Watch Fidel Castro’s 1959 Broken Promises To Edward R. Murrow

It was February, 1959, one month after a 32 year-old Fidel Castro won control of Cuba in the revolution. A time before track suits, when dictators wore pajamas on international television and broadcast news giants conducted interviews while casually smoking. Edward R. Murrow sat Castro down on a surreal living room set for his show Person To Person to ask him about his future plans for the Republic.

Murrow: Tell me Fidel Castro, are you concerned at all about the communist influence in Cuba?
Castro: Oh I no worried because really there is no threat about communism here in Cuba.

Ha! In fact, the entire video is one big opposite day.

Safety

• Then: Fidel says he is not worried for his safety.
• Now: Fidel says he’s had 638 attempts on his life.

The United States

• Then: Fidel would come to the United States for official visits.
• Now: Fidel refers to the United States as “El Yanqui Imperialista.”

His Beard

• Then: Fidel promised to cut his beard when his promise of government was fulfilled.
• Now: Fidel promises to cut his long white beard when his promise of government is fulfilled.

Fidelito Junior:

• Then: Fidelito Jr. had three little puppies and received letters from his PS20 class from Queens, NY.
• Now: Fidelito Junior is Fidel Castro Diaz Balart the head of Scientific Research in Cuba.

After watching the video, did you notice any other discrepancies/broken promises?