History UsefulNotes / FulgencioBatista

However, he eventually managed to get a job as a railroad brakeman which enabled him to attend night classes at a Quaker-run school. He joined the Cuban army, and in 1933 he was a participant in the Sergeants' Revolt, overthrowing Gerardo Machedo's corrupt government and installing a series of puppet presidents until he himself was elected in 1940. During his term as elected President, he was actually quite popular and progressive, pursuing left-wing policies and carrying out radical reforms, to the point that even the Cuban Communist Party supported him. Despite this, however, he was unable to secure a re-election, and rumors abounded of him hiring thugs to intimidate dissenting journalists with castor oil.

After doing everything in his power to handicap his successor administration with what time he had left in office, he left Cuba to live in the US for 8 years. In 1952 he returned to Cuba to run for Cuban president again, but wound up running in dead last behind 2 other candidates. With defeat all but guaranteed, Batista, with military backing, [[TheCoup overthrew the government]] and installed himself as "President"/dictator of Cuba. During his reign over Cuba as dictator, in stark contrast to his 1940 presidency, he favored the elite instead of the people of Cuba. As a result, Havana [[ViceCity became a playground for the Mafia and American tourists]], essentially becoming the {{UsefulNotes/Las Vegas}} of the Caribbean, [[BananaRepublic and the rest of the island became a playground for American businesses]]. Corruption was rampant and the needs of actual Cubans were generally ignored. 2 out of every 3 Cubans living in the countryside had no access to basic household features such as running water, electricity, or even basic tiled floors.

However, within Havana and the few other major cities, life was about as good as it was possible to get in Latin America. Even in 1959, Cuba was a wealthy country by world standards. It ranked 5th in the hemisphere in per capita income, 3rd in life expectancy, 2nd in per capita ownership of automobiles, telephones, and television sets. Cuba's literacy rate, 76%, was the 3rd highest in Latin America. Cuba also ranked 11th in the world in the number of doctors per capita. Cuba's income distribution also compared favorably with that of other Latin American societies.

[[SoreLoser After doing everything in his power to handicap his successor administration with what time he had left in office]], he left Cuba to live in the US for 8 years. In 1952 he returned to Cuba to run for Cuban president again, but wound up running in dead last behind 2 other candidates. With defeat all but guaranteed, Batista, with military backing, [[TheCoup overthrew the government]] and installed himself as "President"/dictator of Cuba. During his reign over Cuba as dictator, in stark contrast to his 1940 presidency, he favored the elite instead of the people of Cuba. As a result, Havana [[ViceCity became a playground for the Mafia and American tourists]], essentially becoming the {{UsefulNotes/Las Vegas}} of the Caribbean, [[BananaRepublic and the rest of the island became a playground for American businesses]]. Corruption was rampant and the needs of actual Cubans were generally ignored. 2 out of every 3 Cubans living in the countryside had no access to basic household features such as running water, electricity, or even basic tiled floors.

In 1958, growing antipathy from the US government at the utter brutality and sadism of the Batista regime led to the US imposing a weapons embargo on Cuba. About a year later, he was overthrown in the GrandFinale of an armed insurrection known as the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuban_Revolution Cuban Revolution]] by UsefulNotes/FidelCastro, UsefulNotes/CheGuevara, and their left-wing nationalist 26th of July Movement. Batista then fled Cuba on New Year's Day, 1959, eventually finding refuge in Portugal where he lived for the rest of his life. Due to his role in Cuban history, he often appears as a character in productions set before or during the Cuban Revolution, most famously ''Film/TheGodfather''.

In 1958, growing antipathy from the US government at the utter brutality and sadism of the Batista regime led to the US imposing a weapons embargo on Cuba. About a year later, he was overthrown in the GrandFinale of an armed insurrection known as the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuban_Revolution Cuban Revolution]] by UsefulNotes/FidelCastro and his left-wing nationalist 26th of July Movement. Batista then fled Cuba on New Year's Day, 1959, eventually finding refuge in Portugal where he lived for the rest of his life. Due to his role in Cuban history, he often appears as a character in productions set before or during the Cuban Revolution, most famously ''Film/TheGodfather''.

All those opposed to Batista's regime were brutally tortured and killed by the police, army and Rural Guard to the point where death became a common sight in Cuba, leading to many Cubans fleeing into exile in the US. Batista even had a murderous SecretPolice of his own, the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bureau_for_the_Repression_of_Communist_Activities Bureau for the Repression of Communist Activities]] or BRAC.

[[SoreLoser After doing everything in his power to handicap his successor administration with what time he had left in office]], he left Cuba to live in the US for 8 years. In 1952 he returned to Cuba to run for Cuban president again, but wound up running in dead last behind 2 other candidates. With defeat all but guaranteed, Batista, with military backing, overthrew the government and installed himself as "President"/dictator of Cuba. During his reign over Cuba as dictator, in stark contrast to his 1940 presidency, he favored the elite instead of the people of Cuba. As a result, Havana [[ViceCity became a playground for the Mafia and American tourists]], essentially becoming the {{UsefulNotes/Las Vegas}} of the Caribbean, [[BananaRepublic and the rest of the island became a playground for American businesses]]. Corruption was rampant and the needs of actual Cubans were generally ignored. 2 out of every 3 Cubans living in the countryside had no access to basic household features such as running water, electricity, or even basic tiled floors.

However, he eventually managed to get a job as a railroad brakeman which enabled him to attend night classes at a Quaker-run school. He joined the Cuban army, and in 1933 he was a participant in the Sergeants' Revolt, overthrowing Gerardo Machedo's corrupt government and installing a series of puppet presidents until he himself was elected in 1940. During his term as elected President, he was actually quite popular and progressive, to the point that even the Cuban Communist Party supported him. Despite this, however, he was unable to secure a re-election.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'': In "The Trouble With Trillions", Homer and Burns flee to Cuba and the latter is [[TwoDecadesBehind shocked]] to learn from a cab driver that Batista is no longer in power. Burns then demands to be taken to "[[UsefulNotes/FidelCastro whoever is in charge]].

All those who opposed to Batista's regime were brutally tortured and killed by the police, army and Rural Guard to the point where death became a common sight in Cuba, leading to many Cubans fleeing into exile in the US. Batista even had a murderous SecretPolice of his own, the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bureau_for_the_Repression_of_Communist_Activities Bureau for the Repression of Communist Activities]] or BRAC.

However, within Havana and the few other major cities, life was about as good as it was possible to get in Latin America. Even in 1959, Cuba was a wealthy country by world standards. It ranked 5th in the hemisphere in per capita income, 3rd in life expectancy, 2nd in per capita ownership of automobiles, telephones, and television sets. Cuba's literacy rate, 76%, was the 3rd highest in Latin America. Cuba also ranked 11th in the world in the number of doctors per capita. Cuba's income distribution also compared favorably with that of other Latin American societies. While this came at the cost of the working and middle class's well-being, it won Batista high support, especially among the wealthy Cuban elite.

[[SoreLoser After doing everything in his power to handicap his successor administration with what time he had left in office]], he left Cuba to live in the US for 8 years. In 1952 he returned to Cuba to run for Cuban president again, but wound up running in dead last behind 2 other candidates. With defeat all but guaranteed, Batista, with military backing, overthrew the government and installed himself as "President"/dictator of Cuba. During his reign over Cuba as dictator, in stark contrast to his 1940 presidency, he favored the elite instead of the people of Cuba. As a result, Havana [[ViceCity became a playground for the Mafia and American tourists]], essentially becoming the {{UsefulNotes/Las Vegas}} of the Caribbean, [[BananaRepublic and the rest of the island became a playground for American businesses]]. Corruption was rampant and the needs of actual Cubans were generally ignored. 2 out of every 3 Cubans living in the countryside had no access to basic household features such as running water, electricity, or even basic tiled floors. All those who opposed to Batista's regime were brutally tortured and killed by the police, army and Rural Guard to the point where death became a common sight in Cuba, leading to many Cubans fleeing into exile in the US.

* ''Film/TheGodfather'' TV series shows him and his family leaving Havana on boats with the rest of the city's rich.
* The 1979 movie ''[=Cuba=]'' is about a British major played by UsefulNotes/SeanConnery, who meets him and initially helps him train Cuban military troops in a counter-insurrection against UsefulNotes/FidelCastro. As he realizes the sheer cruelty of the Batista regime, the major switches sides and backs Castro's guerrillas instead.

* The 1979 movie ''[=Cuba=]'' is about a British soldier who meets him and helps him train Cuban military troops in a counter-insurrection against UsefulNotes/FidelCastro.

[[SoreLoser After doing everything in his power to handicap his successor administration with what time he had left in office]], he left Cuba to live in the US for 8 years. In 1952 he returned to Cuba to run for Cuban president again, but wound up running in dead last behind 2 other candidates. With defeat all but guaranteed, Batista, with military backing, overthrew the government and installed himself as "President"/dictator of Cuba. During his reign over Cuba as dictator, in stark contrast to his 1940 presidency, he favored the elite instead of the people of Cuba. As a result, Havana [[ViceCity became a playground for the Mafia and American tourists]], essentially becoming the {{UsefulNotes/Las Vegas}} of the Caribbean, [[BananaRepublic and the rest of the island became a playground for American businesses]]. Corruption was rampant and the needs of actual Cubans were generally ignored. 2 out of every 3 Cubans living in the countryside had no access to basic household features such as running water, electricity, or even basic tiled floors. All those who opposed to Batista's regime were brutally oppressed and tortured by the police, army and Rural Guard to the point where death was a common sight, with many fleeing into exile in the US.

[[SoreLoser After doing everything in his power to handicap his successor administration with what time he had left in office]], he left Cuba to live in the US for 8 years. In 1952 he returned to Cuba to run for Cuban president again, but wound up running in dead last behind 2 other candidates. With defeat all but guaranteed, Batista, with military backing, overthrew the government and installed himself as "President"/dictator of Cuba. During his reign over Cuba as dictator, in stark contrast to his 1940 presidency, he favored the elite instead of the people of Cuba. As a result, Havana [[ViceCity became a playground for the Mafia and American tourists]], essentially becoming the {{UsefulNotes/Las Vegas}} of the Caribbean, [[BananaRepublic and the rest of the island became a playground for American businesses]]. Corruption was rampant and the needs of actual Cubans were generally ignored. 2 out of every 3 Cubans living in the countryside had no access to basic household features such as running water, electricity, or even basic tiled floors, and those opposed to Batista's regime were brutally oppressed. However, within Havana and the few other major cities, life was about as good as it was possible to get in Latin America. Even in 1959, Cuba was a wealthy country by world standards. It ranked 5th in the hemisphere in per capita income, 3rd in life expectancy, 2nd in per capita ownership of automobiles, telephones, and television sets. Cuba's literacy rate, 76%, was the 3rd highest in Latin America. Cuba also ranked 11th in the world in the number of doctors per capita. Cuba's income distribution also compared favorably with that of other Latin American societies

In 1958, growing antipathy from the US led to the US imposing a weapons embargo on Batista's regime. About a year later, he was overthrown in the Cuban Revolution. Batista then fled Cuba, eventually finding refuge in Portugal where he lived for the rest of his life. Due to his role in Cuban history, he often appears as a character in productions involving the Cuban Revolution, including ''Film/TheGodfather''.

[[SoreLoser After doing everything in his power to handicap his successor administration with what time he had left in office]], he left Cuba to live in the US for 8 years. In 1952 he returned to Cuba to run for Cuban president again, but wound up running in dead last behind 2 other candidates. With defeat all but guaranteed, Batista, with military backing, overthrew the government and installed himself as "President"/dictator of Cuba. During his reign over Cuba as dictator, in stark contrast to his 1940 presidency, he favored the elite instead of the people of Cuba. As a result, Havana [[ViceCity became a playground for the Mafia and American tourists]], essentially becoming the {{UsefulNotes/Las Vegas}} of the Caribbean, [[BananaRepublic and the rest of the island became a playground for American businesses]]. Corruption was rampant and the needs of actual Cubans were generally ignored. 2 out of every 3 Cubans living in the countryside access to basic household features such as running water, electricity, or even basic tiled floors, and those opposed to Batista's regime were brutally oppressed. However, within Havana and the few other major cities, life was about as good as it was possible to get in Latin America. Even in 1959, Cuba was a wealthy country by world standards. It ranked 5th in the hemisphere in per capita income, 3rd in life expectancy, 2nd in per capita ownership of automobiles, telephones, and television sets. Cuba's literacy rate, 76%, was the 3rd highest in Latin America. Cuba also ranked 11th in the world in the number of doctors per capita. Cuba's income distribution also compared favorably with that of other Latin American societies

In 1958, growing antipathy from the US lead to the US imposing a weapons embargo on Batista's regime. About a year later, he was overthrown in the Cuban Revolution. Batista then fled Cuba, eventually finding refuge in Portugal where he lived for the rest of his life. Due to his role in Cuban history, he often appears as a character in productions involving the Cuban Revolution, including ''Film/TheGodfather''.

* The 1954 book A Sergeant Named Batista was written by his friend and speechwriter Edmund Chester.

[[SoreLoser After doing everything in his power to handicap his successor administration with what time he had left in office]], he left Cuba to live in the US for 8 years. In 1952 he returned to Cuba to run for Cuban president again, but wound up running in dead last behind 2 other candidates. With defeat all but guaranteed, Batista, with military backing, overthrew the government and installed himself as "President"/dictator of Cuba. During his reign over Cuba as dictator, in stark contrast to his 1940 presidency, he favored the elite instead of the people of Cuba. As a result, Havana [[ViceCity became a playground for the Mafia and American tourists]], essentially becoming the {{UsefulNotes/Las Vegas}} of the Caribbean, [[BananaRepublic and the rest of the island became a playground for American businesses]]. Corruption was rampant and the needs of actual Cubans were generally ignored. 2 out of every 3 Cubans living outside Havana lacked access to basic household features such as running water, electricity, or even basic tiled floors, and those opposed to Batista's regime were brutally oppressed.

Fulgencio Batista (1901-1973) was a former president of UsefulNotes/{{Cuba}}, best known for being "the guy who was president before the Cuban Revolution and UsefulNotes/FidelCastro." He was born Ruben Zaldivar in Banes, Oriente Province, to parents who were canecutters on a sugar plantation. Batista's father, Belisario, fought in the Spanish-American War or Cuban War of Independence and when he was 8, his mother, Carmela, died, forcing him to leave school and work in the canefields.

Fulgencio Batista (1901-1973) was a former president of UsefulNotes/{{Cuba}}, best known for being "the guy who was president before the UsefulNotes/CubanRevolution and UsefulNotes/FidelCastro." He was born Ruben Zaldivar in Banes, Oriente Province, to parents who were canecutters on a sugar plantation. Batista's father, Belisario, fought in the Spanish-American War or Cuban War of Independence and when he was 8, his mother, Carmela, died, forcing him to leave school and work in the canefields.

In 1958, growing antipathy from the US lead to the US imposing a weapons embargo on Batista's regime. About a year later, he was overthrown in the Cuban Revolution. Batista then fled Cuba, eventually finding refuge in Portugal where he lived for the rest of his life. Due to his role in Cuban history, he often appears as a character in productions involving the Cuban Revolution, including ''TheGodfather''.

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[[SoreLoser After doing everything in his power to handicap his successor administration with what time he had left in office]], he left Cuba to live in the US for 8 years. In 1952 he returned to Cuba to run for Cuban president again, but wound up running in dead last behind 2 other candidates. With defeat all but guaranteed, Batista, with military backing, overthrew the government and installed himself as "President"/dictator of Cuba. During his reign over Cuba as dictator, in stark contrast to his 1940 presidency, he favored the elite instead of the people of Cuba. As a result, Havana [[ViceCity became a playground for the Mafia and American tourists]], essentially becoming the {{UsefulNotes/Las Vegas}} of the Caribbean, [[BananaRepublic and the rest of the island became a playground for American businesses]]. Corruption was rampant and the needs actual Cubans were generally ignored. 2 out of every 3 Cubans living outside Havana lacked access to basic household features such as running water, electricity, or even basic tiled floors, and those opposed to Batista's regime were brutally oppressed.

[[SoreLoser After doing everything in his power to handicap his successor administration with what he had left in office]], he left Cuba to live in the US for 8 years. In 1952 he returned to Cuba to run for Cuban president again, but wound up running in dead last behind 2 other candidates. With defeat all but guaranteed, Batista, with military backing, overthrew the government and installed himself as "President"/dictator of Cuba. During his reign over Cuba as dictator, in stark contrast to his 1940 presidency, he favored the elite instead of the people of Cuba. As a result, Havana [[ViceCity became a playground for the Mafia and American tourists]], essentially becoming the {{UsefulNotes/Las Vegas}} of the Caribbean, [[BananaRepublic and the rest of the island became a playground for American businesses]]. Corruption was rampant and the needs actual Cubans were generally ignored. 2 out of every 3 Cubans living outside Havana lacked access to basic household features such as running water, electricity, or even basic tiled floors, and those opposed to Batista's regime were brutally oppressed.

However, he eventually managed to get a job as a railroad brakeman which enabled him to attend night classes at a Quaker-run school. He joined the Cuban army, and in 1933 he was a participant in the Sergeants' Revolt, overthrowing Gerardo Machedo's corrupt government and installing a series of puppet presidents. Appears as a character in productions involving the CubanRevolution, including ''TheGodfather''.

!!The following tropes are related to him:
* AffablyEvil: Had a very charismatic personality and was described as nice and friendly by those who met and knew him.
* BananaRepublic: Cuba became an even more obvious example of this during his second term.
* {{Bishonen}}: One of his nicknames (which he ''hated'') was "El Mulato Lindo," meaning "The Pretty Mulatto."
* ButNotTooBlack: Batista was of mixed African, Spanish, American Indian and Chinese descent. He had relatively dark skin which was lightened in later photos.
* CorruptPolitician: Became this during his second term in 1952, when he and his Mafia friends got kickbacks from the Cuban national lottery and pocketed money from gambling and the sex trade.
* DadTheVeteran: His father, Belisario Batista Palermo, was a veteran of the Cuban War of Independence (Spanish-American War).
* EmbarrassingNickname: "El Mulato Lindo."
* TheExile: What he became after Castro forced him out of power.
* FallenHero: Before he became an infamous Carribean dictator whose main concern was enriching himself, Batista's first term in office was considered one of the most progressive in Cuban history and even his future enemies, the Cuban Communist party supported him.
* FamilyValuesVillain: Was devoted to his second wife and all his children.
* FreudianExcuse: His impoverished upbringing may have been a factor in his later corruption and furtherance of his own interests.
* FullCircleRevolution: Was a participant in the 1933 revolution to overthrow Gerardo Machedo, but became corrupt himself. During his second term, Havana was prosperous, with the most modern technology for the period, while everywhere else, especially the rural areas, were desperately poor. For example, according to the UN report in 1953, two-thirds of houses in rural areas had dirt floors and people lacked access to running water and electricity.
* TheGeneralissimo: Western media portrays him as this.
* HappilyMarried: To his second wife, Marta Fernandez Miranda.
* LaResistance: He was one of the leaders of a group of soldiers opposed to Machedo.
* MayDecemberRomance: With Marta.
* TheMafia: Batista was close friends with Meyer Lansky and Lucky Luciano.
* TheManBehindTheMan: Before and after his second term, he pulled strings to get his puppet candidates elected.
* ParentalAbandonment: His mother died when he was 8.
* RagsToRiches: He couldn't even afford shoes and then eventually became president of Cuba.
* StartOfDarkness: Originally he was considered one of the most beloved presidents in Cuba's history. During his first period in office, he tried to look out for the interests of the lower class members of Cuban society and even the Communist party supported his government. But after failing to get reelected, he attempted to use puppet candidates to get back into a position of power and some historians suggest his desire to rise above his humble origins led him to ally himself with the upper echelons of Cuban society and form the dictatorship he became infamous for.
* SwissBankAccount: Had one where he hid all his money.
* VoteEarlyVoteOften: A common part of Cuban politics pre-Revolution. Now they don't even have elections. Batista often employed this method to get his candidates into power.

* EmbarrassingNickname: "El Mulato Lindo."

* RagsToRiches: He couldn't even afford shoes and then eventually became president of Cuba.

Fulgencio Batista (1901-1973) was a former president of UsefulNotes/{{Cuba}}, best known for being "the guy who was president before the CubanRevolution and FidelCastro." He was born Ruben Zaldivar in Banes, Oriente Province, to parents who were canecutters on a sugar plantation. Batista's father, Belisario, fought in the Spanish-American War or Cuban War of Independence and when he was 8, his mother, Carmela, died, forcing him to leave school and work in the canefields.

* The 1979 movie ''[=Cuba=]'' is about a British soldier who meets him and helps him train Cuban military troops in a counter-insurrection against FidelCastro.