As Cuba and the United States Reengage: The Presence of the Past

By

Louis A. Perez Jr.

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Statue of Jose Martí.

Jose Martí

This statue of Cuba's national hero, Jose Martí, is found in Cienfuegos, Cuba.

American tourist in Havana, Cuba in 1950.

American Tourist, 1950

This photograph taken during Batista's reign shows an American tourist in Havana, Cuba. Photographed by Constantino Arias, it was titled "The Ugly American."

Che Guevara and Fidel Castro during the Cuban Revolution.

Revolutionary Leaders, Che Guevara & Fidel Castro

Two revolutionary leaders, Che Guevara at left and Fidel Castro at right, are photographed during the Cuban Revolution of 1953-1959.

The sinking of the USS Maine in 1898.

USS Maine

The sinking of the USS Maine in 1898, on its way to Havana, Cuba, is seen as a contributing factor to the beginning of the Spanish-American War.

This Cuban cartoon protests the Platt Amendment's stipulations.

Platt Amendment

This Cuban cartoon protests the Platt Amendment's stipulations that gave the U.S. significant power over Cuba (1901).

Fulgencio Batista.

Fulgencio Batista

Future Cuban President, Fulgencio Batista, arrives in the United States on a diplomatic trip in November of 1938.

Diego Velázquez.

Diego Velázquez, Conquistador

Diego Velázquez, conquistador, founded the first Spanish settlement on Cuba at Baracoa in 1511.

A baseball stadium and casino advertisement can be seen behind these slum-like bohio dwellings.

Havana Slums, 1954

A baseball stadium and casino advertisement can be seen behind these slum-like bohio dwellings in Havana, Cuba (1954).

Cuban anti-imperialist sign.

Cuban Anti-Imperialism

In 2000, this sign stood in front of the United States Interest Office in Havana, Cuba. Translated, it reads "Mr. Imperialists, we are fearless."

Camilo Cienfuegos and Fidel Castro heading into Havana, Cuba.

Fidel Castro and Camilo Cienfuegos

The two revolutionaries, Camilo Cienfuegos (left) and Fidel Castro (right), heading into Havana, Cuba on January 8, 1959.

This cartoon appeared in Puck in September of 1898.

"Save me from my friends!" 1898

This cartoon appeared in Puck in September of 1898, upon the conclusion of the Spanish-American War. The bottom caption on the original read: "Taking Cuba from Spain was easy. Preserving it from over-zealous Cuban patriots is another matter." The question of how the U.S. seeks to insert itself into Cuban affairs still remains. Image provided by author.

Raúl Castro.

Raúl Castro

Raúl Castro, the current President of Cuba.

This photograph shows the location of Soviet missiles and their maintenance sites in Cuba.

Cuban Missile Crisis, 1961

This photograph, taken from a high-altitude U-2 aircraft, shows the location of Soviet missiles and their maintenance sites in Cuba during 1961.

This poster details the friendly relationship between Fidel Castro and Nikita Khrushchev.

Fidel Castro and Nikita Khrushchev, 1960s

This poster details the friendly relationship between Fidel Castro and Nikita Khrushchev and reads, "Long live the eternal, indestructible friendship and cooperation between the Soviet and Cuban peoples."

This propaganda poster defying American imperialism.

Cuban Propaganda, 2014

This propaganda poster defying American imperialism stands in Cuba's Playa Beach, site of the Bay of Pigs.

The 10th U.S. Army Infantry occupied Havana, Cuba.

American Occupation in Havana, 1898

The 10th U.S. Army Infantry occupied Havana, Cuba around 1898.

Portraits of President William McKinley and Vice Presidential Candidate Theodore Roosevelt.

Republican Poster, 1900

Portraits of President William McKinley and Vice Presidential Candidate Theodore Roosevelt mirror each other on this 1900 Republican propaganda poster. This poster promises an educated and prosperous Cuba under U.S. control.

This photograph presents the Cuban general of rebel forces with a group of Cuban rebels and American General William Ludlow.

Cuban War of Independence

This photograph taken during the Cuban War of Independence (1898) presents the Cuban general of rebel forces, Calixto García (right), with a group of Cuban rebels and American General William Ludlow (left).

This cartoon was published in the Catalan newspaper La Campana de Grácia.

Spanish Cartoon, 1861

This cartoon was published in the Catalan newspaper La Campana de Grácia and is a rendering of the Spanish perception of U.S.-Cuban relations. The caption reads "keep the island so it won't get lost" and features a large, greedy Uncle Sam.

A pen, ink and watercolor painting done of Cuba's Havana Bay.

Havana Bay, 1639

A pen, ink and watercolor painting done of Cuba's Havana Bay in 1639.

A photograph of the El Morro fortress.

El Morro Fortress, Havana

A photograph of the El Morro fortress, built in 1589.

Cubans raising the national flag over the Governor General's Palace in 1902.

Governor General's Palace, 1902

At noon-time, Cubans raise the national flag over the Governor General's Palace on May 20, 1902.

A photograph of streets in Havana, Cuba.

Havana Streets

A photograph of streets in Havana, Cuba.

This image appeared in the New York Journal on April 20, 1898.

New York Journal, 1898

This image appeared in the New York Journal on April 20, 1898 just as the U.S. declared war against Spain. Image provided by author.

Fidel Castro at Lincoln Memorial.

Fidel Castro at Lincoln Memorial

Shortly after becoming Prime Minister of Cuba, Fidel Castro visits the Lincoln Memorial during a trip to the United States.

José Martí.

Jose Martí

José Martí —“Apostle of Cuban Independence”—warned of the need for a well-organized and rapid war of independence throughout the 1880s and '90s.

The opening page of the 1901 Platt Amendment.

Platt Amendment

The opening page of the 1901 Platt Amendment, a document that gave the U.S. significant power over Cuba.

General Fulgencio Batista.

General Fulgencio Batista

General Batista came to represent all that was objectionable about the Cuban condition - the corruption of public life, the venality of political leaders, the influence of America, and the futility of political institutions.

Fidel Castro at UN General Assembly.

Fidel Castro at UN General Assembly, 1960

Fidel Castro attending the 1960 United Nations General Assembly.

"Fight against the impossible and win"

This Cuban propaganda sign features the profile of Fidel Castro and when translated reads "Fight against the impossible and win."

President Dwight Eisenhower.

President Dwight D. Eisenhower, 1959

President Dwight Eisenhower ordered economic sanctions against Cuba, an approach that developed into the basis of the policy rationale for 50 years.

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