Failed Policies: A Diplomatic History

of Modern US-Cuban Relations

Al Jacobs

South Georgia History Project

Wiregrass History Consortium

In the past 50 years, In the past 50 years, nearly every nation in nearly every nation in

the world has the world has liberalized and liberalized and

entered the global entered the global economy. economy.

Cuba is a notable Cuba is a notable exception. exception.

Why?Why?

In the past 50 years, In the past 50 years, nearly every nation in nearly every nation in

the world has the world has liberalized and liberalized and

entered the global entered the global economy. economy.

Cuba is a notable Cuba is a notable exception. exception.

Why?Why?

Major ThemesMajor ThemesMajor ThemesMajor Themes

Castro has out-maneuvered Castro has out-maneuvered every US President since every US President since Kennedy – How?Kennedy – How?

What is the future of Cuba?What is the future of Cuba?References:

Zbigniew Brezinski papers, Carter Presidential Library

Books – see handout

90 miles from the US Unique culture

Large and fertile An ideal resort

destination

Since 1958, every US President’s policies for Cuba have failed, most in a spectacular manner.

Why?

Cuba –

Playground

of the

Western

Hemisphere

Meyer Lansky

Fulgencio Batista

January 1959

Triumph of the

Revolution

January 1960

Confrontation

January 1960 – November 1963

Bay of Pigs – APR 17, 1961

Operation MongooseOperation Mongoose

De-stabilization De-stabilization

NOV ’61- APR ’64NOV ’61- APR ’64

Sabotage and Sabotage and Subversion Subversion

Assassination AttemptsAssassination Attempts

Mafia involvementMafia involvement

13 Days in October 196213 Days in October 1962The Cuban Missile CrisisThe Cuban Missile Crisis

Johnson – Nixon

1965-1975Support of Vietnam

General Agriculture

& Economic Failures

Export of La Revolucion to

Latin America & Africa

Soviet Proxy State

Cuban Exile Destabilization

Jimmy Carter

The Mariel Boat Lift

April 1980

125,000 Cubans

1425 criminals and persons with mental illness repatriated

600 remain in US prisons today

Most Marielitos are now citizens.

Reagan-Bush

Iran-Contra Affair

Cuban support of Daniel Ortega and the Sandinista government in Nicaragua

““Periodo Especial en Tiempo Periodo Especial en Tiempo de Paz”de Paz”

Fidel CastroFidel Castro

Soviet subsidy Soviet subsidy withdrawal in withdrawal in 1990 leads to 1990 leads to economic economic freefall.freefall.

One crop One crop economyeconomy

US embargoUS embargo

Clinton

Balseros – the New Immigrants.

AUG 1994 – 32,000 rafters

Elian Gonzales-Apr 2000 Question – Did this picture

a. Cost Al Gore the 2000 vote in FL? ,or

b. Make Janet Reno a pariah in her hometown?, or

c. both?

HINT:

You can’t guess

wrong here!

Bush, 2005

Will he ever die?

Will it matter?

Cuba Today

Jineteras

Helms-Burton

Who does it hurt?

“Fidel is an old man who can’t admit he made a mistake.”

Cuban official

THE GREAT DAYHurrah for revolution and more cannon-

shot!A beggar upon horseback lashes a beggar

on foot,Hurrah for revolution and cannon come

again!The beggars have changed places but the

lash goes on.William Butler Yeats