the front man when really Batista was the one in control behind the scenes. Batista ran Cuban politics for twenty-five years after the take over. Ramon was essentially a puppet president because Batista told him what to do and how to do it. For four years Batista ran the government, directly, but would return to his indirect role of authority. Grau San Martin would return as the president in 1944. He was followed by another one of Batista's front man, Carlos Prio Socorras in 1948.The Rise of Fidel CastroFidel Castro did not approve of the way Batista ran his homeland. July 26, 1953 would be the first assault on Batista's state by Fidel Castro when he led hundred sixty-five men into the barracks at Moncada. This attack would end up a disaster. "Half the attackers were killed, wounded or arrested."(Smith p. 273) Fidel and his brother Raul escaped but were later caught and were to be detained for fifteen years. Eleven months after Fidel and Raul were sent to prison, they would be released and began the plan of destruction for the Cuban government that imprisoned him. With his freedom in tact he went to Mexico to begin his plans of a revolution. Upon his return to Cuba, his efforts would be unsuccessful and left him Raul, and Che to flee to the Sierra Maestra Mountains in the eastern part of Cuba. People thought Fidel had died because no one had heard from him in a couple of months. Castro finally figured out a way to ruin Batista and take his rightfully deserved seat as the leader of Cuba. Herbert Matthews was a veteran foreign correspondent of the New York Times who was smuggled up to Fidel in the mountains of Sierra. Matthews wrote several stories about the discipline, bravery and commitment of the rebels. This gave Castro the upper hand and discredited Batista. New recruits decided to join Castro in his fight against Batista. Like Castro the majority of the rebels were middle-class citizens. In 1958 Castro decided ...
