In 1952, after an eight-year hiatus, Gen. Fulgencio Batista seized power and began a second term. Castro led an unsuccessful revolt against Batista the following year, ending up in prison. After Batista's release of all political prisoners in 1956, Fidel Castro began a second attempt at revolution and, in 1959, he led a 9,000-strong guerrilla army into Havana; Batista fled. Castro became prime minister, his brother Raul Castro became his deputy, and Che Guevara was named third-in-command.
Harold Valentine/AP
