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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Portrait of the Maximum Leader as a Young Man | Portrait of the Maximum Leader as a Young Man |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Note: This Op-Ed is from the archive, written in 2006. | |
| Santa Barbara, Calif. | Santa Barbara, Calif. |
| FIDEL CASTRO appears to have cheated death (yet again) and will celebrate his 80th birthday today. Although he has decreed that his birthday celebration will take place on Dec. 2 (the 50th anniversary of his return to Cuba from exile), he in fact came into the world, weighing 12 pounds, on Aug. 13, 1926, at 2 a.m. at his family’s estate at Birán. | FIDEL CASTRO appears to have cheated death (yet again) and will celebrate his 80th birthday today. Although he has decreed that his birthday celebration will take place on Dec. 2 (the 50th anniversary of his return to Cuba from exile), he in fact came into the world, weighing 12 pounds, on Aug. 13, 1926, at 2 a.m. at his family’s estate at Birán. |
| In 1952, when Fulgencio Batista seized power through a military coup, Fidel Castro declined an invitation to join the regime from Rafael Díaz-Balart, a brother of his wife, Mirta, and a minister in the new government. He had far grander ambitions. | In 1952, when Fulgencio Batista seized power through a military coup, Fidel Castro declined an invitation to join the regime from Rafael Díaz-Balart, a brother of his wife, Mirta, and a minister in the new government. He had far grander ambitions. |
| On July 26, 1953, Mr. Castro and his younger brother Raúl declared war against Batista with an audacious assault on the Moncada military garrison in Santiago de Cuba. The attack was a disaster, with more than 60 men killed, but it made Fidel Castro a household name. He reveled in his ensuing trial — declaring famously that “history will absolve me” — and was sentenced to 15 years at the Isle of Pines prison. (He served less than two.) | On July 26, 1953, Mr. Castro and his younger brother Raúl declared war against Batista with an audacious assault on the Moncada military garrison in Santiago de Cuba. The attack was a disaster, with more than 60 men killed, but it made Fidel Castro a household name. He reveled in his ensuing trial — declaring famously that “history will absolve me” — and was sentenced to 15 years at the Isle of Pines prison. (He served less than two.) |
| Castro was productive and prolific in prison, reading ceaselessly and writing hundreds of letters. Twenty-one of those letters were published in Cuba in 1959 in a volume edited by his friend and frequent correspondent, Luis Conte Agüero. (Mr. Conte Agüero broke with Castro soon after and fled to Miami in 1960.) | Castro was productive and prolific in prison, reading ceaselessly and writing hundreds of letters. Twenty-one of those letters were published in Cuba in 1959 in a volume edited by his friend and frequent correspondent, Luis Conte Agüero. (Mr. Conte Agüero broke with Castro soon after and fled to Miami in 1960.) |
| The book will be published in the United States in English next year for the first time as “The Prison Letters of Fidel Castro.” The excerpts below, translated by Mr. Conte Agüero’s son Efraim Conte, are striking in that they reveal both the idealistic young revolutionary of 1953 and the pitiless dictator he would become over the following half-century. | The book will be published in the United States in English next year for the first time as “The Prison Letters of Fidel Castro.” The excerpts below, translated by Mr. Conte Agüero’s son Efraim Conte, are striking in that they reveal both the idealistic young revolutionary of 1953 and the pitiless dictator he would become over the following half-century. |
| The Prisoner | The Prisoner |
| Dec. 12, 1953 | Dec. 12, 1953 |
| To Luis Conte Agüero: | To Luis Conte Agüero: |
| I am going to ask you a favor. | I am going to ask you a favor. |
| Write a Manifesto to the people in accordance | Write a Manifesto to the people in accordance |
| with the content of this letter. | with the content of this letter. |
| Sign it in my name and take it to | Sign it in my name and take it to |
| Mirta. She will try to have it published. | Mirta. She will try to have it published. |
| . . . | . . . |
| It is decided we shall not have | It is decided we shall not have |
| Christmas — not to even drink water | Christmas — not to even drink water |
| on that day as a sign of mourning. | on that day as a sign of mourning. |
| Make it known, because I believe | Make it known, because I believe |
| that in this way the objective will be | that in this way the objective will be |
| more noble and human. There is no | more noble and human. There is no |
| point for prisoners like us to aspire to | point for prisoners like us to aspire to |
| the joys of Christmas. … | the joys of Christmas. … |
| Luis, we still have strength to die | Luis, we still have strength to die |
| and fists to fight. Receive, from all of | and fists to fight. Receive, from all of |
| us, a strong embrace. … | us, a strong embrace. … |
| The Propagandist | The Propagandist |
| Even behind bars, Fidel Castro | Even behind bars, Fidel Castro |
| never lost faith in his cause or in his | never lost faith in his cause or in his |
| ability to exact revenge on his enemies. | ability to exact revenge on his enemies. |
| In this letter to Melba Hernandez, | In this letter to Melba Hernandez, |
| one of two women who took part | one of two women who took part |
| in the Moncada raid, he depicts himself | in the Moncada raid, he depicts himself |
| as the heir to the great Cuban nationalist | as the heir to the great Cuban nationalist |
| José Martí. | José Martí. |
| April 17, 1954 | April 17, 1954 |
| To Melba Hernandez: | To Melba Hernandez: |
| First, we cannot for a minute | First, we cannot for a minute |
| abandon propaganda, for it is the | abandon propaganda, for it is the |
| soul of our struggle. Ours must have | soul of our struggle. Ours must have |
| its own style and match our circumstances. | its own style and match our circumstances. |
| … | … |
| Second, we must coordinate the | Second, we must coordinate the |
| work between our people here and | work between our people here and |
| those abroad. To this end, arrange a | those abroad. To this end, arrange a |
| trip to Mexico as soon as possible. . . . | trip to Mexico as soon as possible. . . . |
| We have to consider with extreme | We have to consider with extreme |
| care any project of cooperation with | care any project of cooperation with |
| others, lest they simply try to use our | others, lest they simply try to use our |
| name. “To know how to wait,” Martí | name. “To know how to wait,” Martí |
| said, “is the great secret of success.” | said, “is the great secret of success.” |
| Third, maintain a deceptively soft | Third, maintain a deceptively soft |
| touch and smile with everyone. Follow | touch and smile with everyone. Follow |
| the same strategy that we followed | the same strategy that we followed |
| during the trial; defend our | during the trial; defend our |
| points of view without raising resentments. | points of view without raising resentments. |
| There will be enough | There will be enough |
| time later to squash all the cockroaches | time later to squash all the cockroaches |
| together. Do not lose heart | together. Do not lose heart |
| over anything or anyone; after all, | over anything or anyone; after all, |
| we did not do so during the most difficult | we did not do so during the most difficult |
| moments. | moments. |
| One last counsel: beware of envy. | One last counsel: beware of envy. |
| When someone has glory and prestige | When someone has glory and prestige |
| as you do, the mediocre easily | as you do, the mediocre easily |
| find motives or pretexts to be suspicious. | find motives or pretexts to be suspicious. |
| Accept help from anyone, but | Accept help from anyone, but |
| remember, trust no one. | remember, trust no one. |
| June 19, 1954 | June 19, 1954 |
| To Luis Conte Agüero: | To Luis Conte Agüero: |
| Here I spend my life reading and | Here I spend my life reading and |
| exercising self-control. I truly feel | exercising self-control. I truly feel |
| better when I do not read the newspapers; | better when I do not read the newspapers; |
| the politicking and submissiveness | the politicking and submissiveness |
| I see everywhere produces | I see everywhere produces |
| in me fits of rage. | in me fits of rage. |
| If anyone’s patience has been put | If anyone’s patience has been put |
| to the test it is mine; there are times | to the test it is mine; there are times |
| when I spend whole hours fighting | when I spend whole hours fighting |
| the desire to explode, declaring myself | the desire to explode, declaring myself |
| on hunger strike, and not tasting | on hunger strike, and not tasting |
| a bite until I am taken out of this cell | a bite until I am taken out of this cell |
| or killed, which would not be the least | or killed, which would not be the least |
| improbable. I am convinced that | improbable. I am convinced that |
| what they want at all costs is to provoke | what they want at all costs is to provoke |
| me, and I ignore their intentions. | me, and I ignore their intentions. |
| … | … |
| Luis, I think we must organize as | Luis, I think we must organize as |
| soon as possible a firm, systematic | soon as possible a firm, systematic |
| and growing campaign against this | and growing campaign against this |
| outrageous situation of mine. . . . This | outrageous situation of mine. . . . This |
| is psychologically the most favorable | is psychologically the most favorable |
| moment due to a series of events. … | moment due to a series of events. … |
| The Minister of Governance has behaved | The Minister of Governance has behaved |
| just as he is, a perfect pansy; | just as he is, a perfect pansy; |
| he has acquiesced to all the whims of | he has acquiesced to all the whims of |
| the military and given himself over | the military and given himself over |
| to shameless enrichment. … | to shameless enrichment. … |
| Remember Cato, who always ended | Remember Cato, who always ended |
| his speeches asking for the destruction | his speeches asking for the destruction |
| of Carthage. | of Carthage. |
| The Aggrieved Husband | The Aggrieved Husband |
| With her spouse incarcerated, Mirta | With her spouse incarcerated, Mirta |
| secretly accepted a modest stipend | secretly accepted a modest stipend |
| from her brother Rafael, the | from her brother Rafael, the |
| deputy interior minister, through his | deputy interior minister, through his |
| office. When the arrangement became | office. When the arrangement became |
| public, Fidel Castro refused to | public, Fidel Castro refused to |
| believe it, insisting that Ramón Hermida, | believe it, insisting that Ramón Hermida, |
| the interior minister, was trying | the interior minister, was trying |
| to blacken his name. | to blacken his name. |
| July 17, 1954 | July 17, 1954 |
| To Luis Conte Agüero: | To Luis Conte Agüero: |
| This is a machination against me: | This is a machination against me: |
| the basest, most cowardly, most indecent, | the basest, most cowardly, most indecent, |
| the vilest and intolerable. | the vilest and intolerable. |
| Mirta is too level-headed to have | Mirta is too level-headed to have |
| ever allowed herself to be seduced by | ever allowed herself to be seduced by |
| her family, agreeing to appear in the | her family, agreeing to appear in the |
| Government employee roster, no | Government employee roster, no |
| matter how hard her economic situation. | matter how hard her economic situation. |
| I am sure she has been miserably | I am sure she has been miserably |
| slandered. … | slandered. … |
| Only an effeminate like Hermida | Only an effeminate like Hermida |
| at the lowest degree of sexual degeneration | at the lowest degree of sexual degeneration |
| would resort to these methods, | would resort to these methods, |
| of such inconceivable indecency | of such inconceivable indecency |
| and unmanliness. Now I have no | and unmanliness. Now I have no |
| doubt that the statement attributed | doubt that the statement attributed |
| to me about being well-treated was | to me about being well-treated was |
| his doing. | his doing. |
| I do not want to become a murderer | I do not want to become a murderer |
| when I leave prison. Has a political | when I leave prison. Has a political |
| prisoner no honor? Ought a political | prisoner no honor? Ought a political |
| prisoner be offended in this way? | prisoner be offended in this way? |
| May not a prisoner challenge someone | May not a prisoner challenge someone |
| to a duel when he leaves prison? | to a duel when he leaves prison? |
| Must he graze on the bile of infamy | Must he graze on the bile of infamy |
| in the impotence and despair of confinement? | in the impotence and despair of confinement? |
| I am ready to challenge my own | I am ready to challenge my own |
| brother-in-law to a duel at any time. | brother-in-law to a duel at any time. |
| It is the prestige of my wife and my | It is the prestige of my wife and my |
| honor as a revolutionary that is at | honor as a revolutionary that is at |
| stake. | stake. |
| The Warrior | The Warrior |
| Furious at discovering that Mirta | Furious at discovering that Mirta |
| had actually received help from her | had actually received help from her |
| family and thus besmirched his honor, | family and thus besmirched his honor, |
| Mr. Castro sues for divorce and | Mr. Castro sues for divorce and |
| micromanages a scorched earth | micromanages a scorched earth |
| campaign for sole custody of his son, | campaign for sole custody of his son, |
| Fidelito, in this letter to his halfsister, | Fidelito, in this letter to his halfsister, |
| Lidia. | Lidia. |
| November 29, 1954 | November 29, 1954 |
| To Lidia Castro Argota: | To Lidia Castro Argota: |
| It makes me very happy what you | It makes me very happy what you |
| tell me about the divorce; above all | tell me about the divorce; above all |
| that it will be done strictly following | that it will be done strictly following |
| my instructions. About the boy, I remain | my instructions. About the boy, I remain |
| unchanged in my point of view, | unchanged in my point of view, |
| and at the first opportunity, immediately | and at the first opportunity, immediately |
| after the filing, will press the | after the filing, will press the |
| court to require his return to Cuba to | court to require his return to Cuba to |
| attend school, consistent with my | attend school, consistent with my |
| thinking. … | thinking. … |
| I resist even the thought of my son | I resist even the thought of my son |
| sleeping for one night under the | sleeping for one night under the |
| same roof that shelters my most despicable | same roof that shelters my most despicable |
| enemies and receive on his | enemies and receive on his |
| innocent cheeks the kisses of those | innocent cheeks the kisses of those |
| miserable Judases. I have endured | miserable Judases. I have endured |
| their aggressions with the same | their aggressions with the same |
| strength I will use to demand reparations | strength I will use to demand reparations |
| from them; I have suffered | from them; I have suffered |
| the unjustifiable and unforgivable | the unjustifiable and unforgivable |
| absence of my son with the same resolve | absence of my son with the same resolve |
| with which I shall rescue him | with which I shall rescue him |
| at any cost. They know it, or at least | at any cost. They know it, or at least |
| they should know it! I presume they | they should know it! I presume they |
| know that to rob me of that boy they | know that to rob me of that boy they |
| will have to kill me — and even then. | will have to kill me — and even then. |
| I lose my head when I think of | I lose my head when I think of |
| these things. | these things. |
| The Politician | The Politician |
| March 1955 | March 1955 |
| To Luis Conte Agüero: | To Luis Conte Agüero: |
| I am not in the least interested in | I am not in the least interested in |
| swaying the regime to enact that amnesty; | swaying the regime to enact that amnesty; |
| this is not at all my concern; | this is not at all my concern; |
| what I am interested in is demonstrating | what I am interested in is demonstrating |
| the falsehood of its positions, | the falsehood of its positions, |
| the insincerity of its words, the base | the insincerity of its words, the base |
| and cowardly maneuver that they | and cowardly maneuver that they |
| are carrying out against men who | are carrying out against men who |
| are in prison for opposing it. | are in prison for opposing it. |
| They have said that they are generous | They have said that they are generous |
| because they feel strong, in | because they feel strong, in |
| fact they are vengeful because they | fact they are vengeful because they |
| feel weak. … | feel weak. … |
| There will be Amnesty when there | There will be Amnesty when there |
| is peace. With what morale can men | is peace. With what morale can men |
| who have spent the last three years | who have spent the last three years |
| proclaiming that they carried out the | proclaiming that they carried out the |
| coup to bring peace to the Republic | coup to bring peace to the Republic |
| make such proposals? So there is no | make such proposals? So there is no |
| peace, so the coup did not bring | peace, so the coup did not bring |
| peace. … | peace. … |
| “The best proof that there is no dictatorship | “The best proof that there is no dictatorship |
| is that there are no political | is that there are no political |
| prisoners,” they said for many | prisoners,” they said for many |
| months; today prison and exile are | months; today prison and exile are |
| overflowing, therefore they cannot | overflowing, therefore they cannot |
| say that we live under a democratic | say that we live under a democratic |
| constitutional regime. | constitutional regime. |
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