Fidel Castro has announced his resignation as President of Cuba and Commander-in-Chief of Cuba’s military on Tuesday, according to state run newspaper, Granma.  His resignation has ended nearly a half century of iron fisted rule that has inspired revolutionaries but clearly frustrated many United States Presidents!  Castro is believed to have revealed his plans in advance by publishing a letter in the middle of the night in the state run newspaper, Granma.

According to the newspaper Castro wrote” I will not aspire to, nor will I accept the position of President of the council of State and Commander in Chief, I wish only to fight as a soldier of ideas…Perhaps my voice will be heard.”
Castro cited his “critical health condition” in the letter published Tuesday (today).  He continued to say “It would be a betrayal to my conscience to accept a responsibility requiring more mobility and dedication that I am physically able to offer.”  He also said he realized that he had a duty to prepare his Cuban people for his absence.  It is believed that Cuban leaders will elect a President within days, Castro’s brother, Raul, who is currently the country’s defense minister, has previously been named as his successor.

Fidel Castro was born on the 31st August 1926 in the Oriente Province which is in eastern Cuba.  His father Angel was a wealthy landowner originally from Spain and his mother Lina had been a maid to Angel’s first wife.  Although Castro grew up in relatively wealthy circumstances, Oriente was a poor area and witnessed a peasant rebellion in Fidel Castro’s younger years.  This is thought to have been his first political learning curve and gave his influence over future matters.  He was educated in Jesuit school and then went on to earn a law degree from the University of Havana where he then became a practicing attorney, often offering free legal advice to the poor.  In 1952 at the age of 25, he ran for the Cuban parliament.  However just before the election the government was overthrown by Fulgencio Batista who then established a dictatorship in Cuba, turning Castro on the first road to revolution!