Castro begins a visit to the United States

Disagreement over authority within the new government led the provisional prime minister to resign.

Castro formally became head of government, bringing political office into line with his leadership of the victorious Rebel Army.

The revolutionary government ordered lower telephone charges, confronting a major foreign-owned utility over the cost of public services.

The government took control of the foreign-owned utility and lowered rates, presenting public services as a social right.

A law substantially lowered many rents, one of the government’s early measures to redistribute income toward tenants.

During his United States tour, he defended Cuban sovereignty and argued that social reform was necessary for democracy.

The long Washington meeting exposed differing expectations about elections, economic policy and the future relationship between Cuba and the United States.

The unofficial visit revealed both international enthusiasm for the revolution and growing conflict over elections, property and communism.

At an inter-American economic meeting in Buenos Aires, he called for large-scale investment to overcome poverty and dependence.

The law limited large estates, redistributed land and created a framework for cooperatives and state farms. It struck at concentrated and foreign landownership.