2015 Event Cuban President Raul Castro meets with Pope Francis at the Vatican as a gesture of gratitude for the pontiff's role in facilitating renewed diplomatic ties between Cuba the U.S.; Pope Francis will visit both countries in September 2015 Event U.S. President Barack Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro meet at the Summit of the Americas in Panama for talks aimed at thawing relations; the historic meeting marks the first interaction in decades between top leaders of the two nations 2011 Event Former Cuban President Fidel Castro makes his first appearance outside of Havana since leaving office in 2006, visiting a mausoleum in Artemisa 2011 Event In Cuba, Fidel Castro resigns from the Communist Party's central committee 2010 Event Raul Castro, head of the Cuban government, declares they will lay off half a million state workers to improve their economy by the middle of 2011 2008 Event Fidel Castro resigns as President of Cuba, his brother Raul Castro is unanimously elected 1993 Death Hernan Heleno Castro, El Salvadorian guerilla leader, murdered 1991 Death Bernard Castro, patented convertible couch, dies at 87 1990 Event Dionisio Castro cycles world record 20km (57:18.4) 1978 Event Fidel Castro visits Addis Abba 1976 Death John Roselli, hired by CIA to kill Castro, found murdered 1972 Birthday Juan Castro, born in Sinaloa, Mexico, infielder for the Los Angeles Dodgers 1968 Death Juan Jose Castro, composer, dies at 73 1967 Birthday Ed Sprague, born in Castro Valley, California, infielder for the Toronto Blue Jays 1966 Birthday Brian Keyser, Castro Valley California, pitcher, Chicago White Sox 1964 Death Jose Maria Castro, composer, dies at 71 1963 Event Cuban premier Fidel Castro arrives in Moscow 1962 Event Fidel Castro accepts removal of Soviet weapons 1962 Event Cubans minister of Foreign affairs Raul Castro arrives in Moscow 1962 Event Fidel Castro visits Moscow 1962 Birthday Cliff Burton, born in Castro Valley, California, bass player for Metallica, a thrash metal band 1962 Event Pope John XXIII excommunicates Fidel Castro 1961 Event Fidel Castro announces Cuba will release 1,113 prisoners from failed 1961 Bay of Pigs Invasion for $62M worth of food and medical supplies 1961 Event Fidel Castro declares he's a Marxist, and will lead Cuba to Communism 1961 Event Castro offers to exchange Bay of Pigs prisoners for 500 bulldozers 1961 Event Fidel Castro announces there will be no more elections in Cuba 1961 Event Premier Fidel Castro of Cuba receives Lenin-Peace Prize 1961 Event 1,400 Cuban exiles land in Bay of Pigs attempt to overthrow Castro 1960 Event Opponents of Fidel Castro executed in Cuba 1960 Event Fidel Castro gives a very long speech at the United Nations, 4 hours, 29 minutes 1960 Event Fidel Castro ends Havana's International League team, Sugar Kings move to New Jersey 1960 Event Fidel Castro nationalizes Esso, Shell and Texaco in Cuba 1959 Event Fidel Castro begins U.S. goodwill tour 1959 Event Fidel Castro named himself Cuba's premier after overthrowing Batista 1959 Event Castro proclaims new Cuban constitution 1959 Event Fidel Castro is interviewed by Edward R. Murrow 1959 Event U.S. recognizes Fidel Castro's Cuban government 1959 Event Castro leads Cuba to victory as Fulgencio Batista flees to Dom Rep 1958 Event President Batista opens offensive against Fidel Castro's rebellion 1957 Birthday Gail Castro, born in Glendale California, WPVA volleyballer, U.S. Open-1991, 1996 Olympics 1956 Event Fidel Castro lands with "Granma" on coast of Cuba 1956 Birthday Alina Castro, Havanna Cuba, daughter of Fidel 1955 Event Fidel Castro forms "July 26th Movement" 1954 Event 1st local color TV coml WNBT-TV (WNBC-TV) New York City (Castro Decorators) 1953 Event Fidel Castro arrested in Cuba 1953 Event Fidel Castro begins rebellion, the "26th of July Movement," against Fulgenico Batista's regime 1952 Birthday Veronica Judith Sainz Castro, Mexico, spanish singer and actress, Nana 1951 Event Fidel Castro ejected from a Winter League game after beaning batter 1949 Birthday Peppy Castro, born in New York City, rock vocalist, Balance 1941 Event In San Francisco, Castro and Fillmore streetcars replaced by buses 1937 Birthday Marco J de Castro, Dutch Antillian politician 1926 Birthday Fidel Castro, born in Mayari, Oriente, Cuba, dictator 1915 Birthday Jose Toribio Merino Castro, admiral 1909 Birthday Washington Castro, composer 1907 Death Ricardo Castro Herrera, composer, dies at 43 1895 Birthday Juan Jose Castro, composer 1892 Birthday Jose Maria Castro, composer 1885 Death Rosalia de Castro, Spanish writer, dies at 48 1871 Death Antonio de Castro Alves, Brazilian poet (O navio negreiro), dies at 34 1864 Birthday Ricardo Castro Herrera, composer 1847 Birthday Antonio de Castro Alves, Brazilian poet, Espumas Flutuantes 1837 Birthday Rosalia de Castro, Spanish writer, Canteres Gallegos, Follas Novas 1825 Birthday Esteban Salas y Castro, composer 1803 Death Esteban Salas y Castro, composer, dies 1558 Death Alfonsus de Castro, Spanish theologist (council of Trente), dies 1137 Death Guigo de Castro, Venerabilis, 5th prior of Grande Chartreuse, dies
