World marks the passing of a butal dictator who oppressed his own people for nearly six decades. For more than four decade fidel castro, the cigar chewing cuban dictator, personified antiamericanism. In 1959 fit el led a group of revolutionaries to overthrow a u. S. Backed dictator with the promise of deck okay see. Instead, at the height of the cold war, castro put a communist government in place 90 miles from american with the soviet union that started the cuban missile crisis and pushed the world to the brink of nuclear war. U. S. Struck back spearheading a 1961 invasion at the bay of pigs castro personally led the resistance and the American Invasion failed miserably. A major embarrassment for president kenly. Less tan a year later they pulled missiles from cuba. In the 1960s the United States put a trade embargo in lace that still stands with the cub an economy failing, thousands began their livesp a 90 mile trip to the u. S. In declining health, castro often known as just fiddle
Headquarters in new york, this is nbc nightly news with lester holt. Good evening. Fidel castro who turned a small caribbean island into an American Foreign policy obsession is being remembered as a oppressive tyrant and savior of his people tonight. The very contradiction that defined his 50 years of rule. In havana where a nineday mourning is underway people openly wept ie death broke. And people in Little Havana in miami celebrated. Fidel castro goes to his grave as a dynamic figure of the cold war who once nearly nudged the u. S. And russia into a nuclear war. Our team is reporting from around the region. We begin tonight with nbcs chief Foreign Affairs correspondent andrea mitchell. Good evening, lester. At miami airport cubanamericans are visiting from the island. No place in america has been as affected by Fidel Castros nearly 50year reign as south florida. Hes revealed by many exiled during his reign. Even in his hay day he was admired by many around the world. To his followers