2009 marks the 50th anniversary of the revolution. Cuba has regularly given Washington a headache, Lars Schoultz observes in his comprehensive chronicle of U.S. policy toward the Cuban Revolution. Seeking relief, even the most patient U.S. officials have often been tempted to repeat what an exasperated President Theodore Roosevelt told a friend in 1906: 'I am so angry with that infernal little Cuban republic that I would like to wipe its people off the face of the earth'.Certainly that has been true since 1959, when a group of rebels led by Fidel Castro ousted Fulgencio Batista, a dictator known for his friendly ties to the United States, and proceeded to cause more trouble than anyone could have imagined. Using a rich array of documents and firsthand interviews with U.S. and Cuban officials, Schoultz tells the story of the attempts and failures of ten U.S. administrations to end the Cuban Revolution. He covers everything from the legendary 1960s plot to assassinate Castro using a rigged ballpoint pen to the message that recently ran across the electronic billboard of the U.S. interests section in Havana: 'Communism doesn't work because people like to own stuff' - a comment attributed to the late rocker Frank Zappa. Schoultz argues that despite the overwhelming advantage in size and power that the United States enjoys over its neighbor, the Cubans' historical insistence on their right to self-determination has inevitably irritated American administrations, influenced both U.S. domestic politics and foreign policy, and led to a freeze in diplomatic relations of unprecedented longevity. Schoultz's analysis illuminates what has been a highly unproductive foreign policy and points to fresh prospects as a new century of U.S.-Cuban relations begins.
Lars Schoultz is the William Rand Kenan Jr. Professor of Political Science at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a past president of the Latin American Studies Association.
Anyone with an interest in U.S. foreign relations will appreciate Schoultz's careful historical detail, readable narrative and clear analysis.--McClatchy-Tribune News Service [An] eminently readable account of Cuban-American relations over the past century. . . . A deeply frustrating tale, chronicled with skill by a fine historian.--Times Literary Supplement A monumental study of U.S.-Cuba relations . . . based on an extensive use of primary sources. It will undoubtedly become an indispensable tool for anyone interested in this topic.--The Journal of American History An approachable, deeply satisfying narrative with a clear-eyed and persuasive critique of U.S. policy toward Cuba and, more broadly, of U.S. policy toward any weaker nation that has ever stubbornly asserted its sovereignty. . . . A page turner. . . . A gripping, expertly told story of one of the most complicated foreign policy relationships in the western hemisphere.--Publishers Weekly starred review Offers a more nuanced and potentially enlightening window upon the main obstacle to better US relations in the region. . . . Valuable.--The Latin American Review of Books Schoultz has an unparalleled grasp of U.S. sources--from government documents to Congressional records, unpublished memoirs and interviews with protagonists American and Cuban. His analysis is lucid and thought-provoking, and he writes exceedingly well. Reading the book is a pleasure. It is, by far, the best book on U.S. relations with Castro's Cuba. . . . A superb book.--American Historical Review Schoultz let[s] the principal actors speak for themselves. . . . to provide a fly-on-the-wall perspective to Washington policymaking.--Centre Daily Times Schoultz [writes] with insightful verve in That Infernal Little Cuban Republic, a comprehensive history of US-Cuba relations since World War II.--The Nation The Obama administration would be wise to consider Schoultz's latest book essential reading. . . . This impressive book is highly recommended.--Library Journal starred review This narrative history of a century of US policy towards Cuba is impressively researched and splendidly written. It becomes the instant standard on its subject. Its emphasis is on US policy since the late 1950s, its sources are principally US archives, and its sweep is comprehensive. Schoultz has a knack for identifying in the historical record the telling phrase, the apt metaphor, the outrageous statement and the powerful insight.--Journal of Latin American Studies
