ABSTRACT
The persecution of William Worthy was a clear reflection of the official U.S. attitude to the newly established revolutionary government in Cuba. American hostility had been mounting ever since the Castro-led rebellion had overturned the Batista dictatorship in 1959 and succeeded in removing Cuba from the orbit of American big business interests. Commenting on President Kennedy’s promise to the American people that he would restore freedom to Cuba, Russell argued:
It must be understood that he means freedom for the children (of Cuba) to die from hookworm and for the rest of the population to be subject to a ruthless and brutal government of corrupt dictators who will provide riches for inhabitants of the U.S. and a very few of Cuba. 1
