni-tude and singular powers of persuasion are capableof winning over those who are mistaken and dissi-pating confusion. His internationalist position, hissolidarity with fellow human beings have been presentsince he began to battle at an early age.

Titles and responsibilities do not serve to judgea man like Fidel. On meeting him, his legend can

26 LUIS BÁEZ

be more easily comprehended. One can see that hehas grasped how to defeat his enemies. One becomesaware of how he has been able to emerge unharmedfrom so many dangers. By out-maneuvering like cer-tain people easily out-maneuver the fires of St. John’snight.

All our revolutions (1868, 1895) have coincidedwith the broadest political thinking. When Fidel ismaking the Revolution, he is with the great politi-cal truth of our times: socialism.

The affirmation of George Worth—a friend andcollaborator of Karl Marx who died at an early agein Havana 150 years ago and is buried in the EspadaCemetery—who toured the Americas and left cer-tain observations on Cuba in the final part of hisbook, is very interesting: “After touring this islandI believe that it will be here that the major contradic-tions of the American continent will be resolved.”

A century and a half later his prophecy becametrue when Cuban Fidel Castro made his appear-ance on the political scene, where he has been presentin an outstanding way in national and internationalevents.

For months I have been seeking out evaluationsof Fidel Castro made by outstanding personalitiesin politics, the arts, education, science, sports andmedicine and other spheres.

I have collected many of these considerations—235 in all, which could have been more—from vari-


ous interviews throughout the revolutionary process.I have discovered others in memoirs, speeches andvarious journalistic pieces.

Fidel is one of the stellar figures of this epoch,a name that is repeated with admiration on all con-tinents and in all languages. He is loved by his peopleand respected by his enemies. He is a flag anda symbol of humanity.

The legendary warrior of the Sierra Maestra hasbeen sown in the hearts of the humble. He has in-serted himself in history.

LUIS BÁEZ

HE TRAVELS INTO THE FUTURE

ABDELAZIZ BOUTEFLIKA, PRESIDENT

OF THE DEMOCRATIC AND POPULAR

REPUBLIC OF ALGERIA*

It is enough to look at what is occurring in LatinAmerica to realize that the Cuban Revolutiondoes not represent a literary chapter but a sig-nificant dimension that will influence the devel-opment of the situation both on the Latin Ameri-can continent and in the entirety of the ThirdWorld nations. That is due to the exceptionalrole that Fidel Castro has played and is playing.

In 1959 the whole world knew him as FidelCastro, but in 2001 he is still the same man, withthe same rigor, the same integrity, the same eth-ics, the same approach, the same presence, the sameideals, as much for his people as for humanity.

*. The opinions which were originally written or spoken in otherlanguages have been retranslated from the author’s Spanishversion. Ed.

30 LUIS BÁEZ

We have had the immense privilege of hav-ing comrade Fidel as a friend who has neverfailed us. Fidel travels into the future, returnsand explains it.

TO LIVE

ABEL SANTAMARÍA, CUBAN REVOLUTIONARY

The one that has to live is Fidel.

OFFERING THEIR HEART

ARGENTINE ADOLFO PÉREZ ESQUIVEL, NOBEL

PEACE PRIZE LAUREATE

The Cuban people and Fidel Castro are offer-ing us their heart, their life, everything, andI believe that this is a marvelous example of lifeand integrity, and we must remain united andcontinue fighting, because the fight is not over.

There are no accidents in history, all this suf-fering of our peoples was programmed, organ-nized to destroy nations and dominate them, andthey have not been able to do that with Cuba.


AN INTELLIGENT ADVERSARY

AGOSTINO CASAROLI, ITALIAN CARDINAL,FORMER VATICAN SECRETARY OF STATE

I visited Cuba at the invitation of the episco-pacy, not the government, but the governmentwas very welcoming. My visit was not of an offi-cial nature. But the night before I left, Fidel calledthe Nunciature. At that moment I was at theCathedral, giving a mass, and they told him thatI was not there and the time that I would be back.

Fidel arrived at about 11:30 P.M. We were talk-ing for approximately two hours. It was a hu-mane and cordial conversation.

One of the first things that the Comandantesaid to me was: “I was imagining a fat monsi-gnor andI have found myself with a very mod-est and humble slight man.” That was his firstpositive impression of my person.

The conversation took shape without anykind of agenda, nor was the object of the meet-ing to establish something concrete, somethingpolitical concerning Church-State relations but,in the end, all those problems were aired.

My memory is tinged with nostalgia, becauseI have not only met the country but a man ofsuperior intelligence, of great culture and with

32 LUIS BÁEZ

ideas. Naturally, we didn’t agree in all ideas but,in the end, the conversation was very interestingand also, in certain aspects, agreeable. Talkingwith an intelligent adversary is much better thantalking with an unintelligent friend. In that waythe memory of it is a good memory.

RELATIONSHIP OF FRIENDS

ALEXANDER ALEXIEV, JOURNALIST, FORMER

SOVIET UNION AMBASSADOR TO CUBA

I arrived in Havana in the second half of 1959.I received the visa from the Cuban embassy inSwitzerland. I stayed at the Sevilla Hotel.My first meeting with Fidel took place on thetop floor of the National Institute for AgrarianReform (INRA), currently the headquarters ofthe Ministry of the Revolutionary Armed Forces(MINFAR).

During the conversation Fidel communi-cated to me the government decision to estab-lish trade relations with the Soviet Union at anappropriate moment.

From that moment onwards a sincere andrelaxed communication was established betweenus. A relationship of friends. He is an honest,


valiant, and sincere man. Fidel is a brilliantpolitician and strategist.

A CONCRETIZATION

ALEJO CARPENTIER, CUBAN WRITER

We—persons of my generation—have found inthe Revolution the realization of our profoundaspirations. The cases of abandonment worthmentioning can be counted on the fingers ofone hand. And I wouldn’t say that those aspira-tions were only Cuban ones, but also LatinAmericans in general. In other words, our hopesfor a different America, a better America, pro-jected into the future in a climate of justice, dyna-mism, strength and the affirmation of differentnationalities, found a concretization in the Cu-ban Revolution and the ideas of Fidel Castro.

IMPRESSIVE MOMENTS

COLONEL-GENERAL ALEXEI DEMENTIEV, FIRST

CHIEF OF THE SOVIET MILITARY ADVISORS IN CUBA

During the Missile Crisis I spent the most im-pressive moments of my life together with Fidel.

34 LUIS BÁEZ

I was at his side for most of the time. At onepoint we felt that an attack from the UnitedStates was imminent and Fidel took the deci-sion to call a full alert. Within a few hours thepeople were in combat position. Fidel’s faith inhis people and that of his people and of we So-viets in him was impressive.

Fidel placed a lot of emphasis on the train-ing of cadres from the top downwards. He wouldalways say to us that the time would come whenthe military aspect would move onto a second-ary plane and the economy onto the first, butat that time, the most important thing was tosurvive, to save the Revolution. Without anydoubt whatsoever, Fidel is one of the politicaland military geniuses of this century.

SIGNIFICANT SUCCESSES

ALFONSO LÓPEZ MICHELSEN, INTELLECTUAL,POLITICIAN, FORMER PRESIDENT OF COLOMBIA

The Cuban Revolution has achieved significantsuccesses in health and education under FidelCastro’s leadership. I have not met with Fidel forat least seven years, but I have closely followed


his activities and the developments taking placein Cuba in these highly difficult circumstances(the special period), which seemingly have beenovercome. This visit to Cuba has been one of themost beneficial, because I have had contacts thathave made it possible for me to perceive the de-velopments that have occurred in the country.

ALL THE PEOPLE SUPPORT HIM

ALFRED GRUENTHER, U.S. GENERAL, FORMER

HEAD OF THE NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY

ORGANIZATION (NATO), OF THE PENTAGON

AND THE RED CROSS IN THE UNITED STATES

Everyone should bear in mind that there hasbeen a change of government in Cuba and thatall the people support the regime of Dr. FidelCastro. Many persons do not want to acknowl-edge that the Cuban Revolution is a distinctrevolution.

36 LUIS BÁEZ

THE CHOSEN ONE

ALFREDO GUEVARA, CUBAN INTELLECTUAL

I am what I am, not anyone else, and for thatreason I ask your permission to arrive at ourepoch, those days when the generation of whichI am part was constantly seeking the prophet,someone within us who could take up the shieldtraversing roads and mountains. Later, we knew,he was called Fidel, he is called Fidel.

He “was at my side” that day when we en-tered the Alma Mater of the University of Ha-vana. Historians are already saying “he was withhim” and that delights me. He was the chosenone and, as often occurs in the passing of theyears, history transforms the hero or the cho-sen one into a patriarch. If I see him, if onceagain I find myself in proximity to him, I willalways find him surrounded by young peoplearriving in vast waves. The pace is cautious andmust be so, first of all we have to safeguard whatwe have won; the sail that fills with the wind atits stern is already making it advance with newhelmsmen. The hero who is still a hero is thepatriarch; and the patriarch is the hero.


THINGS ARE DIFFERENT

ALFREDO SÁNCHEZ BELLA, POLITICIAN

AND FORMER SPANISH AMBASSADOR

IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

The large sugar investors continue thinking ofthe infinite capacity for corruption that the in-veterate customs of the country allow and evenimpose; they believe that Cuba is a countryapart and that all revolutions always end upbecoming totally dissolute. But, on this occa-sion, with Fidel Castro, things are different,because they are unaware that they are nowconfronting a new and totally unprecedentedphenomenon, an incomparable will capable ofattaining unimagined goals.

The new leader can be denied anything, buthis will and perseverance in maintaining hisguidelines in the face of any event and in themost difficult circumstances definitively cannotbe denied or ignored. And, day by day, his au-thority in the country is incomparable and thesupport of the youth unconditional.

We are facing a new myth that is going tocost great effort and pain to destroy. Becausethis kind of revolution of a markedly socialnature can rarely be turned back.

38 LUIS BÁEZ

THE WEIGHT WOULD KILL HIM

ALICIA ALONSO, CUBAN BALLERINA

Maybe Fidel hasn’t noticed, but each time I findmyself facing him, I have felt that I have to standup there in order to defend him from anythingthat they might want to do to him. Every timeI meet Fidel I become nervous.

Out of the many world figures that I haveknown he has left the profoundest impressionon me due to his simplicity, his humane charac-ter. One regards him and cannot fail to think:“This man has done this. This man has beenfighting for so long.” It is something that growsin you, grows and ends up crushing you. Afterthat you become a part of all that world andenjoy the nature of that human being. You canfeel him. You become part of him.

He is not local. He is part of history. Notonly of our history but of the history of hu-manity.

I think that he is so great that he becomesjust a little part, a simple thing. If he was awareof how great he is, the weight would kill him.


AN INSPIRATION

ALICE WALKER, U.S. WRITER

They have not been able to kill him and thathas angered them. They have not been able tokill that man who has persisted in being whathe is for years in the face of the most powerfulcountry on Earth. It is something amazing.

He is a sequoia, a giant old tree that contin-ues to stand while others have been mowndown, and they are desperate to finally fell him.And then we will have nobody like him. Wewill have other marvelous people and we our-selves will be what we have to be, but he is aninspiration.

I FEEL HONOURED

AMADOU-MAHTAR M’BOW, SENEGALESE

ACADEMIC, FORMER DIRECTOR-GENERAL

OF UNESCO

I feel honored in having received the decora-tion from a man like Fidel Castro, who hasfought for the independence, dignity, freedomand progress of the Cuban people.

40 LUIS BÁEZ

SO THAT I WOULD LIVE

ANA FIDELIA QUIROT, CUBAN ATHLETE

On account of the accident I had in 1993, Fidelcame to the hospital every day to see me. Hisvisits, his constant concern, his affection, hisquestions to the doctors attending me on myhealth; he did all that so that I would get better,come back to life, so that I would live.

THE MAN OF THAT SITUATION

ANDRÉ BRETON, FRENCH POET AND WRITER,FOUNDER OF THE SURREALIST MOVEMENT

During my time in the Caribbean I was oftenled to meditate on the destiny of those beauti-ful islands, the very moving aspirations of theirpeoples, and the means of opening for once andfor all the secular claws that have closed onthem. From the outset, I have not doubted—and they have given me the soundest reasons forbelieving it—that Fidel Castro was the manfor that situation in the same way that Zapatacould have been forty years ago for Mexico, andthat maintaining the promise that he faced up


to with an almost apparent impossibility, de-pended on his proven intelligence and will.

FULL OF SURPRISES

ANDRÉ VOISIN, FRENCH SCIENTIST

Fidel is a character who is always full of surprises.

I CAN’T EXPLAIN IT

ANTONIO DEL CONDE, “EL CUATE,” SMALL

MEXICAN BUSINESSMAN

When you follow a person as I followed Fidel,you place all of your confidence in him. I havealways said that he could even convince a stone.I am something of a stone, but he convincedme easily.

What did I see in him? An exaggeratedlyhonorable person with a memory that wouldmake elephants jealous, someone who growsmore and more every day. Nothing in my lifewould have had any importance if I had notbelieved in him from the moment I saw him.Why? I cannot explain it.

42 LUIS BÁEZ

A CREATOR

ANTONIO NÚÑEZ JIMÉNEZ, CUBAN WRITER,GEOGRAPHER, HISTORIAN AND POLITICIAN

Leading a revolution and building a new soci-ety is, in part, like advancing in stretches throughthe darkness, among doubts. The exceptionalthing about Fidel, in his condition as the maxi-mum leader of the Cuban Revolution, has beenhis extremely superior self-critical spirit.

He cannot be measured solely as a ruler ora statesman. He is the maestro of a people, be-cause at the same time he has known how to beits most exceptional disciple. He is a creator tothe same extent that he is a creation of his ownpeople.

THE GOOD FORTUNE

ANTONIO PUIGRET, SPANISH DOCTOR

AND UROLOGIST

Cuba has had the good fortune to have foundan honest man of untouchable rectitude: FidelCastro.


MY SAINTS ARE PROTECTING HIM

ARCADIO CALVO, CUBAN BABALAWO

The Revolution has not caused me any trouble.On the contrary, it has given me every facility toexercise my rites. Within the country’s possibil-ities, everything we have asked for has been givenus. We are acknowledged by the authorities.

I receive many foreign delegations. It wouldbe a lie to say that I have had problems with thegovernment—that would be a deception andI have always been an honest man.

I am one hundred percent Cuban, nobodywill move me from this land, and moreover, mysaints are protecting Fidel.

HE TAUGHT US TO WIN

ARMANDO HART, CUBAN INTELLECTUAL

AND POLITICIAN

I dedicate my memories of the 1950s to ourComandante en Jefe with these words: To FidelCastro Ruz, who carries in his conscience all theethics and political wisdom that was lacking in

44 LUIS BÁEZ

the 20th century. This is the key to his person-ality. Interlinked in one identity, both planes, theethical and the political, reach a universal scalein him and, at the same time, can be detailed inevery concrete event in his life. This trait is the stron-gest and most enriching of his person; one thatrequired the Cuban tradition and, moreover, that itshould attain a higher creative intelligence in theindividual context.

Contemporary advances in psychology relatecreative intelligence to the human faculty of feel-ing, thinking and acting in an interrelated man-ner and that this should be directed towardthe transformation of reality. When this com-bination spills out in creativity it confirms thata higher intelligence has been achieved. I visu-alize this scientific proposition in Fidel Castro’sconduct and life.

Félix Varela taught us to think; José de laLuz y Caballero, to learn; José Martí, to act;and Fidel Castro, to win. Martí’s originality islocated in the fact that he took his encyclopaedicknowledge to the plane of practical politics.With his vast culture, Fidel took up, recreatedand updated this tradition in the 20th century,in what I have called “the culture of makingpolitics.” In the early years of this century, the


strength of Fidel’s politics is to be found preciselyin that he is creating it in a world burdened withimmense complexities and extremely grave dan-gers as never before in its millenary history.

In terms of the new international situationsMachiavelli’s old slogan of “divide and rule” isno longer effective. In periods of globalizationit is necessary to integrate the forces of solidar-ity in order to confront the dramatic challengesof the recently commenced century. Herein liesthe wealth of Fidel’s politics.

Some people have described Fidel as an ex-tremist. They are very mistaken, he is a radicalman, which means—as Martí noted—going tothe root of things and that is not at the extremes,but at the center of truth and revolutionary ac-tion. His political genius consists of this.

Fidel’s vast and profound culture does notaffect in the slightest his worth in terms of ap-proaching the practical and everyday problemsthat life presents. On the contrary, he presses hisvast wisdom into solving them. This originalityhas been sustained within the Cuban spiritualtradition.

Our Comandante en Jefe is an unflagging andfascinating conversationalist. Those who heard

46 LUIS BÁEZ

Martí always highlighted the reach and powerof his words. We could affirm something simi-lar in Fidel. A comrade said to me: Fidel is ca-pable of convincing an Esquimo to purchasea refrigerator. I replied: His strength is evengreater because, always starting from ethicalprinciples, he is capable of explaining to an Es-quimo how to fight effectively to receive heat-ing equipment. You will never find any wordof Fidel’s that does not correspond to concretereality and people’s sentiments. For that rea-son, when people say: “That’s what Fidel said,”I immediately ask where, when and in whosepresence. Because all Fidel’s orientations are ofgreat depth and related to very concrete anddirect situations.

Finally, Fidel is a Christian in the most originaland revolutionary sense… There is no incompat-ibility between a culture rooted in Christianity andMarxist-Leninist thought as we interpret it inour country. In the conclusions of the Pedagogy2001 Conference, he gave a wide-reaching speechon the major educational, cultural and socialprograms that Cuba is promoting, both withinthe country and in the international context. Heinsisted on confidence in human beings, in theirgenerosity and intelligence. After he had con-


cluded his speech I was talking with a Catholicleader from a friendly country with whom I haddiscussed issues related to Fidel’s teaching andideas. With the impression of that speech I saidto him: “You see that Fidel is a Christian? Heexpressed through all his pores the finest Chris-tian sentiments of life.”

For these reasons, he was able to affirm inthe initial years of the Revolution: “Whoeverbetrays the people betrays Christ.”

THE MATERIAL OF A HERO

ARMANDO LLORENTE, SPANISH JESUIT PRIEST

Fidel Castro is to follow a law degree and wehave no doubt that he will fill the book of hislife with brilliant pages. Fidel is an uncut dia-mond and the artist has the spark.

I was his teacher at Belén School. I always sawthe material of a hero in Fidel Castro and wasconvinced that the history of his homel andwould have to speak of him one day.

48 LUIS BÁEZ

ABSOLUTE DOMINION

ARTHUR MILLER, U.S. DRAMATIST

The conversation I had with Fidel Castro couldn’thave been more interesting. In it he covered manyissues and demonstrated, as always, an absolutedominion of the subjects covered.

HE DOESN’T FOSTER A CULT

ARTHUR SCHLESSINGER, JR., U.S. INTELLECTUAL

Fidel Castro does not foster a personality cult.It is difficult to find a poster or even a postcardof Castro anywhere in Havana. The icon ofFidel’s revolution, visible everywhere, is CheGuevara.

HISTORY MAKES FRIENDS

ARTURO ALAPE, COLUMBIAN WRITER

AND RESEARCHER

Fidel Castro was in Bogotá on April 9, 1948.At that time he was 23 and was attending a stu-


dent congress. Some 400 folios of the 7000 com-prising the legal procedure on the assassinationof Jorge Eliécer Gaitán are devoted to Fidel. TheColombian reaction was quick to charge a fig-ure that was steadily acquiring, with increasingstrength, a continental connotation and profile.

Fidel knew and admired Gaitán, and whenthe events of that April exploded, he was insolidarity with the pain of my people, sharedtheir sentiments of frustration on seeing theleader fall murdered and, like any Colombian,immersed himself in the events.

However, the reactionary forces perceivedhim as an instigator, a representative of interna-tional Communism, as if the raison d’être ofthe April 9 uprising was implicit in the lateractions and thinking of the Cuban revolution-ary. But what Fidel in fact did was to join theevents with pride. It is ironic: while the figureof Fidel greatly enlarged, his accusers were leftwith nothing more than the accusation in theirhands.

I have always thought that history makespeople intimate friends: I felt his friendship onaccount of his participation in the event that itbefell me to reconstruct. Above all, his accountof history in two voices impressed me. On the

50 LUIS BÁEZ

one hand, he narrated his participation; on theother, he judged critically, reflected on the Bogota-zo. It was as if he was unfolding his own historyand recreating it through his memory… it wasas if he was acting out his own history. At thebeginning of our conversation he remainedseated, but when he grew emotional in the lightof memories, he began to pace the room withlong strides as if he wanted to retrace with hismemory the thirty years separating him fromthat April 9.

Knowing Fidel personally, talking with himfor a long time, was a very emotional experi-ence for me…

CONSTANTLY CONSTRUCTING

ATHOS FAVA, ARGENTINE POLITICIAN

Fidel occupies a very particular place in the revo-lutionary process. He is a case that rarely oc-curs in life. He has to be analyzed historically,concretely.

He not only plays the role of the theoreti-cian who defines strategic lines in the key prob-lems of the economy or science, but is also


a leader who is constantly constructing and see-ing if those ideas proposed in the laboratory oflife are taking shape.

He is a man who constantly tours the works,who is constantly learning and offering his ex-perience. He is like a sponge that takes and gives.He is a key element in the construction of the newCuba; in the midst of an island, facing the wind,in the jaws of the enemy, Fidel is playing a fun-damental role and, above all, has made himselfresponsible for preparing the renovation by pro-moting youthful cadres proven by the Revolu-tion which, in any circumstance, can continueadvancing.

ALL MY RESPECT

AUGUSTO ROA BASTOS, PARAGUAYAN WRITER

I have always been in favor of the Cuban Revo-lution, which is inserted in the historical lineof our independence revolutions and, of course,the leaders of these revolutions merit all myrespect and consideration, as much Fidel Castroas Che Guevara, who in these days is an almostmythical world figure.

52 LUIS BÁEZ

DIFFICULT TO IMAGINE

BEATRIZ ALLENDE, CHILEAN POLITICIAN

My first personal contact with Fidel is some-thing that my father—Salvador Allende—andI vividly remember. It was in Oriente, inHolguín, at the inauguration of the Che Guevarabrigade. We arrived a little late. We advancedalong a little path and suddenly, among thebushes, we saw a campaign tent within a littleforest.

All at once I distinguished his profile andhis hand. I stood still, without being able toadvance or retreat. I was rooted to the spot.I couldn’t speak, I couldn’t say anything: asif I was dumb. My father, who was bringing upthe rear, pushed me forward saying: “What’sthe matter, my daughter?” But he was perfectlyaware of what was the matter with me.

But then, the Comandante has a way of mak-ing one lose your timidity, so without realizingit, you are soon talking with him. It is difficultfor you to imagine what Fidel represents fora Latin American.

The impact was a definitive one. I happenedto witness public meetings, to hear Fidel’sspeeches, to listen to his proposals.


During my first journey to Cuba in 1960I was lucky enough to attend the ceremonymarking the nationalization of U.S. companieson August 7, which took place in the LatinAmerican Stadium. When I saw the people, sodecided, organized and aware, I realized thatthey are invincible. I witnessed the affectionbetween the people and Fidel when he lost hisvoice for a few minutes. Everyone was concernedthat nothing would happen to him. I will neverforget that rally.

Sometimes, when my father is with us andwe start recalling anecdotes, he will suddenly saythat he would like to return to Cuba. In reality,he would seem to be homesick for it.

AHEAD OF HISTORY

BEATRIZ PAGÉS, MEXICAN JOURNALIST

AND EDITOR OF THE MEXICAN SIEMPRE MAGAZINE

Fidel Castro’s watch is always fifteen minutesahead, on his wrist and before history. He isa man of principle and convictions, of transcen-dental and universal values; infinite ones, notof the moment, frivolity, passing use or oppor-tunism.

54 LUIS BÁEZ

Fidel, as he is called by campesinos and work-ers, women and children, students and physi-cians, lawyers and school teachers, is a kind ofwatchman that observes world change from theloftiness of his intelligence and comprehendsand interprets it, not like the rustic villager witha mule and a hoe, but with the profundity andtalent, encyclopaedic culture and wisdom onlypossible in certain brains selected by biologyand circumstance.

AN HONOR FOR ME

BELISARIO BETANCURT, INTELLECTUAL, POLITICIAN,FORMER PRESIDENT OF COLOMBIA

My friendship with Fidel Castro is an honorfor me and is based on the premise of reciprocalrespect for each other’s attitudes, thoughts andtendencies. He is a man who is profoundly re-spectful of the thinking of others.


HUMANE SPIRIT

BEN BELLA, POLITICIAN, FORMER PRESIDENT

OF ALGERIA

The presence of Cuban doctors in Algeria is partof the fraternal sisterhood and indestructiblefriendship between the peoples of Cuba andAlgeria, as well as Fidel Castro’s humane spiritof solidarity.

I was informed that the Cuban doctors andhealth professionals were leaving for their coun-try and wanted to come to see them off andthank them on behalf of the people for theirservices, which they have offered us with suchenthusiasm and altruism.

POPULAR ESSENCES

BENJAMÍN CARRIÓN, ECUADORAN NOVELIST

Never in the history of the continent—fromNetzahualtcoyotl and Atahualpa; from Bolí-var, Morelos and San Martín; from José Martí, EloyAlfaro and Francisco Madero—has such a pro-found voice from the entrails of the peoples beenheard like the voice of today’s Cuba, expressed in

56 LUIS BÁEZ

the apostolic words of Fidel Castro, which aremade of all the great popular essences: angerand protest, jubilation and singing, justice andhope.

GREAT LEADERS

BERTA ZAPATA, MEXICAN INTELLECTUAL

Future generations will recall Fidel Castro asthe great leaders of Our America and the worldare recalled in history. They will acknowledgehim as the man who took the sentiment of hispeople and their acquisition of dignity to itshighest expression, because he has never wa-vered, when others have done so for far less,and his indefatigable fight is to keep on highthe flags for which millions of people have diedin Latin America.

FEW ARE BORN

BLAS ROCA, CUBAN POLITICIAN

Fidel is an exceptional figure. His capacity toforesee, to look far ahead greatly impressed me


from the outset. That capacity which I wouldqualify as strategic, combined with a tacticalcapacity for the immediate, for the now, for whatis occurring now, and to resolve what is occurringnow bearing in mind the possible course of events.That is the most impressive thing about Fidel.

Fidel’s contribution to social struggles is un-questionable. First his personal influence in theworld. What he signifies. The tremendously sur-prising weight that he has. And I think not onlyin what can be seen, but also in what cannot beseen. In politics what cannot be seen is alwaysmore than what can be seen.

I believe that Fidel has made an enormouscontribution to the Communist movement. Hehas reaffirmed and confirmed in practice thejustice of Marxist principles, of Marxism-Leninism as a guide for revolutionary action forthe construction of socialism. There is no doubtof that.

And everything that Cuba has done is di-rectly related to Fidel, to his decisiveness, to hisgreat capacity as a leader, his amazing capacity.One of those leaders of whom few are born inthis world.

58 LUIS BÁEZ

IF YOU KNEW HIM

BOB TABER, U.S. JOURNALIST

Fidel Castro is not a modern Robin Hood, noris the revolution that he is advocating a revoltaccording to the general rule in Latin America:it is an integrated revolution with a social con-tent that aspires to consecrate freedom and fulldignity of humankind by means of its economicconsolidation.

Fidel is a revolutionary, not a political caudillo.Far from defeating him, you should be fortify-ing him. And if you knew him well, if you wereto admit the justice of his cause, you would un-derstand that you will gain nothing by force,except for his impassioned reaction.

TRUE TO YOUR TRUST

CAMILO CIENFUEGOS, CUBAN REVOLUTIONARY,COMMANDER OF THE REBEL ARMY

In my hands, the promotion to the rank of Com-mander of the 26th of July Revolutionary Army. Onreceiving such a high honor and responsibil-ity I have sworn to perfectly fulfill the above-


mentioned position and work to the limits of mystrength to accelerate the triumph of the Revolu-tion.

Thank you for giving me the opportunityto be of more service to this extremely worthycause, for which I will always be prepared togive my life.

Thank you for giving me the opportunityto be more useful to our long-suffering homeland.

It would be easier to stop breathing than tostop being true to your trust. Always at yourorders.

LISTENING TO HIM WITHOUTBLINKING

CARLOS ALTAMIRANO, POLITICIAN, FORMER

GENERAL SECRETARY OF THE SOCIALIST PARTY

OF CHILE

Cuba is a distinct experience. It is the first So-cialist revolution on American soil; its struggleconstitutes a legend and a mammoth challengeto the leading classes of the continent. TheUnited States tried to besiege and blockade it;it is David against Goliath.

60 LUIS BÁEZ

The Cuban Revolution is the historical eventof the greatest magnitude to have taken placeon our continent this century.

I have marvelous memories of Fidel, due tohis astounding intelligence, eloquence and peda-gogical capacity.

It is not easy to listen to someone for four or fivehours without becoming bored, without blinkingeven for a second, but Fidel possesses an intelli-gence and a capacity for communication thatI have never witnessed in anybody else. I haveknown some Nobel Prize laureates and manygreat politicians of this century, but it was Fi-del who most impressed me. He is a veritablewaterfall of ideas and develops all of them ina brilliant way.

He is not always right, but his ideas have sucha forceful base and are expressed with such forceand conviction that his capacity for seductionis irresistible. I am sure that even his worst en-emy would be hypnotized after spending onehour with him.


POWER OF CONVICTION

CARLOS MARÍA GUTIÉRREZ, URUGUAYAN

WRITER AND JOURNALIST

I met Fidel Castro in the Sierra Maestra whereI went to interview him.

I saw him risking his life every day and suf-fering the terrible conditions of mountain life.His merit lies in propitiating that modificationof the initial proposal—a young, valiant and vir-tually solo leader, calling for an uprising—andin having stimulated an entire young Cubangeneration to assume responsibilities and con-sider the heroic episodes of the assault on theMoncada Garrison or the Granma landing asmere starting points for a radical transforma-tion of the country.

With a beard that adds a few years to hisyouthful appearance and his natural heavy buildaugmented by sweaters and heavy shirts, the firstimpression of him is of a man who has thrived onthe harshness of life in the Sierra, but no soonerhad he rammed on his tortoiseshell glasses, medi-tated a moment and begun to talk in his softvoice, every now and again his slow movementsand tranquil tone reveal ardent inflexions anda natural power of conviction.

62 LUIS BÁEZ

Fidel possesses to a high degree that intuitionthat is only given to some politicians and al-lows them to divine very quickly the intimateattitude of their interlocutors.

NO HISTORICAL ACCIDENT

CARLOS RAFAEL RODRÍGUEZ, CUBAN

INTELLECTUAL AND POLITICIAN

It is no historical accident that the forces led byFidel Castro took their place at the head of therevolutionary process. That position was not con-quered simply by those exceptional ingredientsmost talked of: a courage that could not be bought,tactical audacity, combative firmness. In additionto those—and we could say above them—the pro-found political comprehension that what Cubaneeded was not a “constitutional restoration” butan in-depth revolution is at the heart of his tri-umph. That thought figures as the leading threadin the speech History Will Absolve Me.1

1. During the trial of the assailants on the Moncada and CarlosManuel de Céspedes Garrisons in Santiago de Cuba and Bayamo,respectively, Fidel Castro assumed his own defense. On Octo-ber 16, 1953 he made the pal that was later published as HistoryWill Absolve Me. Ed.


HE SAW IT ALL FROM SO CLOSE

CELIA SÁNCHEZ, CUBAN REVOLUTIONARY

The people who knew the Fidel of before re-ally realize who Fidel is. The one who couldvisualize the Ciudad Escolar Camilo Cienfuegos(Educational Institution), the armed militias thathe talked about in the beginning in the Sierra,when there wasn’t even anything to eat…

64 LUIS BÁEZ

Educational institution, with 20,000 children,many more of which we are going to make, toeducate, train the people, because here we will haveto continue arming ourselves… And I thought:“Arming ourselves, what for? Once we win itwon’t be necessary. And it wasn’t so easy to armthe campesinos there, despite them being subju-gated and oppressed for such a long time. Fidelhad to talk and talk to them. Yes, Fidel saw it allfrom so close! He saw everything…”

REACHING THE SKY

CELIA SANDY, UK WRITER, GRANDDAUGHTER

OF WINSTON CHURCHILL, FORMER BRITISH

PRIME MINISTER

Talking with Fidel Castro is like reaching the sky.

BEING CUBAN

CELSO DELGADO, MEXICAN POLITICIAN

AND DIPLOMAT

Being Cuban is an elevated and valiant substan-tive in the international community. And this


Cuban being is the human being Fidel, a hu-man synthesis of the universal existence of theoldest, present and future aspirations of thisgreat people.

Fidel is an outstanding Latin American. Heis a man who has contributed to and spectacu-larly meant for the independent political devel-opment of the exploited peoples of the 20thcentury. He is an innate revolutionary. And in-nate revolutionaries are always revolutionaries,always transforming the society surroundingthem, and transforming themselves. Fidel isa man who is creating. And to be what Fidelis needs the sine qua non condition of beinghuman.

WE REFUSED

CHARLES DE GAULLE, GENERAL, POLITICIAN,FORMER PRESIDENT OF FRANCE

When the United States broke off its relationswith Cuba and invited us to prohibit our shipsfrom sailing for the island, we maintained ourembassy in Havana and refused to practice theembargo.

66 LUIS BÁEZ

HE MOVED HISTORY

CHRISTIAN PONCELET, POLITICIAN

AND PRESIDENT OF THE FRENCH SENATE

Fidel Castro moved history with his interna-tional influence and, above all, is known for thewill to liberate his country.

ECUMENICAL AMPLITUDE

CINTIO VITIER, CUBAN INTELLECTUAL

The anti-imperialist content of all Fidel’s actionsplaces him at the center of contemporary his-tory in terms of what has come to be accumu-lated and defined, as a unique decisive battle, ofthe millenary movements of oppression in theface of the imperative of a social ethics on which—materially and spiritually—the survival of thehuman species is becoming more dependent.

When the Marxist principles that he freelyassumed in his youth, in particular those lay-ing the foundations of the scientific dismantlingof capitalism, were transfused into Martí’s think-ing, which admits them despite methodologi-


cal objections and philosophical distances, rec-ognizing the humanism of radically taking sides“with the poor of the Earth…”—a political-spir-itual event prepared by the generation of Mellaand Rubén2 —that gave Fidel an argument ofLatin American amplitude that in practice hasbecome ecumenical.

After numerous tests, the conjunction he hasalways sought between analysis and action, in-transigence and lucidity, reaching the boundaryof the real possibilities of objective and subjec-tive factors in a battle against such a dispropor-tionate enemy, has brought him to a kind ofbalance in which foresight and rebelliousnessare equivalent.

Thus he is demonstrating that rebellionagainst any historical fatalism is the only pru-dent action. Having reached this point, beyondany account of accuracies and errors, by preach-ing with the example of the Cuban people’sindependence and resistance, he has become

2. Julio Antonio Mella (1903-29) and Rubén Martínez Villena(1899-1934), revolutionary leaders, who fought against the gov-ernment of the dictator Gerardo Machado (1925-1933). Mellafounded the first Communist Party of Cuba and was assassi-nated in Mexico on Machado’s order. Martínez Villena, alsoa poet, died of tuberculosis. Ed.

68 LUIS BÁEZ

a message of hope, combative encouragement andthe impressive conviction of planetary victory.

REVIVED IN CUBA

CLAUDE ROY, FRENCH WRITER

Cuba has simultaneously become a symbol andan example. A symbol: that of a people oppressedfor years by the cruelty of a dictatorship andthe power of a foreign imperialism. An example:that of constant hope, of indomitable courage,of victorious intelligence that overcame bruteforce, money, foreign arms and internationalegotism.

Grandeur cannot be measured in terms of sur-face square kilometres, in tons of steel. The en-tire world has associated for years the idea ofthe grandeur of a small nation inhabited bya great people: Cuba, and the man who em-bodies the Cuban Revolution: Fidel Castro.

Fidel speaks to the people, explains the prob-lems of the Revolution person to person, explainsthe difficulties of the Revolution, explains thesolutions. Thus, thanks to television, radio andFidel Castro, one could say that the direct democ-racy of Ancient Greece is being revived in Cuba.


FULL OF TENDERNESS

CONCHITA FERNÁNDEZ, CUBAN SECRETARY

Having worked at Fidel’s side is one of the greatjoys and honors I have had in my life. Fidel isa man full of kindness and tenderness. He livessolely for his work, for his people.

HARD TO KILL

DANNY GLOVER, U.S. ACTOR

Fidel Castro is hard to kill.

MUCH DELICACY

DARÍO CASTRILLÓN HOYOS, COLOMBIAN

CARDINAL, PRO-PREFECT OF THE VATICAN

CLERGY CONGREGATION AND FORMER

PRESIDENT OF THE LATIN AMERICAN

EPISCOPAL COUNCIL (CELAM)

I am a very frank person. I am not afraid tospeak of differences, because one should uti-lize historical opportunities. One cannot be

70 LUIS BÁEZ

a hypocrite. I put it to Fidel that I did not under-stand religious limitations in the country. I knowthat these things have been changing.

I perceived a man who is very concerned overcertain details that perhaps he does not recall.

We were talking of the Ameijeiras Hospital.I was impressed by his concern for the smallestdetails: that every bedside table had a flower.These are questions of much delicacy and havegreat humane meaning.

I was moved to know that illiteracy has beentotally eradicated.

We had three hours of the most cordial andsincere dialogue. I retain a very pleasant memoryof my conversation with Fidel Castro.

FULL OF OPTIMISM

DAVID ROCKEFELLER, U.S. BANKER

What the Cubans have done in the fields of edu-cation and health is impressive. What has beendone in higher education and the extension ofaccess to basic education is good.

Fidel Castro is very well informed. He speakswith much enthusiasm of the positive things


that he has done. He is a very charismatic per-son and full of optimism.

TALKING WITH HIM

DENG XIAO PING, PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC

OF CHINA POLITICIAN

Tell Castro that I cannot die without talkingwith him.

CAPACITY FOR FLEXIBILITY

DEWAYNE WICKMAN, FORMER PRESIDENT

OF THE U.S. BLACK JOURNALISTS BLOC

The first impression I had of your country wasin January 1999, when we dined with your presi-dent in the Palace of the Revolution. I camewith a delegation brought by CongresswomanMaxine Waters. When we arrived at the palacethe doors opened and we continued on our waywithout seeing any armed guards, none, thena large door opened and they indicated that weshould approach it.

I have been in the White House on variousoccasions, I met twice with President Clinton

72 LUIS BÁEZ

in the White House cabinet room. I went witha delegation from the Black Caucus. When youintend to go there you have to give the securityagents your birth certificate and social securitynumber various days in advance so that they cancheck them out. When you get to the White Houseyou have to cross the security entrance, there arearmed guards, at the end of the corridor there is apost before which you have to stop and give yourname and ID card, then they confirm the veracityof your documents on the computer.

When they decide to give you authorization,they let you in and at the end of the corridor thereis another room in which there are many secu-rity officers who observe you closely, and thentake you through other checkpoints, until theyfinally let you see the president, our president.

In Cuba I was surprised, because we havebeen told so many times that it is a dictator-ship, that it is a totalitarian regime. That it isa country where the Castro brothers rule bydecree, backed up by guns. That is what we be-lieved when we arrived at the presidential pal-ace, at the Palace of the Revolution. But therewere no guards that we could see, and theymotioned us to enter and inside the door there


was only a superficial personal frisk. Afterwardsthey suggested leaving the items we were carry-ing and we entered a second room where therewere two officers, and President Castro appearedin a few minutes with just one bodyguard. Andfor me that constituted a disconcerting differ-ence between the president of a country whichwe had been told was a cruel and totalitariandictatorship that governed with a brutal Com-munist fist, and the way in which I had beenreceived at the White House by my president.The latter was exceedingly protected and guarded,and the other gave the impression of not hav-ing a lot of security.

Most of the conversation with Fidel Castrotook place with the members of Congress:Maxine Waters, Julia Causins, Barbara Lee andothers. But I had the opportunity of talking withhim during the reception. One of the things thathad most impressed me about the president ishis vast knowledge of the world situation.

For us Cuba is an isolated country, a coun-try that we do not associate with knowing muchabout the outside world. But when we talkedwith the president he talked to us of manythings. He talked to us of the problems of the

74 LUIS BÁEZ

Japanese yen, of the situation in the Balkans, ofthe president of the executive of the U.S. Fed-eral Reserves. He has a clear grasp of many worldproblems.

Then we asked him various questions thatwe considered important, like if racism existedin the country. He told us that at the triumphof the Revolution, there was a spirit for an endto discrimination. He and many others withhim thought that that would be definitive. Laterhe understood that many people have prejudicedviews on racial problems, in conflict with theRevolution, and that he understands that some-times it is necessary to take additional measuresto do away with the problem, and not confineoneself to saying that it is not permitted.

That demonstrates a will to change, whichhappens over time. Many world leaders reachpower with one view, which they maintain untillosing power. The fascinating thing about Fi-del is his capacity for flexibility, for not beinginflexible, which is very important.


LIVING HISTORY

DIEGO ARMANDO MARADONA, ARGENTINE

SOCCER PLAYER

It seems untrue to have a piece of history so close.He is a seducer and uses everything to envelopyou. It is said that he took off with twelve menand three guns in the Sierra Maestra and nowI realize why he won: he has an ironclad con-viction. Fidel Castro is a figure who is impos-sible to forget.

He is a living history. I defend my soccer likeFidel defends his people.

A CHAPTER APART

DOLORES IBÁRRURI, “LA PASIONARIA,” FORMER

PRESIDENT OF THE COMMUNIST PARTY OF SPAIN

Cuba is a very attractive country and Fidel isa chapter apart. He is a product of Cuba and itis very difficult to find a man like him.

76 LUIS BÁEZ

IT HAS DECIDED TO SPARE HIM

EDGARDO DE HABICH, DIPLOMAT, FORMER

PERUVIAN AMBASSADOR TO CUBA

Fidel Castro is a legend, a myth, the man mostattacked by imperialism, the man against whoselife the largest number of attempts have beenperpetuated and have failed; perhaps just becausehe feared death so little, courted it so much,that it has finally fallen in love with him andhas decided to spare him.

NATIONAL DIGNITY

EDUARDO GALEANO, URUGUAYAN WRITER

Latin America is no longer a threat. Thus it hasceased to exist. It is rarely that the universal fac-tories of public opinion deign to cast a glance atit. But nevertheless, Cuba, which likewise is nothreat to anyone, is still a universal obsession.

They cannot forgive it for continuing to ex-ist, for continuing to be. This little island sub-jected to a ferocious state of siege, condemnedto extermination through hunger, is refusing tolet its arm be twisted out of national dignity.


I have never confused Cuba with paradise.So why should I now confuse it with hell?

I am one among those who believe that itcan be loved without lying or remaining silent.

More than thirty years ago the imperial vetowas applied in a thousand ways to prevent therealization of the Sierra Maestra project.

In Cuba democracy and socialism were bornto be the two names of one same thing; but thebosses of the world only grant the freedom tochoose between capitalism and capitalism.

The Cuban Revolution is not the Eastern Eu-ropean model that collapsed so easily there. TheCuban Revolution, which did not arrive fromabove nor was imposed from outside, has grownfrom the people and not against it, nor despiteit; for that reason it has been able to developa collective conscience of the homeland; the es-sential self-respect that is at the base of self-de-termination.

The blockade of Cuba has intensified withthe years. A bilateral issue? That’s what theysay, but nobody is unaware that the U.S. block-ade implies, nowdays, a universal blockade.Cuba is being denied bread and salt and all therest. And that also implies, although manypeople ignore that fact, the negation of its rightto self-determination.

78 LUIS BÁEZ

The asphyxiating siege stretched around Cubais a form of the most ferocious, most efficient in-tervention in its internal affairs.

Are there privileges in Cuba? Tourism privi-leges? Without any doubt. But the fact is thata more egalitarian society does not exist in theAmericas. Poverty is shared: there is no milk,that’s true, but milk is not lacking for childrenand the elderly. Food is limited. But in full cri-sis there are still schools and hospitals for ev-eryone, not easy to imagine on a continentwhere so many people have no other teacherthan the street, nor any doctor other than death.

Poverty is shared out and shared out. Cubacontinues to have the greatest solidarity in theworld. Cuba was the only country to open itsdoors to Haitian refugees from hunger and themilitary dictatorship that, on the other hand,were expelled from the United States.

Cuba is judged as if it had not been sufferingfrom a continuous emergency situation for overthirty years. It is an astute enemy, no doubt, thatcondemns the consequences of its own acts.

Cuba is dictated courses in human rights bypersons that whistle and look the other waywhen the death penalty is applied in other coun-


tries of America—not applied now and again,but in a systematic way: frying black prisonersin electric chairs in the United States, massa-cring the Indians in the Guatemala sierras andmowing down children on the streets of Brazil.

Has the valor of this minute island, con-demned to solitude in a world where servilityis an elevated virtue or proof of talent, ceased tobe admirable? A world in which those who donot sell themselves, hire themselves out?

Fidel Castro is a symbol of national dignity.And for us Latin Americans, who are now com-pleting five centuries of humiliation, a belovedsymbol.

PROPHET OF DISASTER

ELIO GÁSPARI, BRAZILIAN JOURNALIST

Fidel Castro, the veteran guerrilla who charmedthe world by descending from the Sierra Maestrain 1959 to defeat a dictatorship, has kept hisoriginal beard, now a bit gray and sparse. He hashis eternal telescopic lens rifle in his jeep, but hedoesn’t touch it. Today his mountain is one ofpapers with which, thanks to a prodigious

80 LUIS BÁEZ

memory, he can compare the Brazilian trade defi-cit with the same sagacity as he follows the rainprecipitation gauge of a sugarcane field in theeastern region of his country.

In recent years Fidel has become a kind ofprophet of the disaster of the international fi-nancial system.

Creditors and debtors are facing the live coalof hundreds of billions of dollars, and one thingis certain: they cannot blame Fidel for that.

THE IMPOSSIBLE INTO VICTORIES

ENRIQUE DE LA OSA, CUBAN JOURNALIST

Fidel is a man of the 20th century. Lenin and Fi-del are the principal political figures of this cen-tury.

Fidel is a genius. He is one of those men bornevery 100 years. As Pablo Neruda said of SimónBolívar: “Every one hundred years I awake whenthe people awake.”

Fidel has demonstrated that he belongs tothat stock of men capable of converting dreamsinto reality and the impossible into victories.


I DIDN’T ALWAYS BELIEVE

ENRIQUE NÚÑEZ RODRÍGUEZ, CUBAN WRITER

I didn’t always believe in Fidel. I thought thatthe Moncada assault was madness. He was right.I estimated that the battle against the army wasimpossible for a group of youth. He was right.I considered that it was madness to nationalizeU.S. enterprises. He was right.

I took as fact what Adlai Stevenson, the U.S.ambassador to the United Nations, said when heaffirmed that it was Cuban planes that bombedthe Cuban air bases hours before the Bay of Pigsinvasion. Fidel said that they were U.S. aircraft.He was right.

When the 1962 Missile Crisis occurred I feltthat Fidel should be more flexible in order toavert a nuclear confrontation. Fidel maintainedthe line of national dignity. He was right.

Ever since then I prefer to leave the thinkingto Fidel. It is logical that he has more reasonthan someone like me, who has been mistakenso many times.

82 LUIS BÁEZ

HIS SIMPLICITY

ERNESTO CARDENAL,NICARAGUAN PRIEST AND POET

During my first visit I had a four-hour conver-sation with Fidel in his car, touring Havana’sstreets and visiting places. On getting to knowhim personally, I was very surprised by the gentle-ness of his voice. When you have only heard himin the Plaza, you cannot imagine that he wouldhave such a gentle voice. Likewise his simplic-ity, his intelligence and the great interest he hadin a vast quantity of things. But what most im-pressed me was his genius. Usually you area genius in one sole thing, but Fidel is a geniusin many.

Men like him rarely arise in life.

HE HAS DONE MORETHAN ANYONE

ERNESTO GUEVARA, CUBAN COMANDANTE,INTELLECTUAL, POLITICIAN AND REVOLUTIONARY

That telluric force called Fidel Castro Ruz hasgained a historical projection within a few years.


The future will place our prime minister in hisexact place, but for us he is comparable withthe most elevated figures in Latin Americanhistory. But, what are the exceptional charac-teristics surrounding the personality of FidelCastro?

There are various aspects of his life and char-acter that make him stand out far above all hiscomrades and followers; Fidel is a man of suchgreat personality that he will occupy a leader-ship role in any movement in which he partici-pates, and this has been the case throughouthis career from student life to the premiershipof our homeland and of the oppressed peoples ofAmerica.

He has the characteristics of a great leaderthat, combined with his personal gifts of bold-ness, strength and valor, and his extraordinarydesire to sound out the will of the people hastaken him to the position of honor and sacri-fice that he occupies today.

However he has other important qualities:the capacity to assimilate knowledge and ex-perience in order to comprehend all the aspectsof a situation without losing sight of the de-tails, his immense faith in the future, and hisbreadth of vision that can foresee events and

84 LUIS BÁEZ

anticipate incidents, always seeing further andmore accurately than his comrades.

With these great cardinal qualities, with hiscapacity to adhere and unite, opposing divisionsthat can weaken, his leadership capacity at thehead of any popular action, his infinite love forthe people, his faith in the future and his capac-ity to foresee it, Fidel Castro has done morethan anyone else in Cuba to construct from noth-


ing the now formidable apparatus of the Cu-ban Revolution.

Fidel gave the Revolution its impulse in theinitial years, the leadership, the tonic, always.Hence we are forging ahead. It does not shameus or intimidate us to say that there goes Fidel,at the head of a vast column.

BACK TO TOMORROW

ERNESTO MADERO, DIPLOMATIC, FORMER MEXI-CAN AMBASSADOR TO CUBA

I began my diplomatic career in Havana. Now,thirty-eight years later, in 1978, I am returningas an ambassador and what has most impressedme is the indomitable will of those who organ-ized the struggle; the political talent of the lead-ers headed by Fidel Castro.

Recently a Mexican friend asked me some-what incredulously: “But what do you find theCubans of today involved in… the new Cubansof whom you have talked to me?” I tried to makemy response precise: “I find the new Cubanswho are shaping the Revolution in the streets,in the masses, jostling me trying to get on a bus.”

86 LUIS BÁEZ

The Cuban reality has no precedent in theThird World, in the developed or underdevel-oped worlds. Returning to Cuba is going backto tomorrow.

THE IDEOLOGY OF MARTÍ

EUSEBIO LEAL, CITY OF HAVANA HISTORIAN

The hardest thing is to try and evaluate the im-pact of one figure on the consciousness of hiscontemporaries. The task of ordering anecdotesand testimonies from which—hopefully withpassion and truth—the semblance of heroesemerges is one for biographers.

In any case, what is both disarming andmoving is the grandeur that arises—like a light—from daily events. However brief the space ofone’s life is, it is more amazing when we can fillit completely with works.

In the case of the man who is the subject thatconcerns us, we have grown accustomed to the so-ciety and state being presided over by an excep-tional citizen. His accomplishments admit nodiscussion and belong totally to the future. It willcorrespond to history to pronounce its verdict.


For an attentive observer, it is not difficult tofind photos, manuscripts and press cuttings outlin-ing the moment of the calling to his vocation, forgedfrom his childhood and adolescence.

We are here before the politician, the orator,the public man… If he is stripped of any mili-tary or diplomatic attribute, we find ourselvesbefore a character whose patrimony is nourishedby the Bible or the Sainted Scriptures, the idealsof Martí and universal revolutionary thinking.

With a speaking style adorned by the flameof charisma, he has lived with the urgency ofthe prophets and possesses an “Ignatian” con-cept of discipline, which he has exercised in read-ing, meditation and vigil.

Although he appreciates a good table—andif he had time would enjoy preparing ingeniousrecipes—he eats sparingly, always less, or to bemore exact, only what is necessary.

He knows much about the strange signifi-cance of wine and the labyrinths that lead it tothe soul, that he can disclose its qualities andvirtues as if he was reciting the verses of OmarKhayyam.

However he would leave any wine aside tosavor like an elixir a milk sorbet, papaya juiceor a cup of broth with twenty vegetables.

88 LUIS BÁEZ

His frugality has been known to alarm hisclose collaborators, given that it never corre-sponds with exhausting work sessions which,over long periods, conclude at dawn.

He reads for duty and for pleasure, nobodydares interrupt that abstraction. The wings ofhis imagination take him to literary fiction, thefield of battle or to the most remote scenes ofhistory.

He admires the ancient world and its heroes.He subjects to criticism the aristocratic republicof Pericles and, being an idealist in the purestsense of the world, has been faithful to Aristo-telian reasoning, Socratic deduction or the un-surpassed eloquence of Demosthenes.

Beyond the image propagated by steamrollingspeeches and addresses, he is capable of bring-ing a select audience to its feet with a ten-minutespeech or one of a few pages.

At table he can chat for hours. But in visit-ing room armchairs he listens patiently, ques-tions and awaits the responses of his interlocu-tors. Then he remains silent to the extreme ofhaving recorded in the wooden arm support-ing his hand the imperceptible tapping of hisfinger.


He does not like to lose at anything. His train-ing is based on information, Cartesian doubt,deduction… to the point of discovering the ex-act or that which is reasonably approximate tothe truth. His memory is the fruit of that.

He loves solitude and I think that living al-most always in company is the worst sacrificethe Revolution has forced him to make. Hishouse, his family, his life… is duty. He is human,fallible… he forgets nothing, he excuses or par-dons almost anything except betrayal. He is strictregarding disorder, neat in details. Nobody cantouch his things, which are few and useful.

Attached to his own traditions, the memoryof his paternal home in distant lands exercisesover him the seduction of the distant and anony-mous point of departure; destiny has overtakenhim, but he knows he is the son of a providencethat does not anticipate events, life or death.

Triumph is always an initiation, and whenothers believe that all is lost, in his opinion, ithas hardly begun. He loves and cares for hisown—imperceptibly—but his personal life be-longs to him alone.

He rejects and admires Napoleon, whoseconcept of battle he has adopted: being informedof the enemy’s moves, anticipating, organizing,

90 LUIS BÁEZ

training… He selects the field of battle, attacksfirst, having also defeated the aligned parties orconspirators and concentrates his fire with en-ergy on the weakest point.

A follower of Martí to his roots, he reservesfor the Cuban National Hero a cult that he forgedin his early youth. Like a crystalline spring ofwater he recalls passages, verses and letters; heappropriately calls him the “Apostle.”

I have been one of his friends and closest dis-ciples in the critical and unforgettable years.

But out of many many impressions I wouldchoose that of August 5, 1994 when guided byhis instinct—which rejects any form of coward-ice—he headed a small detachment that movedamong a riot provoked by marginal elements inCity of Havana.

Previously he had instructed his comradesthat nobody was to use arms without his order;and then—dispensing with them and walkingwith his front exposed—faced the rabble, whichretreated, to the stupor of those of us accompa-nying him. He advanced resolutely and haltedbefore the monument to General Maceo, likesomeone who was coming to render homage;without a single drop of the blood of our ad-versaries having been spilt.


LOOKING AT THE PEOPLE

EZEQUIEL MARTÍNEZ ESTRADA, ARGENTINE

WRITER

Fidel is speaking to the people assembled at theJosé Martí Plaza de la Revolución. As alwayshe is dressed in his uniform of comandante. Thecrowd fills the plaza and spills over into adja-cent streets, losing itself in the distance. Thesquare has no horizon. Nor is it enclosed inthe framework of the city. There is a buildingopposite, with windows similar to the alveoliof a huge honeycomb and which seems to bemore in the country than in the city. Where arewe? We are in an assembly and in the event ofa solemn plebiscite. Looking closely, the facesone sees are fading away as if they were furtheraway than they really are. Between the tribunaland the crowd there is a purely optical distance,which seems strange. The impression of distanceis linked to that of stature, one would say thatof a fabulous giant, one hundred times largerthan the normal size of a man. Nor is the fig-ure of Fidel Castro chiselled, configured, orneatly outlined, like the image of the crowd,free in its absolute immobility. In this photo,

92 LUIS BÁEZ

we see his body and if we know that it is him itis because his body also has a personal physiog-nomy, as well as its gestures, and the gesturethat is instantly fixed is undoubtedly his. Onecan see his face in profile, almost from behind.The image does not belong to us, he is not look-ing at us; he is looking at the people, speakingfor everybody, not for us. His semi-extendedarm and index finger, now not accusing or point-ing but marking a rhythm, are unmistakable.That piece of the photo is Fidel Castro.

REAFFIRMING FAITH

FABRICIO OJEDA, VENEZUELAN JOURNALIST

AND POLITICIAN

The hour of America, the hour of justice hasarrived. The spirit of popular revolution is gal-loping over American soil. The Revolution isgrowing stronger in the awareness of Cuba andAmerica because both Fidel Castro and his com-rades in the leadership have been able to affirmthe peoples’ faith in what a revolution signifiesand what it can do.


THE HIGHEST EXPONENT

FAURE CHOMÓN, CUBAN INTELLECTUAL

AND POLITICIAN

Fidel Castro has been a sculptor of ideas, giventhat his forging of the Cuban Revolution wasthe synthesis of the thinking of the most illus-trious revolutionaries in our history, up to andafter Martí. He has continued sculpting on hisown virtues those ideas necessary to victoriouslydefend the Revolution from its enemies, open-ing the grand battle of those ideas and, fromthem and with them, rescuing the cause ofall the peoples of the world, through which he—the highest exponent of the thinking of theUniversal Revolution from Lenin to our days—proposes to save humanity. That is how I seeFidel.

ROBINSON’S SPRING

FAUSTINO ÁLVAREZ, SPANISH JOURNALIST

We are not before the autumn of the patriarchbut before the spring of Robinson. Fidel Castro,leader of the Cuban Revolution, is a man of

94 LUIS BÁEZ

great personal strength. He attracts you like anevangelist sculpted in stone, he seduces you likea magus and, moreover, preserves intact a doseof cordiality and even tenderness beneath therigor of his military uniform, his khaki dress.

MAN OF THE PRESENT

FAUSTO BERTINOTTI, ITALIAN POLITICIAN,GENERAL SECRETARY OF THE COMMUNIST

REFOUNDATION PARTY OF ITALY

Fidel Castro has an extraordinary past, is a manof the present and an outstanding world politi-cal figure.

STEADFAST AND VALIANT

FERNANDO ENRIQUE CARDOSO, INTELLECTUAL,POLITICIAN, FORMER PRESIDENT OF BRAZIL

The Cuban leader remains steadfast and valiantbefore the United States and challenges thebig powers to explain their actions. FidelCastro’s political vision was also evident duringhis participation in public events and tributes in


three important cities of the country after theLatin American and European Summit.

AUTHENTIC VALUES

FERNANDO GUTIÉRREZ BARRIOS, MEXICAN

OFFICER AND POLITICIAN

I had the opportunity to meet Fidel Castrowhen he was planning the defeat of the Batistadictatorship. I was convinced by his revolution-ary militancy, his ideals and his leadership skills.During the time that we knew each other onlyone alternative existed for him, which clearlydefined his conviction: to achieve his objectiveor die. Perhaps the slogan of the Cuban Revo-lution: Patria o Muerte (Homeland or Death) isderived from that. Time has passed and he hasmaintained an integral respect, as is always thecase when values are authentic ones. The his-torical conditions of the world have been trans-formed. One can agree or disagree with Fidel,one can turn ones back on him when changesin the world have been raised; but without anydoubt he is one of the great Latin Americanleaders of the second half of the 20th century.

96 LUIS BÁEZ

That is in the general sphere and, for me, I openlyexpress my affection and respect for Fidel Castroand the Cuban Revolution. Fidel is authentic andcongruent, and for that reason worthy of re-spect.

PROFOUND VISION

FRANCISCO CAAMAÑO, COMMANDER,DOMINICAN REVOLUTIONARY

I admire Fidel Castro’s profound vision of theinternational problematic. The exchanges ofopinion and experience I have had with a states-man of his stature have been very important tome.

PRINCIPAL ARTIFICER

FRANCISCO JULIAO, BRAZILIAN

CAMPESINO LEADER

The existence of Cuba as the first Latin Ameri-can nation to disown capitalism and adopt so-cialism, opens a horizon that the U.S. imperialpower has been seeking to close in all those


thirty years of constant economic, political andmilitary aggression, by violating the island’saerial, maritime and territorial space and at-tempting innumerable times to assassinate Fi-del Castro, the principal artificer of the Cubanprocess.

TRADITIONAL VITALITY

FRANCISCO RABAL, SPANISH ACTOR

Fidel Castro is an unequalled son of Americaand hopefully he will maintain his traditionalvitality and perseverance for many years in or-der to continue defeating Washington’s harass-ment so that Cuban independence will neverbe threatened again.

TREMENDOUS THING

FRANCISCO REPILADO, “COMPAY SEGUNDO,”TROVA SINGER, AND CUBAN SON MUSICIAN

The embrace Fidel gave me was a tremendous thing.It is the embrace of all Cuba. For chan chan,3 to

3. A rhythm created by Francisco Repilado. Ed.

98 LUIS BÁEZ

please the Pope and to please Fidel is like pleas-ing the whole world.

TALKING WITH FEELING

FRANK FERNÁNDEZ, PIANIST AND COMPOSER

Thinking does not get there, I prefer to talk withfeeling: I LOVE HIM VERY MUCH.


GENUINELY EVANGELICAL

FREI BETTO, BRAZILIAN THEOLOGIAN

I learned to love Cuba, including its errors, be-cause the positive part is much more profound,because I am a Christian and I believe that God’sgreatest gift is life, and there is no country inthe world that defends life like Cuba, a genu-inely evangelical nation.

Cuba is not paradise, but in a continent ofthe indigent, he who can eat is king. In the midstof disaster, the Cubans have resisted. It is theonly country in the Western Hemisphere tohave implanted socialism.

Fidel Castro is a privileged man on accountof his Christian upbringing, his Marxist optionand his assimilation of Martí’s preaching. He isa modest person, who almost asks permissionto be who he is… In spite of all his genius, allthe history that he embodies, he succeeds inmaking us feel his brother.

100 LUIS BÁEZ

VORACIOUS READER

GABRIEL GARCÍA MÁRQUEZ, COLOMBIAN

WRITER, NOBEL LITERATURE PRIZE LAUREATE

Fidel Castro is a voracious reader, a lover andvery serious connoisseur of good literature ofall times, and even at the most difficult momentshe has an interesting book to hand to fill anyspace that should arise. I have left him a bookwhen we have said goodbye at four in the morn-ing after an entire night of conversation, and atmidday I have met up with him again with thebook already read. Moreover, he is such an at-tentive and meticulous reader that he can findcontradictions and false information where onewould least imagine. After reading El relato deun náufrago (The Stor y of a Shipwreck Sailor)he went to my hotel just to tell me that therewas an error in the calculation of the boat’sspeed, so that its arrival time could not havebeen what I had said. He was right. On accountof that, before Crónica de una muerte anunciada(Chronicle of a Death Foretold) was published, I tookhim the original script, and he pointed out anerror in the specifications of the hunting rifle.You feel that he likes the world of literature,


that he feels very comfortable within it, andenjoys taking care with the literary content ofhis written speeches that are steadily more fre-quent. Once, not without a certain air of mel-ancholy, he said to me: “In my next reincarna-tion I want to be a writer.”

I ADMIRE HIS LEADERSHIP

GEORGE MCGOVERN, U.S. POLITICIAN, FORMER

DEMOCRATIC SENATOR

I had been interested in Fidel Castro for manyyears. I read everything that Herbert Matthewswrote about him and had read a lot of otherliterature written on the Cuban Revolution, ina way that although I am not in agreement witheverything that he has done and am not a com-munist, nonetheless I admire his leadership andconsider him to be one of the most importantleaders in the world of today.

Certain of the international press have at-tempted to disfigure Fidel’s image, but I do notalways believe what the international press says.Ho Chi Minh was likewise much vituperatedby the press. Once I knew President Castro, my

102 LUIS BÁEZ

opinion of his capacity was genuinely greatlyheightened.

OUT OF THE ORDINARY

GERARD BOURGOIN, FRENCH ENTREPRENEUR

I feel very good with Fidel Castro, he is a manwith an out-of-the-ordinary charisma who, con-trary to what has been said, has a great strengthfor listening. A man who likes to be cultivated.He asks a lot of questions and has many ideas and,every time I have the opportunity to see him,I have a great time and we talk of many things.

CONVINCING THE SPHINX

GERMÁN PINELLI, CUBAN JOURNALIST

AND RADIO AND TV PRESENTER

I have known Fidel since he was a young man.I knew of his impetus, his daring and his talent.He has always had the rare vision of knowingthe outcome of things. Not all people know theoutcome of things. They know the beginning,they think of the end, but they are not certain


of what it is going to be. But Fidel does have thatcertainty. He has always had an exceptional powerof grasping things. He is capable of convincingthe Sphinx. The Sphinx speaks if he tells it to,due the powers of persuasion that he possesses.

HIS TRUTH

GIANNI MINÀ, ITALIAN JOURNALIST

Fidel Castro had spoken his truth. We havetaken it up not as an act of faith, but as a testi-mony. I have discovered a man whom I realizeI will never find again in the rest of my life.

HE IS NOT AN ORDINARY PERSON

GOAR MESTRE, BUSINESSMAN OF CUBAN ORIGIN

LOCATED IN ARGENTINA

In Cuba we had many shameless individualswhose governments were characterized by theircorruption, lack of honesty and lack of patri-otism. I am one of the fiercest critics of thoseCuban governments.

104 LUIS BÁEZ

And, in a certain way, that could justify whatCastro has done. What I regret is that he hastaken another way, as Castro is not an ordinaryperson, like other human beings, he is not justanyone. There are human beings and humanbeings. Not all of us are equal nor can we be.

VERY ATTRACTIVE FIGURE

GRAHAM GREENE, BRITISH WRITER

Fidel Castro is a very attractive figure, but farmore so is the conviction that animates him.I retain a great liking for him.

BEING INSPIRED

GREGORY PECK, U.S. ACTOR

It is time to revert the U.S. antagonism and hos-tility towards Latin America and, especially,towards Cuba. When I visited the Isle of Youthwhere young people from Africa and LatinAmerica are studying, those from Nicaraguaand Namibia caught my attention. “How is itpossible,” I thought then, “that the United States


does not want a movement like this for the solereason that it is inspired by Fidel Castro?”

FULL OF CONCERNS

GRO HARLEM BRUNDTLAND, DIRECTOR

GENERAL OF THE WORLD HEALTH

ORGANIZATION (WHO)

Fidel Castro is full of concerns and none of themare lacking in profound significance.

The detailed knowledge he possesses im-pressed me and he reveals a very clear perspec-tive and awareness of the health problems cur-rently being confronted by humanity.

HISTORICAL CHARACTER

GIULIO ANDREOTTI, FORMER ITALIAN PRIME

MINISTER

Fidel Castro is a historical character who hasa particular role in world politics, above all inthis world that is so uncertain.

106 LUIS BÁEZ

POSITIVE CONTRIBUTION

HAROLD COOLEY, U.S. POLITICIAN,FORMER HOUSE REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE

DEMOCRATIC PARTY

The 1959 visit to the United States of Dr. FidelCastro constituted a positive contribution torelations between both countries and served,among other things, to create a state of opinionin Congress and encourage a greater sympathyfor and understanding of Cuban problems.Castro was very sincere in the ideas he expressed.

NEW ERA

HAROLD CRUSE, U.S. ESSAYIST

When I heard Fidel Castro speak and felt thecrescendo of the people’s response to his ideas,many of my cynical ideas on revolutions disap-peared. I came with an open mind, I saw andI understood. What I saw is a new era in thehistory of the hemisphere, a new page in West-ern history, a page that cannot be turned backor suppressed.


ANY NATION

HARRY BELAFONTE, U.S. SINGER

AND FILMMAKER

I admire Fidel Castro because for Washingtonany nation that elects the social system that mostsuits it constitutes a threat operating against itsinterests in the region and is accused of beingCommunist and immediately suffers its hos-tility.

THE BEST FOR HIS PEOPLE

HARRY S. TRUMAN, POLITICIAN,FORMER U.S. PRESIDENT

I believe that Fidel Castro is a good guy whoseems to want the best for the Cuban people;this being the situation we should sympathizewith him and help him to do what is right forhis people.

108 LUIS BÁEZ

ONE OF US

HAYDÉE SANTAMARÍA, CUBAN INTELLECTUAL

AND REVOLUTIONARY

I knew Fidel as a comrade of my brother Abel,when he was a young man and sometimes wentthere (the apartment on 25 and O Street) to eat,to discuss, to find Abel or to talk with certaincomrades. And in spite of the years, in any case,whenever I see him I become emotional, likewe react in front of someone we are meetingfor the first time. And that always happens to


me, even after so many years and never beingmuch time without seeing him. Only when hewas in prison or when he was in Mexico. Weinvariably found each other, even if it was ata distance, and there was a greeting with a look.Well, it is so emotional to know that we havehim and that he is one of us.

HE TRANSMITS TENDERNESS

HEBE DE BONAFINI OF ARGENTINA, ONE

OF THE LEADERS OF THE PLAZA DE MAYO

GRANDMOTHERS

My children talked a lot about Fidel to me.I think they also dreamed of meeting him oneday face to face and embracing him. He speakswith such profundity. And I understood that itwasn’t a formal meeting, it was a meeting ofsentiment… He was very moved when I gavehim my headscarf. I didn’t want to talk, I wantedto think of my children, of their dreams… Howmany times have they wanted to be here! AndI felt like a chosen one, sat there like a privi-leged person. When we embraced, when I feltmyself embracing him, although he embraced

110 LUIS BÁEZ

me as well, we were transmitting something verystrong. He transmits tenderness because he is a per-son who always regards you directly. People’sregards reveal whether they are sincere, whetherthey are hypocrites, whether they are formal,whether they are bored, if they do not knowhow to terminate an interview. All the time hewas there was the time he wanted to be there.


THE LIVING WORD

HÉCTOR MÚJICA, VENEZUELAN JOURNALIST

AND POLITICIAN

It’s a Revolution! I said to myself, at the verymoment that Fidel was narrating—in that kindof colloquium that only he knows how to makewith such mastery, because it isn’t an oratoricaltechnique or a learned stunt, but the living wordthat erupts from his popular gut—that he hadheard talk of “revolutions” since he was a child,but that this is the first Revolution that the Cu-ban people are making and it will not be frus-trated by anything or anyone.

ONE OF THE GREATESTSTATESMEN

HEINZ DIETERICH, GERMAN PHILOSOPHER

RESIDENT IN MEXICO

Without any doubt, Fidel Castro is one of thegreatest world statesmen of the post-war period.This assessment is not a personal tribute, but isderived from the related overwhelming empiri-cal evidence: the fact of having successfully

112 LUIS BÁEZ

maintained an anti-imperialist project for fortyyears in extremely adverse conditions ninetymiles from the modern Rome: the United States.

VERY THOUGHTFUL

HERB. D. HALIWAL,CANADIAN PARLIAMENTARIAN

Fidel Castro is a very thoughtful man, highlyarticulate, open to an exchange of views, verypragmatic and someone who has a broad under-standing of world politics and how this is re-flected in the developing countries.

POPULAR BACKING

HERBERT L. MATTHEWS, U.S. JOURNALIST WITH

THE NEW YORK TIMES, THE FIRST CORRESPONDENT

IN THE SIERRA MAESTRA, 1957

The coup by General Fulgencio Batista onMarch 10, 1952 marked the beginning of theend of an old political order in Cuba. Lookingat history in retrospect one has the impressionthat it was an inevitable event.


As usual, the organized protest was made bystudents and youth. As soon as Fidel Castro andhis young men emerged, he constituted a sym-bol welding together the discontented and vio-lent opposition grew.

His self-defense in a document that, givenits effect, Cubans compare with José Martí’sPresidio Político en Cuba [Political Prison inCuba], eloquent, exalted, lengthy—it took sixhours—is still recalled because it contained thesocial reforms that Fidel Castro immediately putinto effect after his victorious entry into Ha-vana in January 1959. That historical declara-tion concluded with these famous words: “His-tory will absolve me.”

A few weeks after the Granma landing andtheir presence in the Sierra Maestra, Fidel and hismen became a symbol for the construction ofthe militant opposition: a small armed force anda civil resistance movement.

Before Fidel Castro became a symbol and theprincipal leader of the rebellion, he had to provethat he was alive and initiating the struggle. Heachieved that on February 24, 1957, when TheNew York Times published an interview whichI had obtained a few weeks before in the SierraMaestra.

114 LUIS BÁEZ

All Cuban youth were on the side of FidelCastro, and thousands of young men sufferedpolice persecution, torture and death.

People who want to understand what is hap-pening in Cuba today should be aware of this:it was a revolution of young people and it isyoung Cubans who are giving content and sig-nificance to the current social transformations.

The Revolution that followed the trium-phant rebellion is classical in its objectives, butwith Cuban characteristics.

Nothing more important can be said of theCuban Revolution than this fact: the imposingpopular support that it can count on.

It should be clearly taken into account: theprocess cannot be reversed, nor will Cuba everbe what it was.

WE WILL NEVER FORGET

HO CHI MINH, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF VIET NAM

The Cubans, with Fidel Castro at the front, haveshown much solidarity with our people andwith our struggle. We Vietnamese will neverforget that support.


THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS

HOWARD FELIX HARIAN COOKE, GOVERNOR

GENERAL OF JAMAICA

I congratulate Fidel Castro and the Cubanpeople for their contributions to the world andparticularly for the support lent to the libera-tion of Namibia and other African nations, aswell as the aid given to my country in the train-ing of doctors, nurses, athletes and in otherspheres.

INDOMITABLE PEOPLE

HOUARI BOUMEDIENNE, CHIEF OF STAFF,POLITICIAN, FORMER PRESIDENT OF ALGERIA

Fidel Castro is the worthy son of the home-land of José Martí and the protagonist of theMoncada assault that guide the fate of an in-domitable people, the constructors of a Revo-lution that, like a impetuous torrent sprungfrom the Sierra Maestra, swept away in its pass-ing the dictator’s strongholds and defeated mul-tiple aggressions.

116 LUIS BÁEZ

HE BELONGS TO THE WORLD

HUGO CHÁVEZ, OFFICER, POLITICIAN,PRESIDENT OF THE BOLIVARIAN REPUBLIC

OF VENEZUELA

Without any doubt for all of us and entire gen-erations of Latin Americans, Caribbean peoplesand fighters throughout the world Fidel isa 75-year-old young man, a soldier and adreamer. You honor us with your presence inVenezuela and fill us with joy by making us agift of your presence and Cubans and Venezu-elans sharing this day together.

Fidel does not just belong to Cuba, he be-longs to this entire world of ours, to ourAmerica. After almost half a century of struggle,Fidel can show his face with full integrity andtotal ethics not only to the Cuban people, but toall the peoples of the world.

A blockaded Cuba, virtually without re-sources from the material point of view, but ledby Fidel and constructed by its people, has en-tered the 21st century in a social situation thatis the envy of the Latin American and Carib-bean peoples. There are differences here that willremain in history and are already sown in thejudgement of history.


A few decades ago Fidel said: “History willabsolve me;” hence the book of the same name.You have an infinite face, gigantic before thehistory of our peoples, and nobody will ever beable to take you from there, Fidel.

At the end of the 1980s Fidel stated thata new revolutionary wave of peoples would beunleashed in the continent when it seemed—ascertain deluded persons pointed out—that wehad reached the end of history, that history waspetrified and that there were no other ways oralternatives other than the neoliberal model ofbrute capitalism, the false democracy implantedin those nations.

When many people began to yield and givein, Fidel continued saying that new waves wouldcome. We are witnessing the beginning of thosenew waves.

In all of this Latin America the peoples areonce again rising up in a wave of distinct tend-encies, but in the end a popular wave, which isbeginning to shift the old structures of domina-tion on the continent.

Neruda was right when he said: “Bolívarawakes every 100 years when the peoples awake.”We are inscribed and together in that wave and

118 LUIS BÁEZ

in that struggle. Together we will make it possible.United, as Bolívar said, we will be invincible.

These are reasons enough to be optimisticon your 75th birthday. Entering this 21st cen-tury with our heads on high, with our moralehigh, laden with dreams, laden with fortitude,laden with faith, laden with hope.

My brother, ¡Hasta la Victoria Siempre! (EvenOnward to Victory!). And may you spend verymany more years among us, giving demonstra-tions of that integrity that you have given allyour life, giving demonstrations of courage, of ex-ample and impelling, as always, the waves of thepeoples. Congratulations, my brother!

20TH CENTURY QUIXOTE

IGOR IVANOV, RUSSIAN

MINISTER OF FOREIGN RELATIONS

Cuba is a state with international prestige, de-spite efforts to isolate it, above all on the part ofthe United States, which nobody has been ableto achieve. Fidel Castro is one of the last Quixotesof the 20th century and moreover, he is in verygood physical shape and actively participates inthe life and politics of his country.


PRINCIPAL AUTHOR

BRAZILIAN INTELLECTUALS

The presence of Fidel Castro in Brazil is anopportunity to recall Cuba’s great achievementsattained by a generation that abolished miseryand illiteracy, established a healthcare system andguaranteed the population equal opportunities,thus allowing the previously dispossessed classesa more human life until then unknown in LatinAmerica. In the person of Fidel Castro, the prin-cipal author of this work, we salute the Cubanpeople who have understood how to maintaintheir ideals with such firmness.

DREAM MAKERS

CUBAN INTELLECTUALS

We wish everyone to know that we, Cuban writ-ers and artists, and also dream makers, are withFidel now and always.

120 LUIS BÁEZ

A HUMANIST

JACK NICHOLSON, U.S. ACTOR

I have talked with Fidel about everything, oflife, of culture. Fidel is a genius and a humanistand I believe that he never wanted to break withus (the United States). Cubans are very openand have no hostility at all against the U.S.people.

CURRENT OF SYMPATHY

JACQUES DUCLOS, FORMER GENERAL SECRETARY

OF THE COMMUNIST PARTY OF FRANCE

The name of Fidel Castro is known to all Frenchpeople and the Cuban Revolution is surroundedby a current of sympathy developing in parallelwith the anti-U.S. current. This is, in one way,the French translation of the Cuban people’swords of command: “Cuba sí, Yankees no!”


THEY SHOULDBE CONGRATULATED

JAMES WOLFENSOHN, BORN IN AUSTRALIA,A NATURALIZED U.S. CITIZEN, PRESIDENT

OF THE WORLD BANK

I believe—and everyone would agree—that Cubahas undertaken good work in education andhealth. They should be congratulated for whatthey have done.

A VERY SPECIAL MAN

JAVIER GRASS, SPANISH COMPOSER

AND MUSICIAN

I recall in my youth that photograph in whichHemingway appears with Fidel. From that timeI have always nursed the desire to know per-sonally the Comandante: that very special man.I took the first step when I came to live in thisbeautiful country with its out-of-the-ordinarypeople. Then, living here, I saw him pass by inhis car and that dream of meeting him camecloser.

122 LUIS BÁEZ

Fidel is a man who is close to his people,marches alongside them, talks with them andlives alongside them. Moreover, he suffers withthem and, far from distancing himself, comescloser every day to their needs, their daily prob-lems.

It is admirable how he takes care that hispeople should enrich itself spiritually, that hecalls for retraining and battles to raise the cul-tural level of all Cubans. This would be unthink-able in any other part of the world.

His valor and courage in the face of powerfulenemies in the defense of what he considers justshould be highlighted, as is the case with hisbrother Raúl, likewise a revolutionary with animpressive history who, with that humility ofthe great, sometimes moves discreetly among us.

Fate and certain friends saw to it that my dreamof meeting Fidel became a reality one night at theHotel Nacional. Seeing him walking through thelobby I approached him, greeted him and em-braced him. I felt him as a superior being and inthe midst of my emotion only managed to say:“My Comandante, it is an honor for me to be ableto shake your hand.” He regarded me with thatpenetrating look and I perceived on his part a simpleand sincere gesture of affection.


I had just greeted an honest, valiant and sen-sitive man. One of the greatest statesmen of the20th century. The father of the Cuban people.

A BOOK

JEAN BERTRAND ARISTIDES,PRESIDENT OF HAITI

Fidel Castro is a book.

THE PEOPLES’ HOPE

J. J. SERVAN SCHREIBER, FRENCH JOURNALIST

All French people who have maintained theideal of social justice in their hearts profoundlyrecognize in Fidel Castro and in the Cubanpeople the rare example that they have given ofheroism in combat and dignity in victory.

Cuba’s message to the world proves that mili-tary force in the service of the privileged alwayscomes to an end, because it is no more than theappearance of force. That was the message ofChrist, of the French Revolution, of AmericanIndependence and, finally, of the battleshipPotemkin.

124 LUIS BÁEZ

Today it is the honor of the Cubans, in thistime of great development, to be the inheritorsof the imperishable hope of the peoples.

ONE OF HIS SOLDIERS

JOAQUÍN BALAGUER, INTELLECTUAL,POLITICIAN, FORMER PRESIDENT

OF THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

My relations with Cuba have been very cor-dial. They have primarily developed in thesporting and cultural fields. Many Dominicanstravel to Cuba in search of health, visit hospi-tals, maintain very good relations with Cubanfamilies and there is a constant exchange be-tween the two countries. We do not have diplo-matic relations with Cuba for obvious reasons.But it is impossible to separate two countriesthat are so united by history, with such power-ful historical ties, not only on account of JoséMartí’s action here in the epoch of his battlefor Cuban liberation, but on account of theprofound mark that he left during his visits toour country. Fidel Castro has in me one of hissoldiers, a fervent admirer and a man identifiedwith his ideas.


BOLÍVAR’S LEGACY

JOHN F. KENNEDY, INTELLECTUAL, POLITICIAN,FORMER U.S. PRESIDENT

Fidel Castro is part of the legacy of Bolívar. Weshould have given the fiery and youthful rebela warmer welcome at his hour of victory.

A HOPE

JOHN WILLIAM COOKE, ARGENTINE,PERONIST LEADER

Cuba is a signal and Fidel Castro is a hope.

PRAYING FOR HIM

POPE JOHN XXIII

Ambassador, tell my dear son (Fidel) from meto resist, that the Holy Father is praying forhim and for Cuba.

126 LUIS BÁEZ

BORN OF THE PEOPLE

JORGE AMADO, BRAZILIAN WRITER

Because he was born of the people and remainsin the midst of the people, his grandeur is that ofthe Cuban people. Everything that he has done,all his actions, make concrete the highest aspira-tions of the José Martí’s homeland. The peace inwhich I believe is not and will not be divorcedfrom justice, from freedom, from the hope ofa better world, and Fidel embodies all that.

IMPOSSIBLE TO DISHEARTEN HIM

JORGE RICARDO MASETTI, ARGENTINE JOUR-NALIST AND REVOLUTIONARY

Visits to dozens of timber shacks, equally per-forated by bullets; the lamentation of womenand children and of men surprised and beatenbefore they could exercise a minimal reaction indefense of their homes, had accelerated in theComandante an explosion of his whole capac-ity for reaction. I was able to confirm at thattime why Fidel Castro, shattered by the Granma


landing, entire months without food in the faceof campesino indifference, obliged to take upguerrilla warfare due to a lack of arms withwhich to fight, continued growing in Cuba, onthe continent and in a large part of the world.It was impossible to dishearten him.

I CANNOT CONCEIVE

JORGE TIMOSSI, ARGENTINE-CUBAN JOURNALIST

AND WRITER

Living in the time and space of Fidel consti-tutes the essential, the principal and privilegedaxis of my life. I cannot conceive of an exist-ence without Fidel. Simply because as a states-man and human being he integrates ethics andtruth, courage, constant tenacity, the finest, mostqualified and universal of the art of politics, andan integral culture incomparable with any othercontemporary statesman.

His elevated mental stature and even his ac-knowledged physical resistance have revealedhim as an inescapable phenomenon impregnat-ing his vast ideals made concrete and those of thefuture in individuals like me and in multitudes

128 LUIS BÁEZ

in our country and the world. Living throughFidel, meditating and re-meditating on his ideasis something like an attainable joy.

A MAN OF CONVICTIONS

JOSÉ BONO, POLITICIAN, PRESIDENT

OF THE AUTONOMOUS GOVERNMENT

OF CASTILLA-LA-MANCHA, SPAIN

Fidel is a man firmly convinced of what he isdoing, a patriot who is working for his people,who has a very high concept of sovereignty and,above all, of the defense of national interests thathave so often being threatened or blocked.

IMPACT ON HISTORY

JOSÉ FIGUERES FERRER, INTELLECTUAL,POLITICIAN, FORMER PRESIDENT OF COSTA RICA

Fidel Castro is one of the international figuresto have had the greatest impact on me due tohis charisma. We had differences with Fidel thathave lessened now and we are good friends.A few months ago I was invited to Cuba and


talked with him for more than nine hours. Amongthe things he told me was that while Reagan isin the U.S. Government, relations between thatcountry and Cuba are going to be impossible.And I think that he is right. Moreover, I amone hundred percent in agreement with the the-sis that he sets out in his book Crisis económicay social del mundo [World Economic and SocialCrisis].

One can be in agreement with him or not,but Fidel has made an impact on history.

ONE OF THE GREAT STATESMEN

JOSÉ LÓPEZ PORTILLO, INTELLECTUAL,POLITICIAN, FORMER PRESIDENT OF MEXICO

Fidel Castro is one of the great figures of thiscentury. His rebellion, in the small ambit inwhich it happened, was stimulating. It becamethe paradigm of the contemporary generation,ashamed of opulence, absurd and aimless wars,its contrasts and injustices. He was a kind ofbarbed pointer of critical awareness. Admiredby me as one of the important and key men interms of understanding this 20th century.

130 LUIS BÁEZ

A paradigmatic Fidel in his century, authorof the independence that has restored dignityto his island; an irreplaceable governor and theguiding force of a revolution in ascent.

In short, Castro’s intelligence, culture andpersonality facilitated my relationship with him.I recall Castro as one of the great statesmen thatI have had the privilege to know.

VERY PROFOUNDLY

JOSÉ MARÍA VELASCO IBARRA, FORMER

PRESIDENT OF ECUADOR

Fidel Castro is a man who has comprehendedvery profoundly the present hour of humanityand who has dedicated himself to it with valor,with heroic valor, with constancy, with sacri-fice, with effort, by living dangerously, in theonly way in which human beings can aggran-dize and glorify their lives: by constantly, heroi-cally and dangerously serving humanity.

He has dedicated himself to living danger-ously in order to redeem his people from pov-erty, servitude and unjust interventions.


WIDE-RANGING KNOWLEDGE

JOSÉ MIGUEL INSULZA, CHILEAN POLITICIAN

I visited Cuba for the first time in 1963, agedtwenty. On that occasion I came to know FidelCastro and Che Guevara personally. After thatI met with the Cuban president on differentoccasions. They have been very frank and pleas-ant encounters. We have talked for hours onnumerous subjects. He possesses a wide-rang-ing knowledge of what is occurring in Chileand in all the Latin American countries.

Since my first meeting with him thirty-threeyears have gone by. He has always maintainedthe same position on a whole conjuncture ofsubjects and that is very interesting. He hasa great capacity for grasping new phenomena, newthings. His information on international poli-tics and economic knowledge are surprising.

132 LUIS BÁEZ

FIRMLY IN THE SADDLE

JOSÉ MIGUEL IRRISARI, CUBAN LAWYER

AND ECONOMIST

I was one of the members of the five-personjunta that ruled Cuba for five days after the fallof Gerardo Machado in August 1933. The situa-tion was handled by the U.S. ambassador SumnerWelles. The U.S. Navy maintained thirty war-ships at anchor facing Havana. The U.S. Gov-ernment always did whatever it felt like in ourcountry. They were the ones in control. Theyinstalled and removed presidents. It is sicken-ing to talk of that period. That is why therewas always the need for a Revolution in Cubaand men like Fidel Castro who would stayfirmly in the saddle and not take orders fromthe United States.

HE BEAT US

JOSÉ PARDO LLADA, JOURNALIST AND POLITICIAN

OF CUBAN ORIGIN LOCATED IN COLOMBIA

I always remember that in 1952 Javier Lezcano,a friend of mine and of Castro, said to me:


“Pardo, how mistaken you are. You don’t real-ize that Fidel is a historical figure.” I laughed.Now thirty-six years have passed—1988—andI have to acknowledge that Lezcano was right.

I cannot avoid people constantly remindingme of Castro. A few days ago Amparo Grisales,the most popular artist in Colombia, returnedfrom Havana and talked wonders of her meet-ing with him.

Something similar happened to me recentlywith the Ecuadoran President Rodrigo Borja,who commented to me that Castro had excelledin his visit to Quito.

It surprises people that a man with so muchpower and so much intervention in political lifecan be so spontaneous. Castro meets up withone person or another and immediately createsa pleasing atmosphere for him or her. That isanother of his powerful weapons.

My friend General Juan Domingo Perón usedto say that no one escapes his destiny. I cannotescape that past. I cannot escape a past that ishere: good or bad, but here. That carries weight.Those photos of mine with Castro that you haveseen in my living room are recollections of a pe-riod in my life which I have never regretted andwill never regret. That is part of my life.

134 LUIS BÁEZ

For me Castro and Che are two figures thathave gone down in history.

Despite political differences I feel an admira-tion for Castro. I cannot deny that. In our hearts,we Cubans who were his friends remember thatstage as a gratifying memory, but with nostal-gia. We couldn’t forget it even if we wanted to.

Castro beat us; there is no doubt about that.He beat us by a long way in the race; but I havenever felt hatred or resentment of him.

How am I going to negate someone thatI applauded and supported at a specific momentof my life? Other people don’t recognize that.There they are, each one with his burden ofhatred or happiness.

Do you think I could forget the occasionwhen he was visiting my house waiting for meto return from doing a radio program and mywife, who was pregnant, started haemorrhaging,and it was Fidel who picked her up, took her tohospital, and saved her life. That cannot be for-gotten. That is here. That is part of my life.

I’m going to confess something to you: forme, just like for you, he also continues beingFidel.


DETERMINATION TO WIN

JOSÉ RAMÓN FERNÁNDEZ, CUBAN GENERAL

AND POLITICIAN

It is Fidel that set in motion the ideas of liberty,sovereignty and social justice that for well overone century were generated in different parts ofCuba by a mix of nationals of Spanish origin,freed men, slaves and also some people fromthe peninsula.

Those ideas were clearly demonstrated in thewar of 1868 and later, taken up and developedby the genius of Martí, by the creation of theCuban Revolutionary Party and the organiza-tion of the war initiated on February 24, 1895,whose outcome was frustrated by the U.S. in-tervention of 1898.

It was in the second half of the last centurythat Fidel took all those antecedents as the idealof struggle, united wills, organized and put intoaction that movement conceived of by Martí,which definitively defeated the dictatorship,decapitated the bourgeois state and its institu-tions and liberated us from being a dependencyof U.S. imperialism.

From 1953 to date Fidel’s total dedicationhas been made public. With his intelligence,

136 LUIS BÁEZ

wisdom, political understanding, perspicacityand valor he has led Cuba to wage this battle inwhich the strength is in the hands of the adver-sary, but the intelligence, courage and determi-nation to win is the heritage of this peopleheaded by him.

Not for centuries, or in the present periodhas there been such a colossal battle againstimperialism as that waged by the Cuban peopleled by Fidel.

There is no other leader that has effecteda feat comparable to that undertaken by Fidel.

For all the above, as he predicted in his wordsof defense before the court that tried him forthe assault on the Moncada Garrison, historyhas absolved him.

MORE SOLID THAN A ROCK

JOSÉ SARAMAGO, PORTUGUESE WRITER, NOBEL

LITERATURE PRIZE LAUREATE

Fidel Castro embodies the heroism of the Cu-ban people... If it were not for the will of theCuban people and the will of Fidel Castro, Cubacould not live. Cuba is more solid than a rock,


because rocks are gradually eroded and that isnot occurring in Cuba.

SACRED SON OF THE HOMELAND

JUAN ALMEIDA BOSQUE, MAJOR

OF THE CUBAN REVOLUTION

Fidel is the only figure of whom I speak withadjectives and superlatives.

Every century has its person who goes downin history, and the 20th century is that of FidelCastro Ruz.

I am not accustomed to identifying him byhis surnames, I say them out of the love, warmthand affection that he always had for his parents.

In the 19th century we admired Martí, thatwas his century as a politician, poet and writerand his fall in combat. With him, we admireCéspedes, the Maceos, Gómez, Agramonte, Se-rafín Sánchez, Flor Crombet4 and other patriots,

4. Carlos Manuel de Céspedes (1819-74)—known as the Fatherof the Homeland—; Antonio Maceo y Grajales (1845-96), hisfather and brothers; Ignacio Agramonte y Loynaz (1841-73);Serafín Sánchez (1876-96); and Flor Crombet (1850-95), fight-ers for Cuban independence during the wars of the 19th cen-tury. Ed.

138 LUIS BÁEZ

but the 20th century is Fidel’s. He will go downin history as the sacred son of the homeland.

I am honoured to have known him person-ally in 1952 and, from then onwards, to haveshared with him all these years during whichI have seen him increase his stature as the un-disputed chief, exceeding the confines of thehomeland to acquire international stature.

Fidel dignified humankind, gave blacks andwomen their place. At his side I have never feltlike a mere black. He has a great love for chil-dren and an infinite confidence in youth.

I do not believe it is necessary to say any-thing else; the great do not need many words.

HIGHEST LEVEL

JUAN ANTONIO SAMARANCH, SPANIARD,PRESIDENT OF THE INTERNATIONAL

OLYMPIC COMMITTEE

Cuba is helping many nations, which demon-strates that a little country can also have a sport-ing conduct at the highest level. There is nodoubt that sports in Cuba are not just goingwell but very well, and President Fidel Castro


has played an outstanding role in that by apply-ing the correct policy that sports begins inschools and is practiced en masse.

HE HASN’T FALLEN FROM THESKIES

JUAN BOSCH, WRITER, POLITICIAN, FORMER

PRESIDENT OF THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

Fidel Castro hasn’t fallen from the skies. Heembodies the latest episode of a political proc-ess that is in ascent.

Latin America has given us three politicalgeniuses: Toussaint L’Ouverture, Simón Bolívarand Fidel Castro; and I should say that that isa lot to give, because political geniuses don’t arisejust like that. Humboldt had anticipated thatwhen, at the beginning of the 19th century, af-ter a tour of America, he commented that thetwo most politicised places were Caracas andHavana; in other words, Venezuela and Cuba.

We are in the midst of a historical rupture,of a change from one society into another, asoccurred when capitalism replaced feudalism,when feudalism replaced slavery. Due to the fact

140 LUIS BÁEZ

that we are in that historical rupture, the UnitedStates was mistaken with Fidel; it was also mis-taken with Ho Chi Minh and will continue be-ing more and more and more mistaken.


THE GREAT VIRTUE

JUAN DOMINGO PERÓN, GENERAL, POLITICIAN,FORMER PRESIDENT OF ARGENTINA

That intense penetration—the United States—after World War II in our continent, in all coun-tries, for good or for bad. When countries donot yield or it cannot penetrate them, it arrangesa coup d’état or installs an obedient government.

The great virtue that I see in the Cuban Revo-lution and Fidel’s action is precisely that; hehas placed a dyke there that it has not been ableto cross. What has been the cost of associatingitself with Russia? It doesn’t matter. With the devil,provided that you don’t fall. Because thedevil, you know? Moreover it’s a bit ethereal.On the other hand, these are real.

HE HAD THE GOSPELS IN MIND

JUAN EMILIO FRIGULS, CUBAN JOURNALIST

I am of the belief that a genuine image of Fidel’sinfluence in terms of the Church, including hisconcept and evaluation of the Gospels, has yetto be written.

142 LUIS BÁEZ

When he said: “To betray the poor is to be-tray Christ,” he had the Gospels in mind.

NOT A SECOND OF VACILLATION

JUAN MARINELLO, CUBAN INTELLECTUAL AND

POLITICIAN

The triumph and consolidation of the CubanRevolution is due to the presence of a man likeFidel. Marxism, which is above all a profoundlyhumane doctrine, does not deny the importanceof a human being as an interpreter and, I wouldsay, as a leader of a historical process, with anexceptional vision, as is the case with Martí, asis the case with Fidel, the case with Lenin andthe great figures that have led an important so-cial transformation.

There is not the slightest doubt that Fidel isa highly notable figure of our times and has anundeniable historical category.

The extraordinary destiny to be the man whohas installed a new way of life on a continent—socialism—has fallen on him. That is a pro-file which gives him an absolute historical cat-egory of the greatest importance.


Moreover, of course, he has the great virtueof having been able to undertake a task of suchimportance with an amazing mastery, with botha political and revolutionary meaning.

We could say: it is the same thing. No, it isnot exactly the same. These terms have muchin common, much similitude, many relations,but one understands as revolutionary a personwho unleashes great historical processes andundertakes, in virtue of them, great transfor-mations.

A politician is a man who knows how togovern circumstances with the skill that themoment demands so that his major objectivestriumph.

Fidel has those characteristics that, in truth,are shared by great historical figures in the fieldof Revolution. It is interesting to note thata man like Lenin, a man like Martí possessedthat double condition. In other words: thepower to see great historical panoramas, to suc-cessfully look toward the future. At the sametime, a great quality for immediate practicalwork, which is called politics.

Fidel has done that in a magisterial way. Thatcombination of the two elements is in goodpart due to his stature, which can in no way be

144 LUIS BÁEZ

diminished. Fidel remains as one of the greatmen of our time and, in America, as a man ofhigher destiny, presupposed by having had thepower to develop a revolutionary movementthat is giving an entire continent a new epoch.Cuba today is the mirror and the future of allLatin American peoples.

He is a man who has the circumstances andthe condition to be at the center of this process,as his immortality is already assured due to hisexceptional qualities of leadership, for the ex-ceptional function of having installed in noth-ing less than an entire continent a new systemthat is much more humane and much more sat-isfying to life: Socialism.

In that field, he assumes a great objective,a present and future figure for all the Latin Ameri-can nations. Cuba is not only the image of LatinAmerica, but the symbol of the American future.

Fidel has represented something unique. Hehas represented the presence of a new continentin the field of a revolution as profound as so-cialism.

That is what gives him the widest significancein that field. Moreover, one has to add that allthe virtues conforming his personality have natu-rally enriched not only Cuba but socialism in


general, given that there are certain interpreta-tions and visions that have also upset others.Here is his impressive significance.

Fidel is a man of accurate and special visionsin many moments of his life. But when I referto the great significance of his attitude duringthe 1962 Missile Crisis, I refer to it in the samecontext as Che would judge it.

In other words, bearing in mind that he wasconfronting what was definitely the problemof greatest international magnitude in his wholepolitical life. The Missile Crisis could have un-leashed a universal crisis and even a great war.We are all absolutely in agreement on that.

This was one of the moments at which he ex-pressed his immense stature. For having handleda situation that could have been extremely gravenot only for Cuba but for the whole world withsuch dignity and, at the same time, with somuch political talent.

He was able to manage that problem, as Chestated in his famous farewell letter. He has ex-perienced many difficult moments and has beenobliged to make difficult decisions and has al-ways done so in a very intelligent manner. Butat that moment the problem had a greater mag-nitude.

146 LUIS BÁEZ

Fidel has never broken—that is one of hispersonal and most private merits—that daily andsustained link with the people’s needs.

He will meet equally with statesmen andpeople on the street. That is a particularly won-derful condition, also very American and veryCuban, we could say. Yes, in Europe there isa distinct way of seeing things, but Fidel is avery Latin American person and, above all, veryCuban.

His temperament inclines him towards under-standing popular needs, from a daily and ongo-ing experience with the people, and that giveshim a hierarchy and distinct condition. Thereis no doubt about that.

Only a man like Fidel could have channelleda phenomenon as difficult as he found at thetriumph of the Revolution, and arrived at a veri-table unity. Only a man like him could haveachieved that. That is one of Fidel’s great vir-tues.

One sets about regarding other Americanleaders, and no… no… no. That way Fidel hasof saying: “If this man is useful and has worked,he has my support; it’s not important where hecomes from.”


The phenomenon had to be difficult. In Europethings occurred in different ways. In Europe thecommunist parties came to power with the sup-port of the Soviet Union.

Here power was conquered without any typeof external aid, and only someone of his men-tal capacity could have led such a process with-out great violence or difficulties. Because it canbe said today that we are the most united partyin the Americas.

That, in a country like ours, where peopleare so impassioned, is very important. That isnot something one sees every day. Generallyspeaking, you can see valiant leaders in LatinAmerica, but almost always very defensive oftheir little group, which is prejudicial to thosecountries.

He is a man who does not allow himself tobe beaten by any feud or any recommendationagainst anyone. He says: “Anyone who hasa clean revolutionary sheet, from whatever gen-eration, whatever party he or she has beena member of, is a useful person.”

I have seen him do that. I know him verywell. It is very difficult to find a leader like Fi-del. It is very difficult.

148 LUIS BÁEZ

UNIQUE EXPERIENCE

JUAN PABLO LETELIER MOREL, POLITICIAN,MEMBER OF THE CHILEAN CONGRESS AND

PRESIDENT OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION

OF THE INTER-PARLIAMENTARY UNION (UIP)

At the beginning of this year, 2001, I made myfirst journey to Cuba. On that occasion I metFidel Castro. It was a unique personal experi-ence, not just for coming face to face witha part of history—and that is a fortune possessedby the Cubans—he is not only a part of the his-tory of Cuba; he is a part of the history of hu-manity.

I feel an admiration and an exceptional re-spect for what Fidel is, for Cuba and for theThird World nations, and particularly for LatinAmerica. I am not going to conceal the fact thatI consider him an exceptional man.

THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN RIENDS

JULIAN MAYFIELD, U.S. NOVELIST

Inevitably, Abraham Lincoln and Fidel Castrowould have been great friends. I doubt that


Lincoln has much in common with GeneralEisenhower. Lincoln would have felt at ease inthe streets of Havana, but would be a stranger inWashington.

SCULPTOR OF THE REVOLUTION

JULIO CORTÁZAR, ARGENTINE WRITER

Fidel is a man who is shaping the Revolution initself, concerning its direction, orientation andphysiognomy. It is evident that for the majorityof the Cuban people that, apart from his quali-ties, his effectiveness as a leader, he is alreadya symbol acquiring extra-human value, beyondthe everyday. When you hear the word Fidelon the lips of a child, an adult, in addition to itsdirect value, it has a series of resonances likeharmonica music that touches the fibers of sen-sibility and awareness. Fidel is the sculptor ofthe Cuban Revolution.

150 LUIS BÁEZ

AN EXCEPTIONAL MAN

KENNETH KAUNDA, MAJOR, POLITICIAN,PRESIDENT OF ZAMBIA

Cuba, an exceptional nation led by an excep-tional man: Fidel Castro.

AN EXPERIENCE OF A LIFETIME

KEVIN COSTNER, U.S. ACTOR

Seeing my latest film, 13 Days, at the side ofFidel Castro was an experience of a lifetime. Itwas very emotional to sit down beside him andwatch him relive an experience he had as a youngman, and to see how John F. Kennedy, anotheryoung man, also suffered in that dramatic situa-tion. Cuba is a great actor on the world stage,in spite of being a little country. Who are we inthe United States to say that we are right andthey’ve got it wrong in Cuba?


MORE THAN CHARISMA

KIRBY JONES, U.S. JOURNALIST

AND ENTREPRENEUR

Fidel Castro is one of most charming and jo-vial men that one could ever meet. Whetherone is in agreement with him or not, Castro ispersonally irresistible. U.S. political writers wouldsay that it’s a simple case of charisma, but it ismore than that. Political leaders can be and arecharismatic in their public conduct, but veryordinary in private moments. That is not thecase with Fidel Castro. He continues being oneof the few authentically electrifying figures in aworld in which his colleagues seem dull andpedestrian.

PROUD TO VISIT IT

KOFFI ANNAN, SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE

UNITED NATIONS ORGANIZATION (UN)

The nations of the South should play a moreactive role in world problems, but achieving thatdepends on our efforts, on what we do and what wehelp others to do.

152 LUIS BÁEZ

A poor country does not have to leave itspeople defenceless in the face of the difficultieslife imposes on it, and that is the case with Cuba,a country that I feel proud to visit.

THE REVOLUTION IS GROWING

LÁZARO CÁRDENAS, POLITICIAN, FORMER

PRESIDENT OF MEXICO

The sister people of Cuba and its maximumleader Fidel Castro are maintaining a heroic po-litical and moral attitude in defense of their eco-nomic liberation, their integrity and their sov-ereignty.

In the face of the ignoble arguments wieldedby the enemies of the Cuban Revolution, sym-pathy and solidarity with their cause—the samecause for which the peoples of all Latin Americaare struggling—are growing in the heart of thepeoples of our continent.


PROFOUND THOUGHT

LÁZARO FARIÑAS, CUBAN JOURNALIST AND

COMMENTATOR LOCATED IN MIAMI

I was barely eleven years old when I first heardthe name of Fidel Castro. It was in the epoch of theassault on the Moncada Garrison. In spite ofthe fact that that heroic action enormously im-pressed me, I have never come to feel myself hissupporter. Moreover, during the 1960s I con-sidered him my adversary. With the passing ofthe years, and as my thinking on the Revolu-tion, on this man and his relations with theUnited States has matured, I have come to the con-clusion that, without a figure like Fidel, thedream of our 19th century independence fight-ers would have remained just that, a dream. Youcan be Fidel Castro’s enemy, adversary, friendor admirer, but what you cannot be is indiffer-ent to him. From the few moments that I haveshared with him I have realized that he is anuntiring conversationalist, a man of exceptionalcharisma and extremely profound thought. Hehas definitively entered, like a meteorite, intothe history of Cuba and has stayed there foryears as its principal actor.

154 LUIS BÁEZ

I am sure that after his death he will remainimpregnated in it for ever. Some will try to con-demn him and others to absolve him, but no-body will have the authority to wrest from Fi-del the flag of sovereignty and the independenceof our nation, which he has maintained on high,come hell or high water, in these difficult andhard times through which our people have tra-versed at the end of the 20th and the beginningof the 21st centuries.

HIS IMAGE

LEE LOCKWOOD, U.S. JOURNALIST

Fidel Castro, the tempestuous and charismaticfomenter and sustained motor force of theCuban Revolution, is a man indispensable to hiscountry who supplies energy in almost all as-pects of contemporary Cuban life.

Despite constant assassination attempts hescorns precautions and impulsively mixes withthe masses in all parts of the island, to the dis-tress of his bodyguards.

Castro’s Revolution has undertaken certain un-deniable reforms affecting the lives of campesi-


nos and the proletariat. It has literally erasedilliteracy, it has proportioned free education andmedical attention to everybody, it has instituteda review of land ownership and rental in searchof improved living standards for the masses.

Castro is too great; his image dominates Cu-ba. For bad or for good, he is contemporaryCuba.

SOLID AXIS

LEONEL BRIZOLA, BRAZILIAN POLITICIAN

For us the Cuban Revolution was a solid axisthat allowed us to act. The example of FidelCastro was with us in exile and he was verycomprehensive of and in solidarity with ourdifficulties.

156 LUIS BÁEZ

CLEAR COMPREHENSION

LEONID BREZHNEV, FORMER SECRETARY GEN-ERAL OF THE COMMUNIST PARTY OF THE SOVIET

UNION

Fidel clearly comprehended the desires andneeds of his people. The grandeur of the featundertaken by Fidel is likewise located in thefact that he knew how to determine the rightroad for the development of a free Cuba. LatinAmerican peoples and those on other conti-nents are aware of the name of the leader of theCuban Socialist Revolution: Fidel Castro.

ARDENT HEART

LEONID KUCHMA, POLITICIAN, PRESIDENT

OF UKRAINE

The Ukrainian people appreciate the fact thatthe ardent heart of the respected ComandanteFidel Castro was not indifferent to its tragedy.5

5. He refers to the worst nuclear accident to date at the Cher-nobyl nuclear power plant in the Ukraine on April 26, 1986.Ed.


WE ARE IRON-WILLED

LIBER SEREGNI, GENERAL, POLITICIAN,PRESIDENT OF THE BROAD FRONT

OF URUGUAY

What we Latin Americans ask for is compre-hension of Cuba, because one cannot pontifi-cate from the position of stable democracies andpose ideal solutions for a country that processedits revolutionary change and has been blockadedand harassed for thirty years by the empire inpower, which has done everything to prevent itsunfettered development and even to concoct as-sassination plots against President Fidel Castro.Above anything else, we ask for solidarity withthe Cuban people and their process, and non-intervention. In this we are iron-willed. TheCuban people themselves have to be left to proc-ess their present and their future. This solidar-ity with the Cuban people does not mean thatwe support and share their system.

158 LUIS BÁEZ

THEY WOULD APPLAUD

LOUIS FARRAKHAN, U.S. CITIZEN

AND PRESIDENT OF THE NATION

OF ISLAM ORGANIZATION

Cuba has the right to be itself, to determine itsown system of government. The Cuban peopleshould not lose hope or faith, because victoryis for those that endure and resist until the end.This is a great nation and if the U.S. people re-ally knew what was happening in Cuba, theywould applaud the Revolution and PresidentFidel Castro.

A GENEROUS PERSON

LUCIUS WALKER, U.S. REVEREND, LEADER

OF PASTORS FOR PEACE

There is no doubt that Fidel Castro continuesto be the first statesman of the planet. He isa great man and a person of generous spirit.


THE FIRST VOICE

LUIS CORVALÁN, POLITICIAN, FORMER GENERAL

SECRETARY OF THE COMMUNIST PARTY

OF CHILE

Thank you, comrade Fidel, for your opportunecall to save my life. That was the first voice raisedin the world calling for solidarity, to save mylife and the lives of other Chilean political pris-oners.

HE WILL PASS INTO HISTORY

LUIS ECHEVERRÍA, POLITICIAN, FORMER

PRESIDENT OF MEXICO

Fidel Castro is going to pass into history togetherwith Bolívar and Martí. He has been an excep-tional political leader and had a great vision ofthe independence of his country from a veryyoung age. He is something like a predestinedperson. He has upset all attempts on his life.He has been much attacked for specific charac-teristics of the Cuban regime. If it were not forthis regime, which can be criticized from many

160 LUIS BÁEZ

points of view, Cuba’s sovereignty would begreatly endangered. A U.S. project for expan-sion into Cuba has existed from the beginningof the 19th century, before we lost half of ourterritory to the United States. I believe that withFidel Castro or without Fidel Castro Cuba’spolicy in international and internal terms shouldcontinue to be the same. Hopefully it will bewith Castro for many years.

HE HAS SOMETHING SPECIAL

LUIS IGNACIO DA SILVA, “LULA,” BRAZILIAN

POLITICIAN, PRESIDENT OF BRASIL

A politician like Fidel Castro who has main-tained his leadership intact and the respect hispeople feel for him untouchable for forty years,has something special.


SUCH A GREAT WEIGHTOF HISTORY

LUIS ORTEGA, JOURNALIST OF CUBAN ORIGIN

LOCATED IN THE UNITED STATES

Fidel Castro has already exceeded history, he isalready invulnerable. He is a legend of fabuloustimes, a myth. Many people want to touch himto see if he is real. When he glides along a corri-dor slowly, measuring his step, a little bit in slowmotion, as myths always move, it is not that heis sick or that anything hurts him, but that he al-ready bears such a great weight of history onhis shoulders that he has had to renounce theagility of his early years.

The image that he projects on the world ismuch better than the one he had in the initialyears of the Revolution. His international pres-tige has grown since the collapse of the SovietUnion. The image of Castro is sacrosanct. His-tory has already absolved him.

162 LUIS BÁEZ

ONE OF THE GREAT LEADERS

LUIS SUÁREZ, MEXICAN, PRESIDENT OF THE

LATIN AMERICAN JOURNALISTS FEDERATION

(FELAP)

Cuban President Fidel Castro is a leader of his-tory, above all a statesman who managed poli-tics and diplomacy without ever isolating him-self from the wisdom of the people.

My appreciation of Fidel Castro has grownas his leadership has advanced. Fidel is one ofthe greatest leaders of history since classicaltimes.

THE LATIN AMERICAN OF THECENTURY

MANUEL CABIESES DONOSO, JOURNALIST,DIRECTOR OF THE CHILEAN MAGAZINE PUNTO

FINAL

Fidel Castro is “the Latin American of the cen-tury,” even though our continent is not lackingin admirable men and women. But, through hiswork—the Cuban Revolution—Fidel is the one


to have attained the greatest influence over thelongest period. He is a patriot of this still dis-united Latin America and a powerful voice forthe victims of capitalism.

It is not easy to talk of Fidel because the riskof falling into a dithyramb—which he does notneed—is very great. However, it has to be saidthat there are very few like him who have con-verted their own lives into history.

Fidel simultaneously belongs to the past andthe present in which he remains current and valid.This is doubtless due to his ideas that will alsoreach into the future. He is a man of flesh andblood and a legend at the same time. This makesit difficult to make a value judgement that keepsemotion in line. He is someone who perturbsfriends and enemies. I have been with him onthree or four occasions with an opportunity fordialogue.

Although I consider him a close and affec-tionate friend, that vision of a living legend hasimpeded me from taking advantage of the warmthof his behavior. I belong to the generation thatreceived the influence of the Cuban Revolutionmost strongly and I am grateful for that.

164 LUIS BÁEZ

We owe him ethical values that promptedus to take one option in life. Fidel and his Revo-lution taught us to elude the snares of dogma-tism, to persist in ideas of unity, to defend prin-ciples by constantly recreating the revolutionarytactic.

I believe that the present generation has as-similated the ideological heritage of the CubanRevolution. We are living in a new epoch inwhich young people are calling on originalforms to organize their forces and prepare them-selves for the new battles for social justice.

A system of ideas conforming what is validin the past and the incorporation of the wealthof new experiences is beginning to be born. Itis the legitimate rebel and creative heritage ofFidel and the men and women—Abel,6 Che,Camilo, Celia, Haydée and all the Cuban people—who share the glory of a memorable feat ofhuman dignity.

6. Abel Santamaría Cuadrado (1927-53), second in commandin the assault on the Moncada Garrison, after which he wassavagely murdered. Ed.


IMPORTANCE OF SCIENCE

MANUEL ELKIN PATARROYO, COLOMBIAN

SCIENTIST

I am inspired by a profound admiration thatCuba has a state policy in relation to scienceand that somebody like Fidel Castro has under-stood its importance since the triumph of theRevolution and at the early age of thirty-three.

SYMBOL OF INDEPENDENCE

MANUEL FRAGA, SPANISH POLITICIAN,PRESIDENT OF THE JUNTA OF GALICIA

Beyond ideological differences, and we have neverdenied them, Fidel Castro is one of the manysymbols of this Hispanic world that was so manytimes glorious, divided, unjustly scorned andis a symbol of independence.

166 LUIS BÁEZ

ARCHITECT OF A REVOLUTION

MARÍA ASUNCIÓN MATEO, SPANISH WRITER

Although he doesn’t like being told so, FidelCastro is a living legend, the sole survivor of anearlier historical stage, the last revolutionary.The man who has turned the island into a bas-tion against the United States.

A man of imposing aspect, whose colos-sal physique—half mythological creature, halfMichelangelo’s Moses—has caused the UnitedStates sleepless nights, he is—hate him or lovehim, criticize him or praise him—one of themost unique and attractive characters.

It comes as a surprise to be with a human be-ing who jokes with the simplicity of a Galicianand is interested in the most ordinary problems,while having the historical certainty of beingthe architect of a Revolution that shook theworld and changed the course of the Cubanpeople.


OUR FELLOW NUMBER ONE

MARIO BENEDETTI, URUGUAYAN WRITER

AND POET

Gathered thirty-six years ago on the MontevideoMunicipal Esplanade to listen to a Fidel burningwith triumph and just four months in power, per-haps experienced our own caput obstipum in reg-istering more than a few casualties among thoseearly enthusiasts now to be detected in the ranksof the ultraconservative right.

Thirty-six years later, who remembersFrondizi, Alessandri, López Mateos, Betancourt,Lleras Camargo, Luis Somoza and, last but notleast, Eisenhower and other leaders of that pe-riod? On the other hand, Fidel is still presentand coherent. On numerous occasions the ill-famed CIA attempted to assassinate him and,by a miracle, and despite the agency’s demon-strated professionalism for political crimes, wereunsuccessful in that specific mission. On theother hand, neither Eisenhower nor Kennedynor Johnson nor Nixon nor Ford nor Carter norReagan nor Bush were able to do away withhim either.

168 LUIS BÁEZ

There is a revealing fact. Every time Fidelattends an international event, the receptiongiven him by his hosts generally respects, withmore or less cordiality, the basic elements offormal protocol, but his popular reception is al-ways warm, enthusiastic and joyful. The peoples(excuse me for rescuing this word from disuse)have always acknowledged in the Cuban leaderhis obsession for justice, for self-determination,for the sovereignty of all nations, but also forsolidarity with other nations.

At the end of this century, when selfishnessand ignobleness (suffice it to mention the casesof Bosnia, Chechen, Rwanda, Somalia, etcete-ra) represent the most infamous aspects of in-ternational politics; names like Vado del Yeso,Òancachuazú, Maquela do Sombo or Ogadencontinue to make up the solidarity geographyof the Cuban Revolution, which never askedfor anything in exchange for its sacrifice and itsprotection.

The role of Cuba is and continues to be veryimportant for Latin America, because it is thefirst time that a country, still a small one, isrebelling against U.S. pressure.

So, Fidel has committed errors. Of course,but not in the social context. Not in the de-


fense and guarantee of his people’s health andeducation. After all, what ruler hasn’t beenmistaken? Only that the rest are forgiven, butCastro’s, never. At least Fidel’s errors were neverbought, negotiated, nor have been (as in so manycases in Europe and America) mere chapters ofthat Grand Corruption that has become themost important and influential transnational ofthis confusing end of century. When they oc-curred, if they did, his were poor errors.

Fidel is an individual with a special charismathat has not been lost in the midst of all hisbattling, as is sometimes the case even with fig-ures on the revolutionary left who, as time goesby, soon abdicate their decency and ethics. In hiscase, that charge cannot be made. Nobody hasdared to accuse him of corruption or inappro-priate luxuries in his life. He is the kind of per-son who, in making errors and getting thingsright, has wanted his people’s well-being. Thatis to be respected.

I could not meet in this century and in theentire extension of our America any politicalfigure like him who has placed his knowledge,experience, vitality, resistance and his own life,at the service of “the downtrodden.”

170 LUIS BÁEZ

It is also about being grateful for his drive,his sincerity, his humane qualities. I do not dis-count that one day we average Latin Americanswill recoup our lost innocence and name himfor once and for all our Fellow Number one.

At this point Fidel Castro is the most im-portant political figure on the American conti-nent and one of the most outstanding in con-temporary history. The figure of Fidel contin-ues to be an enlightening one.

VIGOROUS LEADER

MARIO MOYA PALENCIA, MEXICAN POLITICIAN

AND DIPLOMAT

Fidel Castro is a vigorous leader of peoples,a man of great clarity in terms of seeing thepresent and being alert to the future. He isa politician with great charisma.

One of the Cuban Revolution’s greatest as-sets is its very leader, who is always sure of theterrain he steps on. I see in Fidel a great secu-rity in his people and in his destiny.

Fidel has already become a legend. You candisagree with his ideas, or his acts of govern-


ment—that is valid, as some of them are theobject of controversy—but in no way can youerase what he signifies and has signified in thehistory of Latin America and the world.

APTITUDES OF A GREAT LEADER

MARIO VÁZQUEZ RAÑA, MEXICAN

ENTREPRENEUR

Without any doubt, President Fidel Castro isone of the greatest leaders in recent decades. Wecan be in agreement or not with his politics;but everyone recognizes in him the aptitudesof a great leader.

SIMPLY STUPENDOUS

MARY HEMINGWAY, U.S. WRITER

Ernest [Hemingway] was always in favor of theRevolution. He was always in favor of Fidel. Any-thing else that has been said is part of the thou-sands of lies and insinuations that have been writ-ten about his person.

172 LUIS BÁEZ

I have undertaken one of my greatest desires:to personally meet Fidel Castro. A simply stu-pendous man.

HE SPEAKS THE TRUTH

MASSIMO D’ALEMA, ITALIAN POLITICIAN,GENERAL SECRETARY OF THE DEMOCRATIC LEFT

PARTY

Fidel Castro is listened to because he speaks thetruth on the injustice and misery suffered bythe peoples of the world.

HE HAS NEVER BEENAN ORDINARY MAN

MAX AZICRI, CUBAN ACADEMIC RESIDENT

IN THE UNITED STATES

Fidel Castro’s political skills are sophisticatedand well known; he has a clear sense of what isadvantageous for the Revolution and proceedsto execute it. For example, he has gratefully re-ceived the aid offered by Reverend LuciusWalker and the friendshipments sent by his ecu-


menical organization Pastors for Peace locatedin the United States in defiance of Washington’spolicy.

He also organized and facilitated the celebra-tion in Cuba of the 14th Festival of Youth in1997—another took place in 1978.

In both cases, Castro was acting in line with hisrebel spirit, but always coordinating it with whatwas advantageous for the Revolution. He wasthe first to make contact with U.S. rebels andthen with the representatives of international rebelyouth. The same indignation and moral forcethat motivated him to attack the Moncada [Gar-rison] on July 26, 1953, now moved him to actin concert with equally rebellious fighters fromother places.

Beyond purely domestic (national) questions,Castro has debated problems affecting the Ameri-cas, international relations, human and socialrights, democracy, freedom of expression, so-cial progress, economic development, the exter-nal debt, ecology and many other issues.

In the 1990s, exercising his charisma on theworld scenario, he has become the spokespersonof the poor, of the mass of humanity that is usu-ally ignored by the most powerful interests andpolitical leaders. In this return to the international

174 LUIS BÁEZ

arena, when many people viewed him as a leaderof the past, Castro has dominated all the interna-tional meetings in which he has participated inrecent years through the force of his personality.

It is known that Castro has a strong person-ality . . . and for that reason he has been called“dominant,” “authoritarian,” and other quali-fications, but in spite of them his most severecritics have acknowledged his special quality ofcharming his interlocutors, the magnetism of at-traction that his personality exercises when talk-ing with him personally. Within any conceptit cannot be said that Fidel Castro is an ordi-nary and everyday man, in reality he has neverbeen so.

ONE AGAINST ALL THE REST

MAX LESNICK, CUBAN JOURNALIST RESIDENT IN

THE UNITED STATES

The end of the 1949 university course. Withinthe University of Havana there was a climate ofviolence and personal insecurity among the stu-dents as a result of the activities of gangstergroups that, in the midst of a virtual war among


themselves, were turning the streets of the Cu-ban capital into bloodbaths with attacks andsub-machine gun bursts.

Control of the Federation of University Stu-dents (FEU) by means of intimidation was oneof the objectives of those gangs that called them-selves “revolutionaries.”

With that state of affairs, the 30th of Sep-tember Committee against Gangsterism, an or-ganization composed mainly of students fromEddy Chibás’ Orthodoxy Party7 and the So-cialist Youth was created. Given that it was aboutcombating gunmen, the committee members couldnot carry guns. It was like walking to your death.

In the vanguard of that struggle against gang-sterism were Baudilio Castellanos, Alfredo Gue-vara, Antonio Núñez Jiménez, Leonel Soto,Enrique Benavides, Walterio Carboneli, FidelCastro and myself, all of us young students con-fronting the political and administrative corrup-tion that was undermining Cuban society fromthe University.

7. Eduardo Chibás (1907-51) defended his stand against govern-mental corruption. His moral doctrine was deeply rootedin the people’s conscience. He founded the Cuban People’s (Or-thodoxy) Party. Ed.

176 LUIS BÁEZ

The public opinion was so repulsed by thegangsterism that President Prío’s governmenthad no alternative but to appear to take rectify-ing measures.

The solution from the Presidential Palace at-tempted to be one of Solomon’s wisdom by of-fering public posts by the hundred to membersof the gangs in exchange for them ceasing shoot-outs in the capital’s streets.

That bungled scheme was called the GangPact. From that moment, intimidatory actionby violent groups would be focused on studentsdenouncing the excesses of the “authentic”8

government from the Alma Mater.But the protests didn’t stop. The 30th of Sep-

tember Committee agreed to bring chargesagainst the government and the gangsters in theFederation of University Students’ assembly.

The meeting was convened in the Martyrs’Gallery, the location of portraits of universityleaders who have fallen in combat for Cuba andthe University. Julio Antonio Mella, Rafael

8. The Cuban Revolutionary Party (Authentic) was founded in1934 by Ramón Grau San Martín as a reformist and nationalistorganization. Initially, it received widespread support from thepeople, but the governments of Grau and Carlos Prío Socarrásdisappointed the Cuban people on account of their servility tothe United States, governmental corruption, etc. Ed.


Trejo and Tony Guiteras9 were to serve as in-spiration to the main speaker of that memorableafternoon: Fidel Castro.

It was the restless student from the Facultyof Law who spoke on behalf of the 30th of Sep-tember Committee.

In the streets surrounding the university cam-pus carloads of violent gang members boastedtheir fire power and openly exhibited their pis-tols and submachine guns so that their intimi-datory message would reach the students meet-ing in the Martyrs’ Gallery.

More than three hundred students from thevarious faculties were waiting to hear Fidelwhen somebody, as if transmitting a death mes-sage, shouted: “Anyone who talks of things heshouldn’t, will be talking for the last time.” Itwas evident that the threat was for the speaker.

Fidel got up from his chair and with a firmand measured step headed for the center of thespacious room. After asking for a one-minutesilence in memory of the martyrs, his strong voice

9. Rafael Trejo (1910-30) and Antonio Guiteras Holmes(1906-35), revolutionary Cuban leaders who fought against thedictatorships. The former died from injuries received in an anti-Machado demonstration and the latter was assassinated by or-der of Fulgencio Batista. Ed.

178 LUIS BÁEZ

could be heard condemning gangsterism andwhat it signified in terms of dishonoring thefinest revolutionary tradition.

He proceeded to read out an official list withthe names of all the gang members and FEUleaders who had been awarded juicy sinecuresin various public administration ministries.

There, in that very assembly, were presidentsof schools who enjoyed government perks throughtheir connections with the gangs. The confron-tation was tumultuous. But nobody or nothingcould silence Fidel’s energetic attack on gang-sterism.

When the news of that young student’s val-iant words reached the gangsters circling theUniversity, out of shame and frustration, theydecided to take revenge; but Fidel’s luck savedhim from death.

It was perhaps the first time that Fidel foundhimself in the disadvantageous position of“one against the rest” in defense of truth anddignity.

The assault on the Moncada Garrison onJuly 26, 1953 initiated a historical process thatculminated in a triumphant Revolution pre-pared to shake off the chains that held the is-land to the colossus of the North. And that iswhat happened.


Fidel Castro is the heir of the finest revolu-tionary tradition; for his universal—and concur-rently totally Cuban—concepts he is a worthyinheritor of the forgers of Cuban independenceand of those who over successive generationsfought to make the island genuinely free, sover-eign and independent.

Fidel fought and achieved in life what Varela,10

Martí, Céspedes, Mella, Guiteras and Chibásdreamed of and died for. His mission has beenfulfilled. Now it is for the new generations tomaintain on high the sovereign banner of na-tional independence.

CATALYZING MOVEMENT

MICHAEL MANLEY, FORMER PRIME MINISTER

OF JAMAICA

A catalysing movement has taken place in ourhemisphere and there is a man who is likea solid rock. The movement is the Cuban Revo-lution and the man is Fidel Castro.

10. Félix Varela (1787-1853), 19th century priest and philoso-pher, who taught the Cubans independent thought. Ed.

180 LUIS BÁEZ

HERALD OF THE FUTURE

MIGUEL BARNET, CUBAN WRITER

I have had been granted the privilege of livingin Fidel Castro’s era. The fact that that man isCuban and I have his friendship is an evengreater privilege. Fidel is a veritable maestro ofgenerations and a herald of the future. I believein him because he is honourable, intelligent andpatriotic, and because he has designed the na-tion dreamed of by our National Hero JoséMartí. The best of all this is that while beinga legend he is also flesh and blood and his dis-course has absolute relevance. Nobody on this


convulsed planet has risen up against injusticelike him; nobody has done more for a peoplethan him. I feel pride as a Latin American forhaving him here, alive, acting and unswayable.Fidel is a hope, an idea, a school.

MY GOLDEN DREAM

NAOMI CAMPBELL, BRITISH MODEL

Fidel Castro is a very, very intelligent and inter-esting person. A man who constitutes a sourceof inspiration for everyone. My golden dreamwas to meet him and it came true. He is a dis-tinctive being.

AT OUR SIDE

NELSON MANDELA, POLITICIAN, FORMER

PRESIDENT OF SOUTH AFRICA

Fidel Castro is one of my great friends. I amproud of being among those who support Cu-bans’ right to elect their own destiny. The sanc-tions castigating the Cubans for having electedself-determination are in opposition to the world

182 LUIS BÁEZ

order we wish to install. The Cubans facilitatedus both resources and instruction on how tofight and to win. I am a loyal man and I willnever forget that at our homeland’s most som-ber moments in the fight against apartheid, Fi-del Castro was at our side.


GREAT ANIMATOR

NELSON PEREIRA DOS SANTOS, BRAZILIAN

FILMMAKER

Fidel Castro is the great animator of this newLatin American film movement that, to our joy,we see the new generations joining.

TELLURIC DYNAMISM

NICOLÁS GUILLÉN, CUBAN NATIONAL POET

July 26 signals the start of the Revolution. Whena handful of young people led by Fidel Castroset out to take the Moncada Garrison—one ofthe episodes of the greatest nobleness and he-roic intrepidness in the history of Cuba—theywere affirming their will to make a profoundchange in national life.

Martí infuses our Revolution with his spiritand clairvoyance; Fidel Castro will instamtlycommunicate to it his personal telluric dyna-mism, elevating it to the level of our century,arming it with Marxism-Leninism, convertingit into an invincible and youthful force. The

184 LUIS BÁEZ

Revolution that was unleashed on July 26 is nowan unyielding fact.

IT WILL CONTINUETO SHINE OUT

NIKITA KHRUSHCHEV, POLITICIAN, FORMER

GENERAL SECRETARY OF THE COMMUNIST PARTY

OF THE SOVIET UNION

In the period in which Fidel Castro led his revo-lution into victory and entered Havana with histroops, we had no idea of the political orienta-tion that his regime might follow.

We knew that there was some communistsin the movement headed by Castro, but the Cu-ban Communist Party had no contact with him.When Castro’ men took Havana we had to relyexclusively on press and radio reports fromCuba itself and other countries, to know whatwas happening. Overall, the situation was notat all clear. We had never heard of the personwho Fidel appointed as president. Moreover,Cuba had not recognized our government, sofor a long time we had no relations with thenew regime.


In relation to Castro’s personal value, his po-sition on declaring the socialist nature of theRevolution was a valiant and admirable deci-sion.

Today Cuba exists as an independent social-ist country, right in the bared teeth of voraciousU.S. imperialism. It is to be hoped that the ex-ample of Cuba, with Fidel in the lead, will con-tinue shining like a light.

GREAT CONFIDENCE

NORMAN GRIMARD, POLITICIAN, CANADIAN

SENATOR

Fidel Castro has great confidence in the futureof Cuba in spite of the economic penury it isexperiencing and is not concealing the truthconcerning the inconveniences of current lifeon the island, while being confident that theprograms and reforms being applied will con-tribute to taking it forward.

186 LUIS BÁEZ

FASCINATING CHARACTER

OLIVER STONE, U.S. FILM DIRECTOR

Fidel Castro is the most fascinating characterthat I have ever met.

A GREAT FRIEND

OMAR TORRIJOS HERRERA, GENERAL AND

POLITICIAN, FORMER HEAD OF STATE

OF PANAMA

U.S. citizens should be convinced that the Cu-bans are a people that will never let themselvesbe trampled on.

I am aware that there is a treaty because thereis a Cuban Revolution. Cuba has had to paya high social price for all of Latin America.

If we can sit down today and discuss face toface with the U.S. Government, we owe that inpart to the existence of the Cuban Revolution.After the triumph in Cuba, all the peoples ofthis hemisphere are a little more free.

Many people in Latin America perceived thepresence of Cubans in Africa sympathetically.


To that point, we were always used to it beingothers who came here. Now it is Latin Americathat has gone to the aid of Africa.

Fidel is a great friend. He has conducted him-self very well with me. He is a man of firm prin-ciples.

They used to say that Fidel and myself werea pair of loonies; now they respect the two loon-ies more than ever.

Fidel and I maintain excellent relations. Wehave our differences, but always within a greatrespect and affection. We are in close commu-nication. He has always given me wise advice.

188 LUIS BÁEZ

IT WILL END VICTORIOUS

OSCAR NIEMEYER, BRAZILIAN ARCHITECT

I have admired the Cuban Revolution since Fi-del Castro was fighting in the Sierra Maestra.Cuba, a country where there are no illiterates,where everyone is equal and which is resistingthe odious siege imposed by the United States, isan example for Latin America. The worst mo-ment for the Cuban people has already passed.Cuba will know how to maintain its course.

I have designed an obelisk project in protestat the economic blockade imposed by the UnitedStates to be located in Cuba. The maquette projectsa 15-meter monument in which something re-sembling a flag with one star emerges like thebirth of dawn from half-broken fetters. This isa tribute to my Cuban friends.

I have a great admiration for Fidel. I am insolidarity with him in this struggle that he knewhow to begin and that surely will end victori-ously.

In the afternoons I receive friends to con-verse and sometimes we talk of philosophy. Butwhen they refer to Plato, I am thinking of FidelCastro.


COMPLETE FIGURE

OSWALDO GUAYASAMÍN, ECUADORIAN PAINTER,SCULPTOR AND MURALIST

Fidel Castro is the greatest man that I haveknown in my life. I have known many people,great musicians, great literary figures, great poli-ticians… Never has anyone given me the im-pression of an integral being, a complete figure, inall his/her aspects, in each one of his/her phrases,like Fidel.

The people are at Fidel’s side in a total way,the Cuban people say they hope Fidel will beeternal. Generalized thinking in Latin Americais that Cuba is the realization of all the nationswho aspire to be; it is our hope.

INTELLIGENCE

OTELO SARAIVA DE CARVALHO, GENERAL, ONE

OF THE MAIN PROTAGONISTS OF THE

25TH OF APRIL, 1974 MOVEMENT IN PORTUGAL

I have great interest in, and a great passionfor everything that has happened in Cuba and

190 LUIS BÁEZ

particularly to meet Fidel Castro, the revolu-tionary who has had the valor and intelligenceto confront the powerful and defend the poor.

FULL OF GOOD AND GLORY

PABLO ARMANDO FERNÁNDEZ, CUBAN POET

For FidelMy determination needs your assistance.I do not believe myself capable of restoringto words their undamaged innocencethat is essential to know;if I am to sing to the gift, limpid essence,which in you is knowing howto give life luster, art and sciencethat multiplies being in all humans.I already know that you have restored to wordsthe integrity that brings the confidenceof knowing they are the custodian of what is certain.I have tried to sing to you and I persevere,hearing you forging and nourishing hopethat singing to you, is to celebrate January.It is to celebrate your noble birththat multiplies the patriotic spirit in others.


WE WOULD BE ERASED

PABLO NERUDA, CHILEAN POET,NOBEL LITERATURE PRIZE LAUREATE

The Republic of Cuba has been restored andthe duty of all the peoples of the Americas is todefend it.

The language of Cuba is that of the truth, it isthe language of Martí, of O’Higgins, of Bolívar.Cuba represents the thinking of Sarmiento. Atthis time Cuba is the hope of an entire centuryof false independence and we hope that it willwin and implant it own justice.

Whoever is not with Cuba, with its revolu-tion, with Fidel Castro, is on the other side,the side of ignominy and betrayal. If the CubanRevolution is extinguished we will be erasedfrom the chalk board of the world.

WITH HOW MUCH HEROISM

PAULO EVARISTO ARNS, BRAZILIAN CARDINAL

We all know with how much heroism and sac-rifice the people of that country have been ableto resist external aggression and the immense

192 LUIS BÁEZ

challenge of eradicating acute poverty, illiteracyand chronic social problems. At this point intime Cuba and Fidel Castro can feel proud ofbeing an example of social justice in our conti-nent, so impoverished by external debt.

HIS SINCERITY

PERCIVAL J. PATTERSON, POLITICIAN, PRIME

MINISTER OF JAMAICA

Not even Fidel’s detractors cannot fault his sin-cerity, his intellectual wisdom, his capacity asa speaker and his personal charisma. We are hisbrothers in the struggle against injustice, rac-ism and imperialism.

INDELIBLE MEMORIES

PHAN VAN DONG, FORMER PRIME MINISTER

OF VIET NAM

Fidel’s visit to Viet Nam in September 1973took place at a historical moment of great im-portance for us. It constituted the most beauti-ful expression of the broad movement of soli-


darity and support for our country that develop-ed in Cuba under Fidel’s famous proposal thatfor Viet Nam, Cuba is even prepared to give itsown blood.

Cuba was the first country in the world torecognize the Provisional Revolutionary Govern-ment of the Republic of South Viet Nam and toestablish a diplomatic mission in the liberatedzone. It was equally the first government to sendan official delegation to the liberated zone ofSouth Viet Nam.

I have a heart. With it I live. And perenni-ally within it is the image of joy that the Cubanleader brought me when he visited me in myhome. Fidel left me indelible memories.

MORE NOTABLE

PHILIP BRENNER, PROFESSOR AT THE AMERICAN

UNIVERSITY

Cuba’s success in education and health is all themore notable as it has come about during fortyyears of U.S. hostility and after the collapse ofits trade agreements with the disappearance of theSoviet Union.

194 LUIS BÁEZ

GREAT CONFIDENCE

PIERRE SALINGER, U.S. WRITER,JOURNALIST, PRESIDENTIAL SPOKESMAN DURING

THE J. F. KENNEDY GOVERNMENT

When I was in the White House I had the impres-sion of a Castro standing before 400 or 500 thou-sand people pronouncing harangues, speeches,etc. Now, seeing him at close quarters, talkingwith him, I have been able to appreciate that heis a man with great confidence in himself, calm,with an exceptional sense of humor and ex-tremely intelligent.

UNIQUE EXAMPLE

PIETRO NENNI, FORMER GENERAL SECRETARY

OF THE SOCIALIST PARTY OF ITALY

We all have our eyes fixed on Cuba as the ex-ample given by you is unique. To date, no littlecountry has had the valor to confront a largeone as the Cubans have done. For that rea-son the Cuban Revolution has great world back-ing that is consolidating with every day that passes.


Fidel Castro enjoys the admiration and the af-fection of all the peoples.

HE MERITS ALL HOMAGE

PINO RAUTI, ITALIAN POLITICIAN

Fidel Castro is an immense figure, a giant ofhistory who guards all his charm intact. Hecontinues to be an important reference pointfor many. One should reflect on his great figureand from the human point of view he meritsall homage.

A FIGURE OF THIS CENTURY

POMPEYO MÁRQUEZ, FORMER GENERAL

SECRETARY OF THE COMMUNIST PARTY

OF VENEZUELA

To refer to Fidel Castro obliges one to leave asideformality, ready-made phrases and the variousqualifications with which he is labelled.

I define Fidel Castro as a figure of this cen-tury who, literally speaking, has distinguishedhimself from the decade of the 60s to date.

196 LUIS BÁEZ

Fidel has been and is a creator, an innovator,a politician of great sagacity and intuition whoknows how to evade the traps frequently set forhim from January 1959 to today.

Evaluating his permanence in power through-out this period, one should highlight his firm-ness accompanied by a great flexibility. Thesequalities have opened the gates of a large part ofthe world, in practice defeating the blockadethat the United States is pledged to maintain.

Fidel’s gamut of international relations is ex-tensive. Partisans of the blockade are lesseningand every day new horizons are opening up tosocialist Cuba. Like Pope John Paul II we say: “Letthe world open up to Cuba and Cuba to theworld.” This is the perspective that should beraised before this heroic little country which somuch links us to Caribbeans, to Latin Americans.

THEY NEVER GROW OLD

RAFAEL ALBERTI, SPANISH POET

Ideas like those defended by Fidel Castro nevergrow old. I continue to retain from the Cubanleader the image of a Homeric hero, as much


for the numerous combats with youthfulnessas for his impressive character. Fidel is the hoped-for light of a future of more solidarity and jus-tice.

GREAT DESIRE

RAJIV GANDHI, FORMER PRIME MINISTER

OF INDIA

Under the leadership of President Fidel Castro,the heroic people of Cuba defeated an unjustand exploitative regime and established a newstate. Indira Gandhi had a great desire to visitCuba and to greet Fidel in his country of ori-gin. That did not happen. Indira has died, butwe are continuing her inconclusive mission.

ALTERNATIVE LAW

RAMIRO BARRENECHEA, BOLIVIAN LAWYER,PROFESSOR AND NATIONAL DEPUTY

Fidel Castro has revolutionized law by demon-strating in theory and in practice the existenceof an alternative popular and liberating law in

198 LUIS BÁEZ

the face of dogmatic regulations of oppressionand injustice: a law that organizes popular par-ticipation in the exercise of power.

FEET ON THE GROUND

RAMIRO CORREIA, COMMANDER, DOCTOR,FORMER MEMBER OF THE COUNCIL

OF THE REVOLUTION OF PORTUGAL

Optimism is one thing but not having one’sfeet on the ground, and being aware that that isthe only way of taking ahead the revolutionaryprocess is another. I repeat, the Revolution hasto be made with one’s feet on the ground, asFidel Castro has done in Cuba.

HE HAS DEMONSTRATED

RAMSEY CLARK, FORMER U.S. ATTORNEY

GENERAL

Fidel has demonstrated that it is possible fora country in the midst of a struggle withoutresources to educate, apportion housing, health,


work and all that humanity requires. And lookat the rest of the world. We need that model.

THE AUTHORITY

RAÚL CASTRO, GENERAL OF THE ARMY, MINIS-TER OF THE ARMED FORCES OF CUBA

Nobody in Cuba will ever have again the au-thority that Fidel has for being what he is, for

200 LUIS BÁEZ

having made what he has made, a true and pro-found Revolution, with its virtues and defects.

HE BROKE WITH ALL SCHEMA

RAÚL LORENZO, JOURNALIST AND POLITICIAN

OF CUBAN ORIGIN RESIDENT IN VENEZUELA

The merit of Fidel Castro and everything thatconfigures his strategy, is precisely that he istriumphing when nobody in Cuba thought hecould triumph.

The people, guided by traditional parameters,not only of this country but of what we couldcall a whole continent, never imagined—andI think it would have been very difficult to doso—that a small and virtually scattered guerrillamovement could grow to defeat a stronglyarmed force of elite troops with all means attheir disposal. That possibility did not fit withinlogic.

Fidel developed an entire military strategybut with a highly accentuated political aspectfrom the Sierra.

The Sierra was not only a trench but a tribu-nal. From there national life was focused anda moral adhesion was created in the environ-


ment of the Sierra Maestra, which even reachedthe army and contributed to its demoralization.This is another of the many sui generis aspectsof the Cuban process.

Fidel broke with all schema and all param-eters. More than breaking, he shattered into frag-ments concepts held by many as inviolable.

A guerrilla movement could not win againstan army. That idea not only dominated in Cuba,but in the world. Without the army or withthe army, but never against the army. That wasa generalized belief.

A strong attempt at nationalist reforms notas yet a socialist revolution—note—a medium-strong nationalist movement could not main-tain itself in power facing the United States.Obviously, a socialist revolution far less.

Those ideas were dominant. Nobody ques-tioned them. They were like familiar faces andabove all, respected, even venerated.

The only person to see behind those mum-mified faces that had existed for a long long timewas Fidel, and Fidel had the mummies jump-ing into the air. The blooming must have beengigantic in order for the dust to reach our days.

The figure of Fidel as a revolutionary claim-ing the right of Cuban nationality in the face

202 LUIS BÁEZ

of the United States represents something newin the life of our countries and has much sym-pathy in the Third World nations.

This favorable echo of admiration has itsmaximum point in the Latin American coun-tries. That has been clearly evident in Fidel’svisits to Ecuador, Mexico and particularly, Ven-ezuela, where the campaign against Cuba wasvery fierce.

Fidel arrived and as soon as he touched ground,nobody remembered all the barbarities that hadbeen said for days to create an adverse publicopinion of the visit.

Fidel’s talent lies in having made the histori-cal interpretation when the rest didn’t see it; hesaw that the things that he did could be done.His genius is located in his knowing how tointerpret the historical picture.

All right, geniuses are those people who inter-pret their historical moment and unfold withinthat context, within that picture, developing theideas that they consider to be correct and whichare the ones for which the nation or the people,in that instant, must fight.

In exile some people who are inveterate anti-Castroites and who carry their hatred to thepoint of irrationality, have wanted to deny Fidel’s


talent to me. They have said: “Castro is not asintelligent as he is painted. He’s just been lucky.”I have refuted that: No, no, Castro is a genius.He has great talent because if you say that thecircumstances have been favorable, his intelli-gence has precisely consisted in interpreting thosecircumstances and not only interpreting them,but also managing them. And for that, indis-putably, great talent is required.

One can reach power for various reasons,a stroke of luck, for example. But maintainingthat for thirty years is due to talent, convictions,for having known how to interpret the histori-cal process.

Fidel brings together the ideological inherit-ance of the Veterans and Patriots Movement,the Minorista Group,11 Guiteras and above all, thefathers of the homeland headed by José Martí.

From the very beginnings of the Republicthe figure of Martí has been alive, present. Look-ing at everything that had happened would al-ways evoke the exclamation: “If Martí were

11. The Minorista Group was created in 1923 by left-wing in-tellectual youth, and its members pronounced themselvesagainst false values and in favour of a radical and complete for-mal and ideological renovation in literature and the arts. Theywere also concerned at the political state of affairs in Cuba andworldwide. Ed.

204 LUIS BÁEZ

alive!” because the people believed very stronglythat if Martí had not fallen in Dos Ríos, Cuba’sdestiny would have been different.

The people longed for change. That was some-thing on their minds. A change in the manage-ment of public administration for which EddyChibás fought, in the civic context and whatthe communist party had battled for in the so-cial context.

We cannot forget that Cuba functioned asboth a political and economic satellite of theUnited States.

When Fidel arrived, he brought together allthese ideas and converted them into reality. Heis a historical figure, a paladin. He representsthe vindication of the national spirit and theneed for reform in all orders of Cuban life.

He is the symbol of what can become ofa Spartan idea in a Spartan man, because it isdifficult to conceive of greater contretemps thanthose the Cuban process had to confront in thedevelopment of a liberation process.

There is a fact that exemplifies this criterionlike no other. After the Granma landing, Fidelfound himself alone with two other combat-ants, walking all over those inhospitable places,totally exhausted, without knowing anything


about the rest of the expeditionaries, and evenin the midst of those incredible circumstances,enough to have made anyone desist, he main-tained on high the decision to make the Revo-lution.

And nothing portrays him better than thatexclamation of his: “Now we’ll definitely winthe war!” when he managed to reunite the scantfigure of twelve men. That is Fidel.

Fidel demonstrated that a guerrilla move-ment could defeat an army, that a Revolutioncould survive even against the will of the UnitedStates. But he even contributed something more.

Fidel and his Revolution demonstrated thatthis was only possible if there was no vacilla-tion on the way, if principles were never be-trayed, if there was not a disposition at all times togo to the final consequences if necessary. Andthis is very important, very important.

HIS APPRECIATION

RAÚL ROA GARCÍA, CUBAN INTELLECTUAL

AND POLITICIAN

Life reserved for me revolutionary honors thatI never dreamt of even when I hung the star of

206 LUIS BÁEZ

an electric light bulb in my cell at the ModelPrison:12 having merited the confidence of ourComandante en Jefe to undertake the post of Min-ister of Foreign Relations, to be a contempo-rary of Fidel, and to have merited his esteemcrowned my revolutionary joy. What could begreater than that?

Fidel hears the grass grow and sees what isgoing on around the corner.

THE TRUTH

RENÉ CABEL, SINGER OF CUBAN ORIGIN

RESIDENT IN COLOMBIA

I never imagined that Fidel Castro could be somuch time in power. If he has achieved that itis because he has done very good things. Indis-putably, the guy has demonstrated capacity,a tremendous talent. Moreover, he doesn’t let

12. The construction of the National Male Penitentiary—ModelPrison—was completed in 1931, during Gerardo Machado’sgovernment, as a replica of Joliet Prison in Illinois, United States.A very efficient place for the isolation of prisoners, it was notso effective in terms of their rehabilitation. Those who tookpart in the assault on the Moncada and Carlos Manuel deCéspedes Garrisons were imprisoned in this penitentiary, in-cluding Fidel Castro. Today it is a national monument. Ed.


anyone impose anything, wherever and fromwhomever it comes.

He is already part of history. You’d have tobe a sonofabitch to deny that. I am not a friendof his. Neither am I political, but I am not afraidto recognize the truth.

THE VALID

RENÉ PORTOCARRERO, CUBAN VISUAL ARTIST

Now we are getting to the unknown roots ofour sentiment, which is the motherland, which

208 LUIS BÁEZ

is Cuba, which is the Revolution, which is Fi-del. Which, at the end of the day, is the valid,the definitive.

IT HAS SURPASSED

ELITE MAGAZINE OF VENEZUELA

The influence of Fidel Castro has amply sur-passed the area of his little country. Numerousgroups in Latin America and other parts of theworld are proclaiming themselves his followersand raising a flag that is, above all, a revolution-ary affirmation: Castroism.

HE IS AN ICON

RICHARD COPLAND, PRESIDENT OF THE U.S.SOCIETY OF TRAVEL AGENTS

Fidel Castro is the most courteous and pleasantman that I have ever met. It was a night that wewill all treasure for the rest of our lives. He isan icon.


AUTHORITY OF LEADERSHIP

RICHARD NIXON, POLITICIAN, FORMER

PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

We should be certain of one fact: Fidel Castropossesses those indefinable qualities that makehim to be a leader of men. Independently ofwhat we think of him, he will be a key factor inthe development of Cuba. He has the author-ity of leadership.

SERMON ON THE MOUNT

ROBERT F. WILLIAMS,U.S. AFRICAN-AMERICAN LEADER

I have seen, oh yes, the glorious face of Cuba. I haveheard the voice of Cuba, equally impressive. Itwas the wise and firm voice of the great FidelCastro. I consider it the greatest honor in mylife to have heard the greatest humanitarianleader of the epoch pronounce a new Sermonon the Mount.

210 LUIS BÁEZ

WE NEED IT

ROBERT MUGABE, PRESIDENT OF ZIMBABWE

Allow me to say to Fidel Castro: please continuethis magnificent work. There are those who saythat you are exporting the Revolution to othercountries. If exporting the Revolution is educat-ing these young people so that on returning totheir own countries they will impart the valuesthat they have known here, then I say: We needmore, because we need them!

IN THE FACE OF ALL THEPRESSURE

ROBERT REDFORD, U.S. ACTOR

I admire Fidel Castro. How could one not ad-mire a man who has been capable of maintain-ing his country during so many years in theface of all the U.S. pressure?


HIS BEST TITLE

ROBERT SURO, U.S. JOURNALIST

Fidel has various titles. But it would seem that hisauthority is best derived from the name that thepeople give him: Comandante.

Everyone in Cuba calls him Fidel. It wouldseem that they have all seen him in person atsome point. He governs like a kind of head offamily.

His life is adorned with legendary details.Seeing him in person his voice is immediatelyimpressive: gentle, high toned; his physical ap-pearance does not seem to predict that voice,because Fidel is tall and muscular.

Castro has projected his personality on revo-lutionary Cuba in such a way that it affects ev-ery citizen.

Castro would not have been able to arouse suchenthusiasm and loyalty among Cubans if, in addi-tion to his personality, he hadn’t offered themrealizations, which he has fulfilled, and this neveroccurred before with any politician in Cuba.

212 LUIS BÁEZ

A RECOLLECTION

ROBERTO FERNÁNDEZ RETAMAR, CUBAN

WRITER AND POET

I was in Matanzas when the events of August 5,1994 occurred. That night I heard Fidel’s speechon the radio. Back in Havana the following after-noon I discovered the details of the incident andsaw the footage. A counterrevolutionary riothad been dissolved like salt in water and notonly on account of the rapid response by activecitizens but by that of Fidel himself. He hadturned up in the area, walking unarmed throughthe streets, being acclaimed even by some ofthose who minutes before were shouting hos-tile slogans and brandishing sticks or stones.Naturally, many people were perplexed by thatimage of the maximum leader of a country de-scending from his vehicle and walking into themidst of a tumult which nobody knew the ex-tent of. That brought to my mind a memory ofmany years back, the memory of the first timethat I heard Fidel speak in public at the Uni-versity of Havana.

It was at the end of the 40s in the last cen-tury, as one has to get used to saying. We uni-


versity students had occupied the precinct ofour Alma Mater to protest an increase in the priceof public transportation. We strolled about with-out much meaning, particularly in the then-called Cadenas Plaza, in front of which thewooden platform used for the University the-ater performances had not been dismantled.Suddenly Fidel Castro climbed onto the afore-mentioned stage and spoke to us, the students.Although he was an independent law student—so he didn’t attend the regular courses—he fre-quently visited the University, where he waswell known. For example, people knew of hisinterventions in certain events, like that of CayoConfites in 1947, a frustrated attempt to invadethe Dominican Republic and depose the Trujillodictatorship, and the Bogotazo that shook Co-lombia after the assassination of Gaitán. More-over, in Cuba Fidel used to participate in whatthe youth of Roa and Pablo de la Torriente13

called “the university tánganas.”14 So, he was13. Raúl Roa García (1907-82), a Cuban revolutionary who workedfor many years as Minister of Foreign Affairs; his attitude wonhim the epithet “Foreign Minister of Dignity,” and Pablo de laTorriente Brau (1901-36), a Cuban journalist who was born inPuerto Rico and died defending the Republic during the Span-ish Civil War. Ed.14. Tángana means quarrel, racket. Ed.

214 LUIS BÁEZ

a restless and combative youth to whom onecould apply José Martí’s line of verse: “On be-half of whom will I spill my life?” I had seenhim at other times, almost always surroundedby girls, but I had never talked to him or heardhim speak in public. I would do so for the firsttime that day.

Admirer that I was and being from the Greekworld—I studied Philosophy and Literature—seeing him standing aloft on the stage whereclassical works were performed, I was struckby something that I don’t think I had noticedbefore: his profile, which recalled the one trans-mitted to us as certain characters in The Iliad:for example, those illustrating the correspond-ing Martí article in The Golden Age. But thebrief and singular words he directed at us caughtmy attention far more. It seemed that some stu-dent leaders were in collusion with the govern-ment and were trying to stifle the university pro-test. Fidel defended it with passion and suddenlyexclaimed that the sun was very strong —it wasmidday—, then he proposed we should continueexchanging ideas while marching in a show ofdisagreement on the Presidential Palace. Hethen got down from the stage and headed theimpromptu demonstration.


When I commented to some people howFidel’s action of August 5, 1994 had remindedme of that long-ago anecdote that he had prob-ably forgotten, they found my evocation far-fetched. Was this not the hero of Moncada, ofthe Sierra, of Girón [the Bay of Pigs], of hun-dreds of feats? For that reason and for muchmore, I felt so content listening to the speechthat Fidel gave in the Aula Magna of the Uni-versity of Havana the following year, on Sep-tember 4, 1995, on the 50th anniversary of hismatriculation in that institution. In his speechFidel proclaimed: “It was a privilege to enterthis University… because it was here that I learntpossibly the best things of my life, because itwas here that I discovered the best ideas of ourepoch and of our times, because it was here thatI became a revolutionary, because it was herethat I became a follower of Martí and because itwas here that I became a socialist.”

THE GREATS

ROBERTO MATA ECHAURREN, CHILEAN PAINTER

Fidel is a hero at the altitude of the greats of thepast and of our time.

216 LUIS BÁEZ

A GREAT PEDAGOGUE

RODNEY ARISMENDI, POLITICIAN, FORMER

GENERAL SECRETARY OF THE COMMUNIST PARTY

OF URUGUAY

When Fidel triumphed on January 1, 1959 I hadinformative knowledge of him. I knew of hisrevolutionary feats and his dedication and hero-ism as a student fighter, and of his cooperationwith other peoples, such as the attempted expe-dition to the Dominican Republic.

I followed his trajectory closely after the as-sault on the Moncada Garrison. In 1957, whenI was in the Soviet Union, I was invited to givea lecture to more than 800 Moscow propagan-dists. Those attending, people of different ages,included former war combatants, many ofwhom had been decorated. They had greatpolitical and military interest in the beginningof the guerrilla movement in Latin America, ofthe presence of the revolutionaries in the SierraMaestra. They asked me numerous questions,among them how Fidel could be defined sociallyand politically.

I replied, first, that one did not have to evalu-ate in a schematic way what that movement


could signify or what Fidel could signify. Thatit wasn’t easy to pigeonhole him and state: he isa leader of the petit bourgeoisie, a revolution-ary intellectual. Because in certain layers of theLatin American revolutionary movement, amidstthe student and intellectual sectors, the anti-imperialist revolutionary struggle is sometimessustained by many people; that I could not de-scribe him in any other way than as a revolu-tionary student.

I was telling them that I was placing enor-mous hope in the radical nature of the Revolu-tion as I knew Fidel’s personal antecedents. Atthat time the essential part of History Will Ab-solve Me was circulating in the Americas as a greatdocument, because in its definitive form it didn’thave the merited diffusion. What was proposedin it was a new phenomenon in Latin America.Because it pointed to a likewise new era of the anti-imperialist struggle on the continent, of the struggleagainst dictatorships, against tyrannies imposedby the United States in the cold war period.

The very content, the profundity of the docu-ment, what I thought then was not only con-firmed by but amplified by the Cuban Revolution.I continue to believe that History Will Absolve Me

218 LUIS BÁEZ

is one of the great revolutionary political docu-ments, with a large indication of political ma-turity. If the document is evaluated in itself, itis not a socialist document; it is a revolution-ary, advanced anti-imperialist democratic docu-ment. That is one of its merits, it is a documentto unite the majority of the Cuban peoplethrough a program rather than entrust to it so-cialist goals in advance.

It has merit for the maturity of its objectives,the programmatic proposals, its analysis of thereality of Cuba, subjected to exploitation, plun-dered by imperialism and moreover, with a pro-found knowledge of that life. Apart from thatit is a very beautiful literary work, in its draft-ing, dominion of good Spanish and its high in-spirational tone.

From its first day I had celebrated the tri-umph of the Cuban Revolution as somethingnew. In an article I wrote for the Internacionalmagazine in 1959, I noted the qualitative changethe Cuban Revolution signified for the revolu-tionary process on the continent.

The year 1959 brought two great events: theascent of the USSR with the launch of the firstsputnik and the triumph of the Cuban Revolu-tion.


My first personal encounter with Fidel tookplace in the home of Celia (Sánchez) in a meet-ing with a group of Latin American commu-nists who were highly impressed with the dou-ble fact of Fidel’s youth and intellectual vigor,as well as the audacity of his theoretical thinking,the freshness of his expression and his simplicity.

One fact impressed me: on expressing a judge-ment on Latin America, something of not muchimportance, I gave him an informational preci-sion. And in the course of the meeting he beganto speak directly to me on many occasions.

Sometimes, talking abroad with people whohad contradictions with Fidel, I always rejectedthe image of him being the only person to talk.Fidel can converse on many issues; he is a per-manent student, he vividly picks up on realities,he is an attentive participant in dialogue. Thatimpression was deeply engraved on my mindfrom the first moment.

I also attended the first mass meetings. Withhundreds of thousands of people entering intothe way of the Revolution, Fidel appeared likea kind of great revolutionary pedagogue, sys-tematically educating the people, the workingclass.

220 LUIS BÁEZ

Sometimes, people with other customs—forexample the Europeans give much importanceto the written speech—were taken aback byFidel’s free oratory, at the same time so rich.He was always characterized by introducingloads of fundamental theoretical-political ideasin his addresses. Every public act is transformedinto a people’s school, into a revolutionaryschool.

YOU CAN CONVERSE WITH HIM

ROGER ETCHEGARAY, FRENCH CARDINAL,FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE VATICAN PAPAL

JUSTICE AND PEACE COUNCIL

I have visited Cuba on various occasions. The firsttime was Christmas of 1988 and I had the joy ofknowing the Island from west to east. From myfirst contacts with the Cuban people I felt likea native. Everything to do with their daily lives,their joys, sufferings and aspirations impassionsme… even from Rome!

I have met with President Fidel Castro onvarious occasions. We have discussed many sub-jects. He is a man with whom you can converse


and argue. I conserve a wonderful memory ofmy interviews with President Castro.

GREAT VISION OF THE WORLD

ROGER IRESON, GENERAL SECRETARY OF THE

U.S. UNITED METHODIST CHURCH HIGHER

EDUCATION AND MINISTRIES BOARD

Fidel Castro is a leader of world dimensions,impassioned, with a great vision of the worldand a commitment to the battle for equality andhope for a better future.

MAESTRO OF SEDUCTION

ROMÁN OROZCO, SPANISH JOURNALIST

I observe the man who at that time, in April 1989,was sixty-three years old. Wearing his traditionalolive-green work fatigues. That man who mixesdramatics with humor. Who can talk of deathalong with the sweet potato harvest so impor-tant for the survival of the island, besieged andblockaded like Numantia, by an empire thathumanity could never have dreamed of.

222 LUIS BÁEZ

When he talks, Fidel indicates with his fin-ger. He points it at your heart. He doesn’t takehis eyes off you. Although he might twist fromside to side, he always conserves something, evenif it is a regard out of the corner of his eye at theinterlocutor. He studies him or her, observesthe reactions. He asks questions in order to dis-concert. He envelopes his audience in his flu-ent and lengthy language. He is a total maestroof seduction and his bitterest enemies acknowl-edge that virtue in Fidel Castro.

MY ADMIRATION WAS BORNTHERE

RÓMULO ESCOBAR BETANCOURT, PANAMANIAN

POLITICIAN

Omar Torrijos was sympathetic to the CubanRevolution even before he met Fidel. In hispublic trajectory he perceived him as a mandedicated to revolutionary violence. That washis original concept of Fidel.

When the Cuban authorities detained theLayla and Johnny Express vessels, Torrijos feltvery concerned and trapped in two situations:


protesting at the attack on vessels flying the Pana-manian colors although there were no Panama-nians on board and, on the other hand, the con-cern that confronting Cuba over that incidentcould mean placing himself in a position againstthe Revolution. He did not want that.

I recall that he was very attentive to any state-ment that Fidel might make in relation to theseincidents. The night we heard that Fidel wasgoing to speak the two of us were alone inFarallón and listened to his speech on short-waveradio.

Fidel affirmed that he was prepared to givethe Panamanian government an explanation ofthese events, but never that of the United States.I will never forget that he jumped up and toldme: “this is the moment to send a delegation toCuba.”

I was at the head of the group. I talked withFidel. He explained everything to me. He toldme that he didn’t know Omar, but had seen himin films and had the impression that he was a manwho profoundly believed in what he was doingand who was ready to die in the struggle for hiscountry’s liberation.

Fidel asked me to tell him that he was riskingbeing left in a blind alley and that the gringos

224 LUIS BÁEZ

were going to massacre the Panamanian peopleas they were doing with Viet Nam.

And that as a leader, he had a responsibility: tooperate so as to avoid violence if he could find a wayto do so.

When I transmitted the message Torrijos wasupset. He commented to me: “That was whathe said to you.” He made me repeat it. He toldme: “I was convinced that that man was goingto send me a submachine gun.” I replied thatI was also surprised that he had given me thatmessage, given that I didn’t know him either.

He was surprised that Fidel hadn’t sent him aviolent message but one of concern. That mes-sage had a great influence on Omar. At thatmoment it was really important. That waswhere the estimation, admiration and great af-fection that Torrijos held for Fidel was born.My admiration of Fidel was likewise born there.

A JULES VERNE

ROSEMBERG PABÓN PABÓN,COLOMBIAN POLITICIAN

The Cubans have the good fortune to havea leader like Fidel, who is one of the clearest


men of this century. Keeping things in propor-tion, he is also a Jules Verne who advanced hishistory and his homeland some 150 years. TheCubans must feel great pride in having a man,a universal leader of the status of Fidel Castro.

AUTHENTICALLY NATIONAL

SALVADOR ALLENDE, POLITICIAN, FORMER

PRESIDENT OF CHILE

The Cuban Revolution, while remaining au-thentically national, belongs to the Latin Ameri-can peoples in terms of its anti-imperialist andanti-feudal projection.

The presence of campesinos with their long-held desire for land and their faith in Cuba’sdestiny that they will contribute to creating isa living symbol of the Agrarian Reform. Seedssown in Cuban agriculture that will germinatein lands all over America.

Today I will bear witness to a governmentand people united in the task of promoting eco-nomic development independent of foreign tu-telage and of guaranteeing its full democracy.

226 LUIS BÁEZ

A HERO OF OUR TIMES

SAMORA MACHEL, FORMER PRESIDENT OF

MOZAMBIQUE

Fidel is an indisputable leader of the Cubanpeople, but moreover, he is a hero of our times.


GENUINELY CUBAN

SANTIAGO CARRILLO, FORMER GENERAL SECRE-TARY OF THE COMMUNIST PARTY OF SPAIN

The first time I talked with Fidel was whenI visited Cuba in 1960. The son of Galicianémigrés, he placed much emphasis on the CubanRevolution being a “Spanish revolution.” Whathe intended by that was to differentiate it fromother revolutions in this century; to indicate thatit was something different and it was not neces-sary to look for hands allien to Cuba; interna-tional conspiracies, allien maneuvers; that whatwas occurring was something authentically andexclusively Cuban.

At the time he was talking with me and JuanRejano, Fidel was preparing in a very singularway a speech that he was going to make at theUnited Nations. It was not about taking notes; hedoubtless had a privileged memory and duringthe course of the evening he got up several timesand repeated to us what he was thinking of saying:entire paragraphs, improvised during the conversa-tion, including one in which he thought to condemnthe Franco regime and declare Cuban solidaritywith the Spanish people.

228 LUIS BÁEZ

Of course, the Revolution is genuinely Cu-ban: a marvellous improvisation in which reci-pes were not repeated and in which creativityand ingenuity frequently bonded; hence “whatset it on its way.”

I was captivated by that atmosphere. I wasaware of the great sincerity and honorablenessof Fidel, a veritable giant, a force of nature,a man who vouched for his words with his ownlife.

THE MIRACLE OF LIVING

SARA GONZÁLEZ, CUBAN SINGER-SONGWRITER

For those of us who build castles from art, thejoyful presence of Fidel renews our life; histenderness moves one to feel the fresh grasse,the delicate liana, water in the bromeliad. Hisgentlemanliness once again provokes candor,blushes and gratification. With his energy hehas also taught us how to make the miracle ofliving with the essential, what is really neces-sary; that love remains and that what increasesare our transcendental values, the patriotic roadof the thousand leagues, with liberty, adventure


and its victory, conflict and its solution, fulfill-ing the utopia.

He gives us the courage and exigency for thecapacity to resist, he is a cry of hope in this worldof individualism and every moment at his sideor facing his discourse is one of learning, loveand dignity.

A BETTER WORLD

SAUL LANDAU, U.S. INTELLECTUAL

As a group of U.S. citizens we organized our-selves to also demonstrate our support for Cuba’sindependence and human equality. Other stu-dents and writers, white and black, joined us.Fidel looked at us. He was surprised. One couldread in his face that he didn’t understand verywell what was happening. Then he listened towhat we were saying—we were talking in Eng-lish—and he understood. His smile indicated hispleasure. Then he greeted us. But it was us whoappreciated the humanism and spirit of sacri-fice of the Cuban people in trying to constructa better world.

230 LUIS BÁEZ

THE LIGHT IN LATIN AMERICA

SEKOU TOURE, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE

REPUBLIC OF GUINEA

Only the Revolution can last in time and space.But it is not its duration that gives it strength: itis a great will to transform, guided by an aware-ness essentially of progress for everyone. Thisis what makes the Cuban Revolution an ex-ample in the world.

It is comrade Fidel Castro himself who givesthe best example of dedication. With a leaderlike him there is no room for bureaucracy. No-body can prosper at the cost of the Revolutionwhen the leader rejects all honors except thehonor of serving his people. We have been ableto confirm that.

We have weighed up his value, his degree ofcommitment to his people and his constant dis-position to assume the function of a revolution-ary leader. He is an example to us. Cuba is thelight in Latin America.


A FIGHT FOR LIFE

SERGIO RAMÍREZ, NICARAGUAN WRITER

AND POLITICIAN

The Cuban Adjustment Act is designed to fo-ment illegal emigration through the contrabandof persons. It represents a monstrous falsifica-tion of the truth and a cynical slander campaignagainst Cuba, while the United States maintainsa gangsterish attitude to the migratory agree-ments it has contracted by criminally incitingCubans to crossings in which they risk theirlives, in order to gain “victims” to utilize in itspolitical arsenal against the Cuban Revolution.

The United States has applied the policy ofthe stick and the carrot in order to impose itscriteria, will and interests at world level. Onthe one hand it gives out crumbs, but if there isa rebellion, it immediately has recourse to the“diplomacy” of arms to return the “waywardsheep” to the fold of subordination. Sucha policy has not produced the desired results inrelation to Cuba. The Island of Martí, of Fidel,is an exception.

The Cuban people, with Fidel in the front line,will continue fighting until making it a reality,

232 LUIS BÁEZ

with the same energy and tenacity employed tosave little Elián. Their battle is to save the home-land. It is a fight for life.

SENSE OF HUMOR

STAN DROMISKY, CANADIAN PARLIAMENTARIAN

Fidel Castro is confronting the island’s currentreality with great pragmatism, and moreover,he possesses a great sense of humor.

HE HAS PROPELLED IT

SYDNEY POLLACK, U.S. FILMMAKER

Fidel Castro is already not a real figure but largerthan life itself. He is an extremely intelligentworld leader. He has great historical value giventhat he has survived nine U.S. presidents andbecause he has come into contact with historyin a way that nobody else still living has. Hehas made it, he has seen it and he has moved it.He has been part of it, he has propelled it.


AMAZING RISKS

TAD SZULC, U.S. JOURNALIST

Castro’s personal role in initiating and leadingthe Revolution is impressive.

Fidel’s luck is a reiterated theme in his exist-ence. No other modern revolutionary leader orhead of state has run so many personal amaz-ing risks or participated so directly in the rig-ors of conspiracy, rebellion and open warfare.

No political leader in full possession of hismental faculties would have navigated fromMexico to Cuba in the manner in which Castroand his followers did; his cabin cruiser, carry-ing eighty-two men, had been built for no morethan a dozen and was not suitable for transport-ing a military arsenal.

The landing of the expeditionaries on theOriente coast, the two kilometres of tangledswamps and mangroves that they had to crossbefore reaching the beach itself, the battlefieldof Alegría de Pío and the high and torturoustracks of the Sierra Maestra, provided the mosthair-raising experiences that any military leadercould confront. Castro so much wished to winhis incredible guerrilla war that he accepted it

234 LUIS BÁEZ

all without distress, creating an army while con-tinuing to fight.

No political leader without an authenticmilitary experience could have withstood twoyears, often without food, arms and munitions,in the heart of the Sierra Maestra, constantlyon the march with his growing group of guer-rillas up and down tracks full of mud and pep-pered with large rocks, crossing one forest afteranother. And, nevertheless, six weeks after thedisaster at Alegría de Pío, Castro had the au-dacity to attack a detachment of Batista’s army.That was the first victory.

GENUINE AND IMPASSIONEDHUMANISM

THABO MBKEI, PRESIDENT OF SOUTH AFRICA

The visit we recently made to Cuba recalled forus all of the greatness of the hearts of the Cu-ban people and of Fidel Castro and how muchwe have benefited from this fact. We were ableto confirm the Cubans’ constant commitment tohelp us in line with their possibilities to con-front our challenges as a democratic country ingrowth.


When the memory was beginning to fade,our stay in Cuba could not fail to remind us allof the important contribution this country madeto the struggle for freedom and peace in ourregion of Southern Africa.

While we were talking with comrade Fidel,we recalled the period that concluded in ourregion something more than ten years ago andthat was witness to the enormous and concertedeffort of the South Africa of apartheid to im-pose its designs on the region and in that wayextend its crime.

Cuba’s contribution to the defeat of the cam-paign of aggression and destabilization againstan independent Africa was, naturally, particularlymanifested by its decisive participation in themilitary struggle to defeat the apartheid forcesthat invaded Angola shortly after that countryobtained its independence from Portugal.

The Cubans are genuinely committed to theAfrican people’s cause, they feel a great friend-ship for our people and are prepared to makesacrifices for us. For that reason we understoodvery well what they wanted to say when theyaffirmed that it was precisely their commitmentto internationalism and solidarity that made itpossible for them to be prepared to die if neces-sary in order that we should be free.

236 LUIS BÁEZ

It is precisely on account of that strong andprevailing spirit that Cuba possesses that wecurrently have 463 Cuban doctors working in ourpublic hospitals, especially in the rural areas.Forty-six of those doctors also lecture and assuch are helping us both in our schools of medi-cine and our teaching hospitals.

In order to increase our own capacity in thissphere, Cuba has granted scholarships to 185young South Africans who are currently study-ing on the island to become doctors.

Due to its commitment in helping us to radi-cally improve the health of our people, Cuba hasproposed renouncing patents on its medicalproducts, as well as cooperating with us in theirproduction, in a way that we can supplythe poor of our country with reasonably pricedmedicines.

In addition to that, Cuba has agreed to workwith us in the important scientific sphere of bio-technology so as to increase our research capacityin this field.

The facts demonstrate that when the Cubanpeople helped to defeat the monster of apart-heid, it did so because we are friends at all timesand not just when things are going well.


The Cuban people feel motivated by a genu-ine, sincere and impassioned humanism. Theyare proud of the rich and long history of strugglefor their own freedom and social progress.

They do not hesitate to share what they havewith those who need it. They wish to be partof a world of freedom, peace, prosperity andfriendship among the peoples, and are deter-mined to make their contribution to attain thoseobjectives.

We shall never forget the notable contribu-tion that this little country and especially Fidelhas made to our own freedom without askingfor anything in return.

MOMENTS NEVERTO BE FORGOTTEN

TIMUR GAIDAR, JOURNALIST, PRAVDA

NEWSPAPER CORRESPONDENT IN CUBA

I have lived moments of profound emotionin Cuba: the Bay of Pigs landing and the Mis-sile Crisis. In both I witnessed at close handsFidel’s exceptional capacity as a leader. Theyare moments never to be forgotten.

238 LUIS BÁEZ

AN ANTHOLOGICAL POEM

TOMÁS BORGE, NICARAGUAN WRITER AND

POLITICIAN

In my conversations with Fidel Castro I havebeen especially impressed by the persuasive dis-sertation—an anthological poem—on Cuba’srespect for human rights, and this man’s reflec-tions on human beings, humane qualities andtheir protagonism in history.

INSPIRING EXAMPLE

VASCO GONÇALVES, PORTUGUESE POLITICIAN

What most attracts me about Cuba is how it isshowing the world that it is possible to resistimperialism, U.S. empire. But this resistance isnot a historical chance, it is the fruit of morethan forty years of heroic struggle: from the earlystages of the revolutionary struggle, the assaulton the Moncada Garrison, a policy of nationalindependence, the coherent realization of pa-triotic and liberating objectives, of popular par-ticipation in the construction of a society ofsocial justice, freedom and socialism.


That is fruit of conscience raising, of politi-cal and social education, of the culture and co-hesion of a people, of valor, of the exemplarytenacity and coherence of its leaders, of the mu-tual confidence between governors and the gov-erned, of the ethics of the Revolution itself sinceits initial days.

The principal and acknowledged architect ofthis battle is Fidel Castro Ruz. The executionof his life and work is an inspiring example forhis comrades, for the Cuban people and for menand women throughout the world whose ideal ishuman liberation in the widest sense of the word.

Fidel has a rare intelligence, a comprehensionand consistent conduct in the most difficult andcomplex military, economic, political, social,cultural, religious and diplomatic situations. Heis a maestro of military arts, of tactics and strat-egy, the firmest and most untiring combatantfor the political, social, cultural and ethical in-struction and training of his people.

Guided by a profound humanism, his ac-tions are inspired by the greatest respect andresponsibility for comrades that have died forthe homeland, for the Revolution, for Social-ism, and who are always present in his spiritand in his speeches.

240 LUIS BÁEZ

Fidel Castro is the principal inspirer of theveritably epic struggle that a little country withlimited resources is waging for national inde-pendence, for the Revolution and for Socialism.

SYMBOL OF SOLIDARITY

VO NGUYEN GIAP, VIETNAMESE GENERAL

(RETIRED)

Comrade Fidel Castro is an excellent revolution-ary leader who, together with his combatants,attained the triumph of the Cuban Revolution,converting the liberated island into the principalrevolutionary lighthouse of Latin America.

Under the direction of Fidel—first secretaryof the Communist Party and president of theCouncil of State—Cuba has overcome all the dif-ficulties; all the interventionist maneuvers; ithas maintained and developed revolutionaryachievements to date.

Fidel Castro and the revolutionary comradesare an example of indomitable heroism. He isa symbol of the immense strength of his peoplewho are nurtured on the ideal of independence,freedom and Socialism.


For many years as president of the Non-Aligned Movement Fidel contributed to thestruggle for peace, national independence, de-mocracy and social development in the ThirdWorld and Latin American nations.

For Viet Nam Fidel Castro represents a sym-bol of solidarity and profound unity betweenthe Vietnamese and Cuban peoples. Fidel pro-nounced these unforgettable words: “For VietNam Cuba is prepared to even give its own blood.”

I wish Fidel Castro much health. With theCommunist Party he is leading the Cuban Revo-lution to great achievements and important con-tributions aimed at the world advancing alongthe road of respect for and right to life, for theright to happiness of every person on the planet.

THE MAN OF THE CENTURY

VOLODIA TEITELBOIM, CHILEAN INTELLECTUAL

AND POLITICIAN

For me Fidel Castro is the man of the century,not only at continental level but at world level.Through the vicissitudes of life, including ex-ile, I have known many political leaders and

242 LUIS BÁEZ

many heads of state. I never saw a man whowas greater or more profound, more intelli-gent, more principled. Everywhere I go I saythat if the United States had a president thatwas 10% of Fidel, it would be a great demo-cratic country.

AUTHENTIC LEADER

WALDO FRANK, U.S. WRITER

There is a very strong link between Fidel Castroand the people, which is even maintained whenhe is speaking on television or at a popular rally.This is the kind of link that makes heroes, per-sons who totally interpret their people. The re-lationship between Castro and his people is veryhumane. He is an authentic leader and peoplehave learned to love him.


SO PURE

WALTER H. BERUKOFF, CANADIAN

BUSINESSMAN

Fidel Castro is one of the most important per-sons in history; he has led a country that wasa besieged colony since the 16th century andhas remained in government for more than fortyyears with the support of his people, whom hehas given education and medical care probablybetter than that of 85%-90% in the world.

His history is distinct from that of manyworld leaders, and I even doubt that there isanother world leader whose objectives and his-tory have been so pure.

HIS FIGURE

WIFREDO LAM, CUBAN VISUAL ARTIST RESIDENT

IN EUROPE SINCE 1938

The existence of universal man can be madeconcrete in Cuba, with its native Indians, Afri-cans, Asians and Europeans. It is the synthesisof humanity. We opened the way to attaininga universal comprehension. Being such a small

244 LUIS BÁEZ

country, Cuba has triumphed. Seeing what is be-ing done there restores our confidence in hu-man beings. One can not speak coldly of a char-acter and attitude like that of Fidel, and onecannot talk of the gains achieved in Cuba with-out having his figure present.

As a guide, Fidel has undertaken an excep-tional labor. The fact that this man has unitedthe people in one sole cause signifies that he isa great human architect, as he has made all Cu-bans feel as if they are part of one sole body,one sole heart.

A FASCINATING MAN

WOLE SOYINKA, NIGERIAN WRITER, NOBEL

LITERATURE PRIZE LAUREATE

Fidel Castro is a fascinating man who has a greatpassion for the African continent. He is very wellinformed on the situation in Nigeria. Every timeI meet him his stature increases for me. We are nottalking now of liberation movements, we are talk-ing of the health of the masses, education andother projects undertaken in Cuba that haveserved as a model for other nations.


REACHING A GREAT DOORWAY

WOLFGANG LARRAZÁBAL, AN OFFICER

AND POLITICIAN WHO HEADED THE GOVERNMENT

EXECUTIVE THAT TOOK POWER

IN VENEZUELA IN JANUARY 1958

For me, from the sentimental point of view, thismeeting has been more emotive than whenI received him in Caracas. At that time he hadan immense political power. Now, on arrivinghere, that political power has disappeared andhe has treated me with such warmth and affec-tion that I feel really moved.

On embracing him I felt as if I was reachinga great doorway where the shelter and warmthdemonstrate that people need that in life to feelmore human.

The things that Fidel has include his greathumanism. He really feels human contact. Forme, my reencounter with him has been a mo-tive for intense joy. It seemed that time had notpassed. He looks young, vigorous and dynamic.He is a statesman who comprehends the prob-lems of Cuba and the world.

246 LUIS BÁEZ

DREAMS

WRIGHT MILLS, U.S. WRITER

We have learnt from Fidel, and we are learningday by day that human beings can go a very longway if they really try. The will to see further andsee everything as a whole, to “fly high” as theYankees say. It might be utopian, but that is whatFidel has taught us and is continually teachingus. To dream and believe that dreams can becomereality. Fidel Castro does not promote a cult ofthe individual, but the facts of the Revolution.

When people take advantage of opportuni-ties they make history; this man has done so.

WORLD LEADER

YASSER ARAFAT, PRESIDENT OF THE STATE OF

PALESTINE

With profound emotion we were able to see viathe international news agencies the image ofFidel Castro with the Palestinian hatta on hisshoulders, heading a popular demonstration ofsupport for the struggle of our heroic people.


I consider that demonstration of unshakeablefirmness that took place in Havana a strong andeffective message on the part of a beloved worldleader who enjoys great international prestigeamong all the peoples and countries of the world.

From the depths of my heart and that of everyPalestinian, I thank him for this valiant positionto halt the Israeli aggression of our people, theirhomeland and sacred Christian and Islamic places,and affirm that every Palestinian is conserving inhis or her heart today this glorious image of YourExcellency with the Palestinian hatta on his shoul-ders, irrefutable evidence of the justice of our cause.

HE’S NOT GOING TO ABANDONYOU

Hell, stay firm, don’t betray the homeland! Don’tfail the Comandante, and don’t worry, he isn’tgoing to abandon you.

Spontaneous comment by a Marielito15 in a MiamiCourt in support of the five Cuban patriots unjustlycharged in that city, and related by Gerardo Hernández—one of the accused—in a letter sent to his family onFebruary 1, 2001; read out by Randy Alonso on the TVRoundtable, June 22, 2001.

15. A Cuban who left the country via the port of Mariel in 1980. Trans.

248 LUIS BÁEZ

PROFOUNDLY PEDAGOGIC*

JOSÉ ANTONIO BARROSO, MAYOR OF PUERTO

REAL, SPAIN

Possibly one of Fidel’s fundamental character-istics is his vast confidence in the Cuban people,his revolutionary capacity, and his capacity ofresistance to adversity, or attacks from his greatenemy, the United States. I believe that is a mu-tual confidence that would be difficult to re-peat, and absolutely impossible in capitalist so-cieties. The revolution has been a long roadof identification. What is surprising is that thereis a mutual confidence, direct, within a dynamicrelationship: Fidel learning from the people andthe people learning from Fidel.

It is a relation of leadership established onsomething very important and very profound:a collective project and a sentiment linked tothat. If anything characterizes Fidel it is his be-lief in the need for a social, socialist and hu-manist project, egalitarian, culturally rich, par-ticipative and respectful of nature. Fidel is ina constant dialogue with the people in terms ofthat idea and its relation to reality.

*. Opinion written specially for this English edition, on Octo-ber 27, 2003.


Fidel’s idea of “the people” is not in the leastrhetorical, it refers to the concrete workingpeople, with their needs, with their shortages,with their capacity for struggle and coopera-tion, with their weaknesses.

Fidel has a vast confidence in human beings’capacity to create a world of solidarity basedon a program of the real guarantee of humanrights for all. Thus another of the Cuban leader’scharacteristics is his immense perseverance.

Fidel has a high concept of potential humandignity. He thinks that that human dignity hasthe potential to become a reality through col-lective and cooperative effort.

Fidel extends this confidence in the simplepeople, in the working classes, to the whole of LatinAmerica. Fidel has restored the spirit of Bolívarand Martí and, via Martí, has assumed Cuba’srole as a vanguard and Latin American frontieragainst U.S. imperialism.

Fidel has endowed that Latin American sen-timent with a sense of class that is much moreprecise—socialism—and some of the values of theLeft at the beginning of the 21st century. Fidelhas always held a dialogue with Latin America’speoples, and through them, with the peoples ofthe impoverished and deprived South.

250 LUIS BÁEZ

Fidel has always sustained that Socialism isthe social system that guarantees human beings’liberation and the end of exploitation.

Even in the worst moments after the collapseof the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, Fidelhas never lost this second basic confidence, hisconfidence in Socialism. Fidel has constantly ob-served the global processes of capitalism at the endof the 20th century and the beginning of the 21st,and has analyzed and circulated these processeswith great precision and a capacity for adaptingtheory to the changes toward a neoliberal capital-ism of large multinational companies.

Within this analysis the study of the proc-esses of power occupies a fundamental place.Imperialism as it appears today, unmasked and bru-tal, has been perfectly analyzed by Fidel and theCuban political leadership in recent decades.

Fidel has also been a persevering and acuteobserver of social movements, protests and popu-lar mobilizations, of class struggles throughoutthe world and particularly in Latin America.

He has always interpreted them with cour-age. The truth has never made Fidel afraid.

For Fidel, solidarity—genuine, valiant andalways possible for Cuba even during the specialperiod, even in the worst moments and cycles


of the blockade—has been another of the weap-ons and components of internationalism.

Fidel is a leader who is constantly learning.Little by little, his political discourse has formedand adapted itself to new realities. Hence hisastounding political youth. In the last few years,Fidel, the political leadership and the people ofCuba have been capable of rescuing and pro-foundly updating revolutionary discourse, re-lieving it of rhetoric and dogmatism.

Fidel’s leadership is profoundly pedagogic,deliberately pedagogic and in this sense radicallydistinct from all the politicians in the capitalistcountries.

Fidel has nothing of the demagogue. He doesnot conceal the difficulties; he does not concealthe errors. He is a leader who is very firm in hisconvictions but is never dogmatic. Reality comesinto headlong collision with that image con-structed by counterrevolutionary propaganda onthe slogan “Socialism or Death” with which Fi-del has expressed Cuba’s intention not to giveup his social project despite U.S. aggression andthreats.

Fidel is a revolutionary who does not nego-tiate with political discourse. Fidel has vast his-torical knowledge and also an enormous senseof history as a process.

SOURCES

BOOKS

ALLAIM, MARIE-FRANÇOIS. El otro y su doble [TheOther and His Double]. Buenos Aires: EMECÉEditores, 1983.

APULEYO MENDOZA, PLINIO. El olor de la guayaba[The Scent of Guavas]. Bogota: Editorial la OvejaNegra, May 1982.

BÁEZ, LUIS. Camino de la victoria [Road to Vic-tory]. Havana: Casa de las Américas, 1978.

______. A dos manos [With Both Hands]. Ha-vana: Ediciones Unión, 1982.

______. Los que se fueron [Those Who Left]. Ha-vana: Editorial José Martí, 1991.

______. Los que se quedaron [Those Who Stayed].Havana: Editora Política, 1993.

______. Conversaciones con Juan Marinello [Con-versations with Juan Marinello]. Havana: SI-MAR, 1995.

______. Preguntas indiscretas [Indiscreet Ques-tions]. Havana: Ediciones Prensa Latina),1999.

______. Miami, donde el tiempo se detuvo [Miami,Where Time Stood Still]. Havana: Editorialde Ciencias Sociales, 2001.

254 LUIS BÁEZ

BALAGUER, JOAQUÍN. Diálogos con la historia, vol. III[Dialogues with History]. Mexico, D.F.:Organización Editorial Mexicana, 1994.

BIANCHI, CIRO. Voces de América Latina [Voicesof Latin America]. Havana: Editorial Artey Literatura, 1988.

BORGE, TOMÁS. Un grano de maíz [A Grain ofCorn]. Havana: Oficina de Publicaciones delConsejo de Estado, 1992.

CARRILLO, SANTIAGO. Memorias [Memories].Madrid: Planeta, 1993.

CRANKSHAW, EDWARD. Krushchev r ecuerda(Khrushchev Remembers: The Last Testament).Madrid: Prensa Española Santillana, 1970.

Cronista en tres épocas [Chronicler in ThreeEpochs]. Havana: Editora Política, 1984.

CHAO, RAMÓN. Palabras en el tiempo [Words inTime]. Madrid: Argos Vergara, 1984.

EISENHOWER, DWIGHT D. Memorias de DwightD. Eisenhower (Waging for Peace, 1956-1961:The White House Years), vol. II. Madrid: Edi-torial Brugera, 1965.

FRANK, WALDO. Isla profética (Cuba: PropheticIsland). Buenos Aires: Editorial Losada, 1961.

GALEANO, EDUARDO. “A pesar de los pesares”[In Spite of Everything], in Ser como ellosy otros artículos [Being Like Them and OtherArticles]. Mexico, D.F.: Siglo XXI, 1992.


GÁLVEZ, WILLIAM. Camilo, señor de la vanguardia[Camilo, Gentleman of the Vanguard]. Ha-vana: Editorial de Ciencias Sociales, 1979.

GAULLE, CHARLES DE. Mémoirs d’espoir [Memo-ries of Hope]. Paris: Libraire Plon, 1970.

GONZÁLEZ BELLO, MANUEL. El canciller [TheForeign Minister]. Havana: Editorial deCiencias Sociales, 1999.

GUTIÉRREZ, CARLOS MARÍA. Sierra Maestray otros reportajes [The Sierra Maestra and OtherReports]. Montevideo: Ediciones Tauro, 1967.

GUTIÉRREZ BARRIOS, FERNANDO. Diálogos con elhombre [Dialogues with Men]. Mexico, D.F.:Editorial Planeta, 1995.

HABICH, EDGARDO DE. Embajador en Cuba [Am-bassador in Cuba]. Mexico, D.F.: Premia Editorade Libros, S.A., 1980.

HERMANN, HAMLET. Francisco Caamaño. SantoDomingo: Editorial Alfa y Omega, 1983.

LÓPEZ PORTILLO, JOSÉ. Memorias [Recollections],vol. II. Mexico, D.F.: Fernández Editores, 1998.

Los Doce [The Twelve]. Havana: Ediciones Guaira,1967.

MANKIEWICZ, FRANK and KIRBY JONES. WithFidel: A Portrait of Castro and Cuba. Chicago,Illinois: Playboy Press, 1975.

256 LUIS BÁEZ

MARTÍNEZ ESTRADA, EZEQUIEL. Fidel en sus 70[Fidel in His Seventies]. Quito: FundaciónGuayasamín, 1996.

MASETTI, JORGE RICARDO. Los que luchan y losque lloran [Those Who Fight and Those WhoWeep]. Havana: Editorial Madiedo, 1959.

Memoria de la graduación del curso de 1944-1945en el Colegio de Belén [Memory of the BelénSchool 1994-1945 Graduation].

MILLS, CHARLES WRIGHT. Escucha yanqui (Lis-ten Yankee: The Revolution in Cuba). Mexico,D.F.: Fondo de Cultura Económica, 1961.

NÚÑEZ JIMÉNEZ, ANTONIO. Wifredo Lam. Ha-vana: Editorial Letras Cubanas, 1982.

______. En marcha con Fidel [On the March withFidel], vol. I. Havana: Fundación de laNaturaleza y el Hombre, 1998.

OROZCO, ROMÁN. Cuba roja: cómo viven loscubanos con Fidel Castro [Red Cuba: Howthe Cubans Live with Fidel Castro]. Madrid:Cambio 16, 1993.

PAGÉS, BEATRIZ. Fidel Castro: Presente y futurode Cuba [Fidel Castro: Present and Futureof Cuba]. Mexico: Editorial Diana, 1991.

PAZ-SÁNCHEZ, MANUEL DE. Zona rebelde: ladiplomacia española ante la Revolución Cubana(1957-1960) [Rebel Area: Spanish diplomacy in


the face of the Cuban Revolution (1957-1960)].Canary Islands: Taller de Historia. Centro dela Cultura Popular Canaria, 1997.

PERÓN, JUAN DOMINGO. Obras completas [Com-plete Works], vol. XXV. Published viaInternet in Argentina by Jorge Avilés, Octo-ber 12, 1999.

POLITZER, PATRICIA. Altamirano. Buenos Aires:Ediciones B, 1989.

RADAELLI, ANA MARÍA. Fechado en La Habana[Datelined in Havana]. Havana: EditoraPolítica, 2001.

Revolución es lucidez [Revolution is Lucidity].Havana: Ediciones ICAIC, 1998.

RODRÍGUEZ, CARLOS RAFAEL. Letra con filo [In-cisive Letters]. Havana: Editorial de CienciasSociales, 1983.

ROJAS, MARTA. El que debe vivir [He Who ShouldLive]. Havana. Casa de las Américas, 1978.

SUÁREZ, LUIS. Conversaciones con Echeverría[Conversations with Echeverría], book be-ing prepared for publication, Mexico.

SZULC, TAD. Fidel: A Critical Portrait. NewYork: William Morrow, 1986.

VÁZQUEZ RAÑA, MARIO. Diálogos con la historia(Dialogues with History), vol. I. Mexico, D. F.:Organización Editorial Mexicana, 1991.

258 LUIS BÁEZ

PERIODICALS

ABC Color newspaper, Asunción, Paraguay.Ahora magazine, Chile.ANC Today, an African National Congress pub-lication.Bohemia magazine, Cuba.Brecha magazine, Uruguay.Contracorriente magazine, Cuba.Chicago Sun-Times, United States.El País newspaper, Madrid, Spain.Élite magazine, Venezuela.Granma daily, Cuba.Granma International , Cuba.Granma newspaper weekly edition, Cuba.Habanera magazine, Cuba.Hoy newspaper, Cuba.Jornal do Brasil newspaper, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.Juventud Rebelde newspaper, Cuba.L’Humanité daily, France.La Jornada newspaper, Mexico.La Nación newspaper, Buenos Aires.Los 70 magazine, Buenos Aires.Opina magazine, Cuba.Palabra Nueva magazine, Cuba.Playboy magazine.Rebelión Internacional, alternative news journal.


Revolución newspaper, Cuba.Tiempo magazine, Spain.Veja magazine, Brazil.Verde Olivo magazine, Cuba.

OTHER SOURCES

BRAVO, ESTELA. Documentary Fidel.Conversations with the author.Interviews done by the author and other jour-nalists.Opinions written especially for this book.OSENDI, JULIA. Documentary Tormenta del Car-ibe [Storm of the Caribbean].Statements to Prensa Latina, French news agencyAFP, Spanish news agency EFE, Italian pressand CNN.

SINTITUL-3 · Aptitudes of a Great Leader (Mario Vázquez Raña) / 171 Simply Stupendous (Mary...

Documents

Transcript of SINTITUL-3 · Aptitudes of a Great Leader (Mario Vázquez Raña) / 171 Simply Stupendous (Mary...