ERNESTO "CHE" GUEVARRA and RAUL CASTRO: Photo appeared in TIME, October 8, 1965
Ben Martin recalls, "In the summer of 1964, I was one of the first American journalists allowed to go Cuba after the Bay Of Pigs invasion in April 1961. For that reason, the State Department insisted that I appear in person for a face-to-face chat with Secretary of State, Dean Rusk I had to fly from Washington D.C. to San Francisco, then to Mexico City and finally to Havana aboard one of Cubana Airlines’ Russian built Ilyushin long-range propjets, complete with a silver samovar in the galley. Of course, in the Mexico City airport I had my photograph taken by what seemed like dozens of officials. There was the American CIA and the FBI, and then the Mexican Federales, the Mexico City Police Department and the Mexican Immigration Department.
"As soon as we arrived at Jose Marti Airport in Havana, we were bundled aboard a smaller Ilyushin propjet (sans silver samovar) for the local flight to Santiago de Cuba, a city in the east of Cuba, where Fidel Castro would give his usual four or five-long hour speech honoring Jose Marti’s birthday and the success of his own revolution. We were then taken to the Palace Hotel, a once beautiful old colonial edifice, now showing the ravages of neglect and loss of income.
"Bright and early the following morning, July 21, 1964, the anniversary of Jose Marti’s birthday,the international press was loaded onto a bus and driven to the local stadium, already full of 'compasinos' from all over the east of the island. These farm laborers had been trucked in overnight to provide the background and sound effects for Fidel’s 'big show.'
"When Castro and his party arrived, a thunderous cheer went up, right on cue. His younger brother, Raul and 'Che' were seated in the front row, and Raul, who had a reputation for being a 'party animal' was looking a little the worse for wear. After about a hour into Fidel’s speech Raul nodded off and fell asleep. I thought that would make an interesting photograph, but as I raised my camera
"I saw 'Che' looking at Raul laughing, but none the less he was wagging his fore finger in my direction. I put my camera down. This time he motioned 'come here.' Not sure that he meant me, I pointed to my chest. He nodded, 'Yes,' so I made my way to the edge of the stage. Still laughing, he leaned down and whispered one word in my ear, then motioned me to go back.
"I did not understand what he had said, so when I got back to the press enclosure a Spanish newspaper photographer from Madrid asked, 'What did he say?'
"I said, 'I’m not certain, but it sounded like “PARADON!'
"The Spanish photographer blanched and looked horror stricken. 'It means-‘TO THE WALL!’ It‘s what they say when they send you to the firing squad.'
"Now it was my turn to look worried. I whirled around and looked toward 'Che.' He was doubled over with laughter, while Raul still snoozed peacefully beside him."
"I photographed 'Che' in a barn, with the Cuban flag over his shoulder, about six hours after this incident. We were all exhausted after sitting in the sun all afternoon, but “Che” was enjoying the fact he had the last laugh on a 'gringo' photographer."
FIDEL CASTRO speaking at a press conference August 4, 1964
Fidel Castro -- The fiery Cuban dictator (and tireless orator!) was relaxed and happy playing baseball in the summer of 1964.
