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President Eisenhower approves plan to overthrow Castro
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The Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 passes in the U.S. Congress
This prohibits aid to Cuba and allows the president to create a "total embargo upon all trade" with Cuba. -
Foreign Assistance Act is amended
The amendment prohibits aid to "any country" that provides assistance to Cuba. -
Kennedy Administration prohibits travel to Cuba
Administration makes financial and commercial transactions with Cuba illegal for U.S. citizens. -
President Kennedy wants to end the embargo
President Kennedy asks French journalist Jean Daniel to tell Castro that he is now ready to negotiate normal relations and drop the embargo. Kennedy is assassinated five days later on November 22, 1963 in Dallas, Texas. -
Robert Kennedy seeks to end the travel bans
Robert Kennedy believes the ban is "inconsistent with traditional American liberties." The memo RFK sends is discussed at a State Department meeting and they conclude that the ban will not end. Robert Kennedy is assassinated less than five years later in 1968. His memo was never released to the public until 2005. -
The Organization of American States adopts mandatory sanctions against Cuba
This requires all members to stop all diplomatic and trade relations with Cuba. Mexico doesn't comply. -
The Organization of American States votes to end sanctions on Cuba
This allows each member nation to decide wether they want to carry on diplomatic and trade relations with Cuba. -
U.S. will no longer penalize other nations for trade with Cuba
The U.S. also announces that it will allow foreign subsidiaries of U.S. companies to sell products in Cuba. -
President Carter drops ban
President Carter drops the ban on travel to Cuba and on U.S. citizens spending U.S. dollars in Cuba. -
Cuban-Americans are allowed to visit their families in Cuba
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Reagan Administration reestablishes the ban
The Reagan Administration reestablishes the travel ban and prohibits U.S. citizens from spending money in Cuba. -
President Reagan bans Cuban travel to U.S.
More specifically the Cuban government, communist party officials, or their representatives. -
President George H.W. Bush signs the Cuban Democracy Act into law
This prohibits foreign-based subsidiaries of U.S. companies from trading with Cuba, travel to Cuba by U.S. citizens, and family remittances to Cuba. The law allows private groups to deliver food and medicine to Cuba. Many believe it is a violation of international law. -
President George W. Bush President George W. Bush establishes the Committee for Assistance to a Free Cuba
President G.W. Bush also further enforces the ban on travel to Cuba. The U.N. General Assembly votes against the U.S. economic embargo of Cuba for the 12th consecutive year.
