Malcolm X Park has been visited by a lot of impressive historical figures in its day, but one of the most surprising has to be Cuban revolutionary Fidel Castro.
Just a couple of months after leading a successful revolution in Cuba in 1959, Castro began his 11-day visit to the United States. The American Society of Newspaper Editors invited him to speak at the National Press Club and a crowd of supporters gathered at the airport.
After leaving the airport, Castro made his way to the Cuban Embassy on 16th Street, where hundreds more supporters had gathered across the street. When it was suggested that Castro wave from the balcony he responded, “I’m no man on a balcony,” and instead chose to greet the people on the street, according to the Washington Post.
Fidel Castro visiting the Lincoln Memorial in April 1959. (Photo by Alfred Korda)
The next day, Castro walked down 16th Street over to Malcolm X Park where the photo above was taken. He is holding 16-month-old Sherry Robin Hayes, a D.C. local. Castro’s trip to the D.C. area also included a visit to the Lincoln Memorial and George Washington’s grave in Mount Vernon. Notably, there was no meeting with President Dwight D. Eisenhower, but he did meet with Vice President Richard Nixon.
The U.S. severed diplomatic relations with Cuba two years later. Relations officially resumed in 2015 and the embassy on 16th Street reopened.
