The Bay of Pigs was a failed attempt by the American government, mainly the CIA, to overthrow Fidel Castro's communist government in Cuba. By 1961 President Eisenhower had broken of official relations with the country of Cuba after Fidel Castro, the communist dictator of Cuba, had been in power for several years. Exiled Cubans who opposed the government later approached the CIA (central intelligence agency) to try and negotiate a possible return to their country to overthrow the communist dictatorship. They were trained by the CIA in Guatemala, and supplied weapons and other supplies of war by the American military. The former Cubans also believed they were assured American air support. Kennedy had since been elected to office and knew of the operation, and believed the American government should support the exiles, but not with air support. When the exiles landed they were given no air support and were quickly killed or captured by the Cuban army. This operation dubbed "The Bay of Pigs," was an embarrassment to the Kennedy administration and the American government in general.

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Links

• Bay of pigs link
• Movie about Bay of Pigs
• Diesel link about the Bay of Pigs

Gil Gunn '00
Hartmann
Noble & Greenough School