Cuba: Slipping Caesar

Havana carefully did not tell the Cuban people that Fidel Castro was giving up one of his most important posts. The official announcement last week merely stated that the all-powerful National Agrarian Reform Institute, which runs Cuba's communized agriculture, was getting a new boss. He is Carlos Rafael Rodriguez, a longtime Communist economic theoretician and, next to Secretary-General Bias Roca, top man in the party's hierarchy.

The shift marked the first time that Fidel Castro, oft-proclaimed "maximum leader," has been removed from a position of power, and it made clearer still what has been apparent for months.

Though Castro continues to do...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!