Title card reads, "The United States Breaks Diplomatic Relations with Cuba." View of the United States Embassy building (55 Calzada, La Habana, Cuba) in Havana, Cuba. Crowds gathering outside the United States Embassy in Havana, Cuba. Family of African descent outside American Embassy. A woman of African descent holds her baby outside the United States Embassy. Two women in the American Embassy. A door in the American Embassy written in Spanish reads, "Aviso Cerrada-La Seccion De Visa Hoy" (Attention, Visa section closed today). Women leaving the American Embassy. A Catholic nun leaves the American Embassy. American citizens leave the United States Embassy. Staff load boxes into truck as Americans leave the United States embassy. Americans follow a man, with shades, outside United States Embassy. Americans board bus as they depart Havana. A Cuban female soldier guards the United States Embassy building.
USAF Major General Reuben Columbus Hood Jr. visits Cuba during his goodwill tour. An USAF F-86 as it flies in low over beach, makes a climb. Spectators watch diamond-shaped formation of the Thunderbirds. The formation as it banks and completes a barrel roll. Several views of the Thunderbirds performing. General Hood and President of Cuba, Fulgencio Batista y Zaldivar. Views of the president. Views of the secret Police. American flag flying full mast, palm tree in the foreground. Several views of spectators. The Cuban flag flying full mast. Coast line of Havana, Cuba. Street scene along the beach area of Havana, Cuba.
Statue of José Marti, designed by Enrique Luis Varela and sculpted by Juan José Sicre, at foot of Marti memorial monument in Revolution Square, Havana, Cuba. The Cuban flag on the Ministry of Interior building, across the square. Camilo Cienfuegos addresses people and Fidel Castro smiles in Havana, Cuba. A procession by people. Che Guevara and Camilo Cienfuegos with others sitting. President Manuel Urrutia comes with others. Soviet vice-prime minister, Anastas Mikoyan, steps from Soviet plane. He meets President Urrutia. Mikoyan wearing a straw hat with "Cuba" written on it. Fidel Castro and leading revolutionary figures attend a formal reception for Mikoyan. A signboard reads 'INRA Cooperative Arroceru Jose Smith Comas Zona H-10 Cardenas'. Farmers in field with their cattle. Fidel Castro addresses the press. Cuban workmen handling lumber at a construction site. A board reads'Instituto Nacional de Ahorro y Vivienda,' and announces the construction of a planned city of 300 homes. Women parade holding rifles. The French freighter La Coubre exploding on March 4,1960, while being unloaded in Havana harbor, Cuba. Scenes of explosions and fire as people run to escape the area. Fire fighters trying to extinguish flames, and similar events are captured by the camera. Post accident scenes of Castro speaking to the populace and of mourners walking along the street in Havana. (Note: This French ship was carrying munitions from Antwerp.Approximately 100 people were killed and twice as many injured in this terrible accident.)
Communist leader Fidel Castro and Prime Minister Jose Miro Cardona with others in Havana, Cuba. Women and nurses in dresses marching in a parade. Fidel Castro watches the parade. Argentinian Marxist revolutionary Che Guevara is also seen with Castro. Fidel Castro attends the first Congreso Latinoamericano de Juventudes at the Cerro stadium (Estadio Latinoamericano, 4J9F+FJ6, La Habana, Cuba) in Havana. Castro comes on stage. Castro announces the decision to nationalize North American companies in Cuba as a response to United States’ economic sanctions. Fidel Castro sworn in as Prime Minister of Cuba. People carry banners in a procession.
United States President John F. Kennedy addresses the nation about Soviet interference in island of Cuba during Cuban Missile Crisis. President imposes naval and air quarantine on the shipment of offensive military equipment in Cuba. He alleges Soviet Union of working contrary to their promises and building offensive missile and bomber bases in Cuba. He says that the U.S. would retaliate against Soviet Union of any missile fired from Cuba on any country of Northern Hemisphere. Flags of various nations hoist outside the building
Submarine telephone cable connecting Cuba with the United States. A cable ship at sea during the laying of the submarine telephone cable connecting Cuba with the telephone system of the United States. A few equipment on the ship. View of the submarine cable in the sea from the cable ship. Men at work on the cable ship. The cable being pulled by several men at a Cuban port. U.S. President Warren G. Harding, seated with other officials, during the commemoration of the completion of the cable to Cuba on April 11, 1921 in the United States. Harding and the officials talk on telephones using the newly completed cable line to Cuba.