Skip to main content
ACLS Humanities E-Book
Fulcrum logo

Share the story of what Open Access means to you

a graphic of a lock that is open, the universal logo for open access

University of Michigan needs your feedback to better understand how readers are using openly available ebooks. You can help by taking a short, privacy-friendly survey.

  1. Home
  2. Fulgencio Batista: from revolutionary to strongman

Fulgencio Batista: from revolutionary to strongman

Frank Argote-Freyre 2007 © Rutgers University Press
Restricted You do not have access to this book. How to get access.
Read Book
ISBN(s)
  • 9780813537078 (ebook)
  • 9780813537016 (hardcover)
  • 9780813537023 (paper)
Subject
  • Latin American
Citable Link
  • Table of Contents

  • Resources

  • Related Titles

  • Stats

  • Cover
  • Title Page
  • Copyright and Permissions
  • List of Illustrations
  • List of Film Clips
  • Photo Gallery
  • Maps
  • [Dedication]
  • Preface
    • [Introduction]
    • Many Batistas
    • Current Biographical Literature
    • Dueling Interpretations
  • Acknowledgments
  • Chapter 1 End and Beginning
    • [Introduction]
    • Humble Beginnings
    • El Coloso
  • Chapter 2 Restless Adolescence
    • [Introduction]
    • Traveling Life
    • On the Railroad
  • Chapter 3 Sergeant Stenographer
    • [Introduction]
    • Cuban Army
    • The Family
    • Up through the Ranks
  • Chapter 4 Machadato
    • [Introduction]
    • Batista and the ABC
    • Enter Sumner Welles
    • Exit Machado
  • Chapter 5 Sergeants' Revolt
    • [Introduction]
    • A Question of Leadership
    • September 4, 1933
    • Open Revolt
    • Proclamation and Pentarchy
    • Farewell to Céspedes
  • Chapter 6 Revolution of 1933
    • [Introduction]
    • The Sergeant and the Ambassador
    • Angry Officers
    • Demise of the Pentarchy
    • Factions within the Grau Government
    • Revolutionary Legislation
    • Confrontation with the Communists
    • Battle of the Hotel Nacional
    • The Colonel and the Ambassador
    • A Plot to Kill
  • Chapter 7 An End to Revolution
    • [Introduction]
    • Fighting in the Streets
    • Atarés
    • Mr. Caffery of Louisiana
    • Incident at Sans Souci
    • Endgame
    • “Presidente Relámpago”
  • Chapter 8 The Mendieta Years
    • [Introduction]
    • The Relationship with Mendieta
    • King Sugar
    • Army Relations
    • The Conspiracy of Mario Hernández
    • Repressing el Pueblo
  • Chapter 9 Labor Unrest
    • [Introduction]
    • The Strike of 1935
    • Breaking the Strike
    • Death of Guiteras
  • Chapter 10 The Elections of 1936
    • [Introduction]
    • Time for an Election
    • Easing Mendieta Out
    • An Electoral Expert
    • Election Results
  • Chapter 11 In the Shadow of Batista
    • [Introduction]
    • President of the Banquet Circuit
    • Gómez and Batista: The Clash
    • Batista's Social Agenda
    • Impeachment
  • Chapter 12 Cuban Strongman
    • [Introduction]
    • A Compliant President
    • The “Believe It or Not” Congress
    • Triennial Plan
  • Chapter 13 Road to Democracy
    • [Introduction]
    • Political Alliances
    • Return of the Exile
    • Army Resignation
    • Elections of 1940
    • Epilogue
  • Notes
    • Chapter 1. End and Beginning
    • Chapter 2. Restless Adolescence
    • Chapter 3. Sergeant Stenographer
    • Chapter 4. Machadato
    • Chapter 5. Sergeants' Revolt
    • Chapter 6. Revolution of 1933
    • Chapter 7. An End to Revolution
    • Chapter 8. The Mendieta Years
    • Chapter 9. Labor Unrest
    • Chapter 10. The Elections of 1936
    • Chapter 11. In the Shadow of Batista
    • Chapter 12. Cuban Strongman
    • Chapter 13. Road to Democracy
  • Bibliography
    • Archives
    • Government Publications
    • Interviews
    • Newspapers and Magazines
    • Books and Periodicals
  • Index
  • About the Author
  • Supplementary Text
    • Excerpt of the author's oral history interview with Santiago Rey Perna March 28, 1997
    • Excerpt of the author's oral history interview with Fulgencio Rubén Batista Godínez April 30, 1998
    • Excerpt of the author's oral history interview with Mirta Batista Ponsdomenech May 20, 1998
    • Excerpt of a letter from Fulgencio Batista to Ramón Cruz Vidal June 3, 1971
    • Excerpt of a letter from U.S. Ambassador Sumner Welles to Edward L. Reed April 26, 1933
    • Excerpts of a letter from U.S. Ambassador Sumner Welles to Congressman Hamilton Fish Jr. June 3, 1933
    • Excerpt of the unpublished autobiography of Mathilda Welles Undated
    • Excerpts of a letter from U.S. Ambassador Sumner Welles to Congressman Hamilton Fish Jr. October 20, 1933
    • Excerpt of a letter from Ramón Cruz Vidal to Fulgencio Rubén Batista Godínez October 5, 1990
    • Excerpt of the military intelligence report from U.S. Military Attaché T. N. Gimperling September 5, 1933
    • Excerpt of the military intelligence report from U.S. Military Attaché T. N. Gimperling October 3, 1933
    • State Department dispatch from U.S. Ambassador Sumner Welles to the Secretary of State October 6, 1933, 4 p.m.
    • Excerpt of the State Department dispatch from Charge d' Affaires H. Freeman Matthews to the Secretary of State December 14, 1933, 11 a.m.
    • Telegram from Under Secretary of State William Phillips to U.S. Special Representative Jefferson Caffery in Havana January 14, 1934
    • Excerpt of the author's oral history interview with Fulgencio Rubén Batista Godínez May 19, 1998
    • Excerpt of a letter from Assistant Secretary of State Sumner Welles to U.S. Ambassador Jefferson Caffery November 29, 1935
    • Excerpt of a Cuban intelligence report on presidential candidate Mario García Menocal's response to election tampering by Fulgencio Batista and the United States December 8, 1935
    • Excerpt of a letter from Rogelio Jiménez Capote, former sergeant-teacher, to Emilio Carrillo May 20, 1985
    • Excerpt of an account by Emilio Carrillo, former sergeant-teacher at a rural school in Camagüey, Cuba Undated
    • Excerpts of a memorandum prepared by Colonel Fulgencio Batista and given to H. Freeman Matthews, First Secretary of the U.S. Embassy in Havana November 17, 1936
    • Letter from Major Jaime Mariné, aide-de-camp of Colonel Fulgencio Batista, to the members of the Cuban House of Representatives December 16, 1936
    • Excerpts from “Manifesto al Pueblo de Cuba”/ “Manifesto to the People of Cuba” by former President Miguel Mariano Gómez December 26, 1936
    • Excerpts of the author's interview with Jorge Luis Batista Fernández July 23–25, 2001
    • Excerpts of the diplomatic dispatch from U.S. Ambassador George S. Messersmith to the State Department July 9, 1940

Search and Filter Resources

Filter search results by

Creator

  • Rutgers University Press44
Filter search results by

Format

  • image38
  • video6

Search Constraints

« Previous | 1 - 20 of 44 | Next »
  • First Appearance
  • Section (Earliest First)
  • Section (Last First)
  • Format (A-Z)
  • Format (Z-A)
  • Year (Oldest First)
  • Year (Newest First)
Number of results to display per page
  • 10 per page
  • 20 per page
  • 50 per page
  • 100 per page
View results as:
List Gallery

Search Results

This political cartoon, “Isle of the Lost Ships,” ran in the popular weekly newspaper La Semana in September 1933. It pokes fun at the U.S. decision to surround Cuba with warships after the overthrow of the Céspedes government on September 4, 1933.

This political cartoon, “Isle of the Lost Ships,” ran in the popular weekly newspaper La Semana in September 1933. It pokes fun at the U.S. decision to surround Cuba with warships after the overthrow of the Céspedes government on September 4, 1933.

Figure 7. This political cartoon, “Isle of the Lost Ships,” ran in the popular weekly newspaper La Semana in September 1933. It pokes fun at the U.S. decision to surround Cuba with warships after the overthrow of the Céspedes government on September 4, 1933.

President Federico Laredo Brú chats with Batista in a photo from the late 1930s. Brú was considered one of Batista's most compliant presidents.

President Federico Laredo Brú chats with Batista in a photo from the late 1930s. Brú was considered one of Batista's most compliant presidents.

Figure 15. President Federico Laredo Brú chats with Batista in a photo from the late 1930s. Brú was considered one of Batista's most compliant presidents.

3

3

3

The recently promoted Colonel Batista. The photo dates from shortly after September 4, 1933. Batista has only the colonel's stars and one medal on his uniform.

The recently promoted Colonel Batista. The photo dates from shortly after September 4, 1933. Batista has only the colonel's stars and one medal on his uniform.

Figure 4. The recently promoted Colonel Batista. The photo dates from shortly after September 4, 1933. Batista has only the colonel's stars and one medal on his uniform.

Batista with daughter Mirta and son Rubén Fulgencio at Camp Columbia in the mid-1930s.

Batista with daughter Mirta and son Rubén Fulgencio at Camp Columbia in the mid-1930s.

Figure 12. Batista with daughter Mirta and son Rubén Fulgencio at Camp Columbia in the mid-1930s.

The magazine Bohemia published this political cartoon on December 13, 1936. Here, a comical-looking President Gómez is conversing with another man who asks him “the significance of the knot in the handkerchief” that lies on the desk before him. Gómez replies, “It is to remember that I am the President.” Taunting Gómez became great sport during his brief administration.

The magazine Bohemia published this political cartoon on December 13, 1936. Here, a comical-looking President Gómez is conversing with another man who asks him “the significance of the knot in the handkerchief” that lies on the desk before him. Gómez replies, “It is to remember that I am the President.” Taunting Gómez became great sport during his brief administration.

Figure 13. The magazine Bohemia published this political cartoon on December 13, 1936. Here, a comical-looking President Gómez is conversing with another man who asks him “the significance of the knot in the handkerchief” that lies on the desk before him. Gómez replies, “It is to remember that I am the President.” Taunting Gómez became great sport during his brief administration.

First wife, Elisa Godínez, and Batista during the November 1938 visit to Washington, D.C.

First wife, Elisa Godínez, and Batista during the November 1938 visit to Washington, D.C.

Figure 14. First wife, Elisa Godínez, and Batista during the November 1938 visit to Washington, D.C.

6

6

6

Batista, Elisa, and baby Mirta in the late 1920s, before his rise to fame. The sergeant's stripes on Batista's right shoulder indicate his rank.

Batista, Elisa, and baby Mirta in the late 1920s, before his rise to fame. The sergeant's stripes on Batista's right shoulder indicate his rank.

Figure 3. Batista, Elisa, and baby Mirta in the late 1920s, before his rise to fame. The sergeant's stripes on Batista's right shoulder indicate his rank.

Central America and the Caribbean

Central America and the Caribbean

Map 2. Central America and the Caribbean

Batista (in the center) and some of his closest military advisers in a casual photo at Camp Columbia in the mid 1930s. Colonel Francisco Tabernilla is the second from left. Colonel Pedraza is fourth from the right. Major Manual Benítez is second from the right. Chief political aide Jaime Mariné is on the far right.

Batista (in the center) and some of his closest military advisers in a casual photo at Camp Columbia in the mid 1930s. Colonel Francisco Tabernilla is the second from left. Colonel Pedraza is fourth from the right. Major Manual Benítez is second from the right. Chief political aide Jaime Mariné is on the far right.

Figure 8. Batista (in the center) and some of his closest military advisers in a casual photo at Camp Columbia in the mid 1930s. Colonel Francisco Tabernilla is the second from left. Colonel Pedraza is fourth from the right. Major Manual Benítez is second from the right. Chief political aide Jaime Mariné is on the far right.

In this cartoon, published by Bohemia on November 10, 1935, the presidential candidates appear at the theater, and a member of the public asks them about the current show. The candidates respond in unison that they “do not know, because they have no program.”

In this cartoon, published by Bohemia on November 10, 1935, the presidential candidates appear at the theater, and a member of the public asks them about the current show. The candidates respond in unison that they “do not know, because they have no program.”

Figure 9. In this cartoon, published by Bohemia on November 10, 1935, the presidential candidates appear at the theater, and a member of the public asks them about the current show. The candidates respond in unison that they “do not know, because they have no program.”

This photo of U.S. Ambassador Sumner Welles and Carlos Manuel de Céspedes was taken on the day Céspedes was sworn in as president, August 13, 1933.

This photo of U.S. Ambassador Sumner Welles and Carlos Manuel de Céspedes was taken on the day Céspedes was sworn in as president, August 13, 1933.

Figure 5. This photo of U.S. Ambassador Sumner Welles and Carlos Manuel de Céspedes was taken on the day Céspedes was sworn in as president, August 13, 1933.

Batista and his soldiers on horseback in central Cuba in search of a site for a tuberculosis sanatorium. The photo probably dates to 1936.

Batista and his soldiers on horseback in central Cuba in search of a site for a tuberculosis sanatorium. The photo probably dates to 1936.

Figure 10. Batista and his soldiers on horseback in central Cuba in search of a site for a tuberculosis sanatorium. The photo probably dates to 1936.

5

5

5

Batista at about age eighteen at a formal sitting in Camagüey. He later told his family members that “everything he owned at the time” was in the photo.

Batista at about age eighteen at a formal sitting in Camagüey. He later told his family members that “everything he owned at the time” was in the photo.

Figure 2. Batista at about age eighteen at a formal sitting in Camagüey. He later told his family members that “everything he owned at the time” was in the photo.

Batista as a railroad brakeman, probably around 1919, which would make him about eighteen years old in this photo. He later was seriously injured and nearly killed working on the railroad.

Batista as a railroad brakeman, probably around 1919, which would make him about eighteen years old in this photo. He later was seriously injured and nearly killed working on the railroad.

Figure 1. Batista as a railroad brakeman, probably around 1919, which would make him about eighteen years old in this photo. He later was seriously injured and nearly killed working on the railroad.

Another family shot from the late 1930s.

Another family shot from the late 1930s.

Figure 16. Another family shot from the late 1930s.

2

2

2

Criticizing Batista could be dangerous business. Bohemia published this political cartoon by an anonymous artist on August 11, 1935. Its caption simply says, “Tabú” (Taboo)

Criticizing Batista could be dangerous business. Bohemia published this political cartoon by an anonymous artist on August 11, 1935. Its caption simply says, “Tabú” (Taboo)

Figure 10. Criticizing Batista could be dangerous business. Bohemia published this political cartoon by an anonymous artist on August 11, 1935. Its caption simply says, “Tabú” (Taboo)

  • « Previous
  • Next »
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
Related Titles
HEB IdTitleAuthorsPublication Information
heb03472.0001.001 Cuba, 1933: Prologue to Revolution. Aguilar, Luis E. Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 1972.
Cuba: Betrayed. Batista y Zaldivar, Fulgencio. New York: Vantage Press, 1962.
Cuba, 1933: Students, Yankees and Soldiers. Carrillo, Justo. Transaction Publishers, 1994.
A Sergant Named Batista. Chester, Edmund A. New York: Henry Holt and Company, 1954.
heb03476.0001.001 Cuba: Order and Revolution. Dominguez, Jorge I. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1978.
The Winds of December. Dorschner, John, and Robert Fabrico. New York: Coward, McCann and Geohegan, 1980.
heb03478.0001.001 Roosevelt and Batista: Good Neighbor Diplomacy in Cuba, 1933-1945. Gellman, Irwin F. Santa Fe: University of New Mexico Press, 1973.
heb03480.0001.001 The Cuban Revolution: Origins, Course and Legacy. Perez-Stable, Marifeli. New York: Oxford University Press, 1999.
heb03479.0001.001 Army Politics in Cuba, 1898-1958. Perez, Jr., Louis A. Pittsburgh: University of Pittsburgh Press, 1976.
Cuba: Island of Paradox. Phillips, Ruby Hart. New York: McDowell, Obolensky Inc., 1959.
Cuba or The Pursuit of Freedom. Thomas, Hugh. Cambridge: Da Capo Press, 1998.
State and Revolution in Cuba: Mass Mobilization and Political Change, 1920-1940. Whitney, Robert. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 2001.
661 views since December 06, 2018
ACLS Humanities E-Book logo

ACLS Humanities E-Book

  • About HEB
  • Contact HEB
  • For Librarians
  • Subscriptions

Powered by Fulcrum logo

  • About
  • Blog
  • Feedback
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Accessibility
  • Preservation
  • Privacy
  • Terms of Service
  • Log In
© ACLS Humanities E-Book 2020
x This site requires cookies to function correctly.