Little-known facts about former Cuban leader Fidel Castro

(Baonghean.vn) - On November 26, Cuban state media reported that former leader Fidel Castro passed away on the night of November 25 (local time), at the age of 90. Let's take a look back at some aspects of Fidel's life that not everyone knows.

Former Cuban leader Fidel Castro (right) and Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa (left) met in La Habana on October 26. Photo: Reuters.

* Fidel Castro led Cuba for five decades and was the world's third-longest serving head of state, after the Queen of England and the King of Thailand. He temporarily handed over power to his brother Raul in July 2006 after undergoing intestinal surgery. The formal transfer of power took place in 2008.

* In his later years, Castro appeared in public only occasionally, often in videos and photographs of meetings with guests. He wrote hundreds of articles for the Cuban official media. Due to travel difficulties, Castro was only seen in public twice, in 2012 and twice in 2013. He then attended the inauguration of a cultural center on January 8, 2014, although many photos of distinguished guests visiting Castro's home later emerged.

* Castro holds the record for the longest speech ever given at the United Nations: 4 hours and 29 minutes, on September 26, 1960, according to the UN website. One of his longest speeches was 7 hours and 30 minutes, on February 24, 1998, after the Cuban parliament re-elected him to a five-year term as president.

* Castro said he survived 634 assassination attempts or plots, mostly planned by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and US-based diaspora organizations. The plots included poison pills, poisoned cigars, a chemically-laced diving suit, etc. There was even a plan to use powder to make his beard fall out, thereby destroying his reputation.

* Despite those plots, the Bay of Pigs invasion, and five decades of persistent economic sanctions against Cuba, Castro remained in office through nine US presidents, from Dwight Eisenhower to Bill Clinton, and stepped down when George W. Bush was in office.

* Castro used to chew Cuban cigars but gave up the habit in 1985. Years later he summed up the dangers of cigar smoking by saying: “The best thing you can do with this box of cigars is give it to your enemies.”

* Time magazine in 2012 voted Castro one of the 100 most influential people of all time.

Phu Binh

(According to Reuters)