reporter: fidel castro loved to hate america at every political turn. [speaking spanish] reporter: his own political stock, albeit small, soared during the international custody fight for elian gonzalez. when the u.s. returned his little prince, castro called the moment a moral victory over imperialist america. the man who would lead the small caribbean island jesuit priests and learned law degree at the university of ha van that. castro launched had is first and failed revolution in 1933 when 30 of his followers were killed attacking the mon drshtion ado barracks. castro was imprison and then deported on a boat. the people des paired of the government of batista. he stepped down, left the power on january 1, 1959. he held on for nearly 50 years. in 1998, cuba opened its island doors to pope john paul ii. the holy father and the man who chained down cuba s churches exchanged words around the world. critic s would call the historic meeting little more than a public relatio
themselves. the mood remains festive hours after castro s brother, raul, cuba s current president made that announcement. listen in. listen in. [speaking spanish] alcides: raul castro said his brother s remains will be cremated today. nine days of national mourning are under way right now. tampa, as many strong ties to cuba. we will have more on the local reaction a little bit later on requesting good day tampa bay. first fox s brett bahr takes a look back on his life. reporter: the man born as fidel alejandro castro ruiz came to power leaving a rag-tag band of bearded rebels to overthrow a dictator. he ended up becoming one himself. he stood defiantly against ten u.s. presidents. influence and power called castro a hero. but for the u.s., he was the all-too-close face of the bitter cold war. and while the world could never completely dismiss castro politically, over time to some critics, he seemed more like a caricature with his wiry beard, faded fatigues and six-inch c
reporter: his own political stock, albeit small, soared during the international custody fight for elian gonzalez. when the u.s. returned his little prince, castro called the moment a moral victory over impermist america. the man who would lead the small caribbean island to communism was educated by jesuit preach and earned his law degree by the university of revolution in 1953 while 30 of his followingers were killed attacking the barracks. castro was in prison, then deported, but made his way back on an overloaded power boat. after a decade of coups, riots and political rebellion, the people despaired of the government of baa ecstacies at that. he stepped down, left the country and castro seized power on january 1, 1959. he held on for nearly 50 years. cuba opened its island doors to pope john paul ii, the holy father and the man that chained down cuba s churches shared words before the world. critic s would call the historic meeting little more than a public relations
after castro s brother, raul, made in announcement. [speaking spanish] alcides: raul castro said his brother s remains will be cremated today. nine days of national mourning are under way in cuba. tampa, as many of you know, has strong ties to cuba. station s kellie cowan is on brett bahr takes a look at the rise and fall of the dictator. reporter: the man born fidel castro ruz came to power league a ragtag band of bearded rebels to overthrow a dictator. he ended up one himself. castro stood defiantly against ten u.s. presidents. around the world leftists who hated america s influence and but for the u.s., he was the all-too-close face of the bitter cold war. and while the world could never completely dismiss castro politically, over time for some critics he seemed like a char cature with his wiry beard, faded fatigues and 6-inch ci cigars. the response to castro s communist regime came in 1961 when president john f. kennedy backed the failed where cuban exile were captur
Overlapping. this is amazing. i feel like i ve been transported to special report. i m brett bahr only slightly better looking. the important thing is you have to stop calling yourself a libertarian. a libertarian believes in freedom. i want to do whatever i want. the only way i can do whatever i want is that bad people are out of my life. you re one of them. live with colonel. the very first time he looked at the camera and said man up, get some sacks, live like you re not afraid. that s the whole point. what happened to that idea. the technology is changing. if some guy in another country communicating with somebody in united states, we have every