Fidel Castro
Illustration, not an archive object
Prime Minister of Cuba (1959-1976) and President of the Council of State (1976-2008) · Cuba
2 quotes, oldest first. Filter with other speakers.
“Never has a lawyer had to practice his profession under such difficult conditions; never has such a number of overwhelming irregularities been committed against an accused man.”
Original (Spanish)
Nunca un abogado ha tenido que ejercer su oficio en tan difíciles condiciones: nunca contra un acusado se había cometido tal cúmulo de abrumadoras irregularidades.
English: Pedro Álvarez Tabío and Andrew Paul Booth (Editorial de Ciencias Sociales, Havana, 1975; translation rechecked against the Spanish in 1981)
Opening of Castro's defence at his trial for the 26 July 1953 attacks on the Moncada and Bayamo barracks. He was acting as his own counsel and says he has been held incommunicado for seventy-six days.
History Will Absolve Me (La historia me absolverá), defence speech at the Moncada trial, Santiago de Cuba, 16 October 1953, in Editorial de Ciencias Sociales, Havana, 1975 Source
“He who speaks to you hates vanity with all his being, nor are his temperament or frame of mind inclined towards courtroom poses or sensationalism of any kind.”
Original (Spanish)
Quien está hablando aborrece con toda su alma la vanidad pueril y no están ni su ánimo ni su temperamento para poses de tribuno ni sensacionalismo de ninguna índole.
English: Pedro Álvarez Tabío and Andrew Paul Booth (Editorial de Ciencias Sociales, Havana, 1975; translation rechecked against the Spanish in 1981)
Early in the same defence speech, before he gives two reasons for conducting his own defence.
History Will Absolve Me (La historia me absolverá), defence speech at the Moncada trial, Santiago de Cuba, 16 October 1953, in Editorial de Ciencias Sociales, Havana, 1975 Source