Fidel Castro History: February 24, 2008 - Fidel Castro resigns as President of Cuba, his brother Raul Castro is unanimously elected September 12, 1978 - Fidel Castro visits Addis Abba April 27, 1963 - Cuban premier Fidel Castro arrives in Moscow November 19, 1962 - Fidel Castro accepts removal of Soviet weapons July 2, 1962 - Fidel Castro visits Moscow January 3, 1962 - Pope John XXIII excommunicates Fidel Castro December 23, 1961 - Fidel Castro announces Cuba will release 1,113 prisoners from failed 1961 Bay of Pigs Invasion for $62M worth of food and medical supplies December 2, 1961 - Fidel Castro declares he's a Marxist, and will lead Cuba to Communism May 1, 1961 - Fidel Castro announces there will be no more elections in Cuba April 30, 1961 - Premier Fidel Castro of Cuba receives Lenin-Peace Prize October 13, 1960 - Opponents of Fidel Castro executed in Cuba September 26, 1960 - Fidel Castro gives a very long speech at the United Nations, 4 hours, 29 minutes July 1, 1960 - Fidel Castro nationalizes Esso, Shell and Texaco in Cuba April 15, 1959 - Fidel Castro begins U.S. goodwill tour February 16, 1959 - Fidel Castro named himself Cuba's premier after overthrowing Batista February 6, 1959 - Fidel Castro is interviewed by Edward R. Murrow January 7, 1959 - U.S. recognizes Fidel Castro's Cuban government May 24, 1958 - President Batista opens offensive against Fidel Castro's rebellion December 2, 1956 - Fidel Castro lands with "Granma" on coast of Cuba August 8, 1955 - Fidel Castro forms "July 26th Movement" August 1, 1953 - Fidel Castro arrested in Cuba July 26, 1953 - Fidel Castro begins rebellion, the "26th of July Movement," against Fulgenico Batista's regime January 22, 1951 - Fidel Castro ejected from a Winter League game after beaning batter August 13, 1926 - Fidel Castro, born in Mayari, Oriente, Cuba, dictator
More Notable Events on July 8:
1933 Public Works Administration becomes effective
1909 1st pro baseball game, minor league, played under lights
1889 Wall Street Journal begins publishing
1835 Liberty Bell cracks, again
1796 U.S. State Department issues 1st American passport