Fidel Castro brought the cold war to the western hemisphere, almost pushed the world into nuclear chaos and for decades, self proclaimed himself and his communist country as an enemy to the United States.

In his last years, Castro passed down his rule over the Caribbean island of Cuba, to his younger brother Raul Castro who remained by his side since the beginning of the insurrection as his Minister of Defense. Raul is now 85 and has told the Cuban people that he will resign in 2018.

The second longest reign of any national leader began when Castro entered Havana on Jan. 8 1959 and overthrew  Fulgencio  Batista, giving his first major speech at the conquered military grounds. Cuban hope was ignited as this young, fearless leader became the symbol of Cuba’s revolution. Rather than being a successful ruler because so many supported and loved him, he became powerful from the fear of Cubans. This showed itself in The Bay of Pigs, where he personally oversaw every detail and if anyone deviated even the slightest from his commands they were sent to prison.

Castro continued to dictate the communist revolution even when he was fell ill from diverticulitis in 2006 and was hospitalized. Although the United States condemned this continuation of a dictatorship, President Obama decided to step up in 2014 and reconcile diplomatic relations in Cuba with the help of 18 other countries. However even then in his dying days Fidel Castro was angered at the United States efforts and that Cuba did not need help from their enemies.

Above all it was Castro’s obsession with the United States and it with him that shaped his rule. A 2016 USA today report states that Cuban officials have reported the United States attempting to kill Castro over 600 times including explosive cigars, a poisoned milkshake, and even a drug that would make his beard fall out to hurt his charisma. Some say that his ability to  twist the truth helped lead him to power, constantly being able to avert questions targeted at his ruthless dictatorship.

Fidel Castro believed he was never  the leader of a communist country, but instead a country that was working hard towards liberty and social justice for all people. It is unknown what will happen to the island of Cuba with Fidel Castro dead and his brother Raul soon to follow however it’s certain that Castro and his impact on Cuba will remain forever integral to the history of Cuba.