Artillery fired at the National Capitol Building in Havana, Cuba frightens Cuban people. Cannons roar in a joint fete marking the progress of the nation and commemorating the birth of revolt against Spain. The national palace built and dedicated to the Cuban President Gerardo Machado. People flee in panic as cannons are fired in front of the Capitol Building in Havana.
United States Ambassador to Cuba Jefferson Caffery makes his first official visit to Cuban President Carlos Mendieta in Havana. Procession of cars escorted by Cuban soldiers on horseback moves along road. Jefferson Caffery exits the car at entrance of the Presidential Palace (presently known as the Museum of the Revolution, Refugio Street 1, between Monserrate and Zulueta, Av. BĂ©lgica, La Habana 10600, Cuba). Cuban honor guards lined up. Jefferson Caffery being greeted by President Carlos Mendieta.
Hotel Riviera in Havana. The staff at the hotel entrance. Hotel Capri. The deserted reception. Prime Minister Fidel Castro hosts his own television program called 'The Television World Asks'. Castro looks at a passport. He speaks over a microphone, points to a paper, makes long speeches. Evidence of sabotage on the table. The audience. Castro seated at the table. He responds to people's questions. He launches an attack on the Spanish ambassador. The ambassador reaches the studio and accuses Castro of slandering. Castro's men try to control him. Castro orders the ambassador out of Cuba. Castro's supporters follow the ambassador and shout slogans against him. People demonstrate with banners and boards. The Government takes control of all media and implements censorship. Workers inside a printing press. The Radio Continental building. The Ministry of Labor takes over the nation's tobacco and cigarette industry. The Cuban flag hung from a building. Cuba's Farm Minister arrives at an airport to meet Communist leaders. A large crowd gathered. Reporters take down notes. A man and a woman look at a fruit. A photographer clicks pictures. Women in a market. Women pack cartons. Sergei Kudryatsev chosen as the new Soviet Ambassador to Cuba. Czechoslovakian, Polish, Chinese and other Communist delegations in Cuba. They survey a housing complex under construction, and visit factories and industries.
Leaders of various organizations meet during the UN General Assembly meeting in New York. Leaders of Non-Aligned Movement Colonel Gamal Abdel Nasser of Egypt, Marshal Josip Broz Tito of Yugoslavia, and Jawaharlal Nehru of India during a meeting. Communist leaders Nikita Khrushchev and Fidel Castro meet personally in New York City. View of Castro and Khrushchev in front of Hotel Theresa in Harlem, New York City. Fidel Castro walks with his supporters on the roads of Havana Cuba and seizes all United States owned property. A Cuban worker uses hammer and chisel to remove name on the U.S. owned Cuban Telephone Company building from exterior doorway of building in Havana, Cuba.
Scenes in Havana Harbor following explosion of the French Freighter, La Coubre, which had been offloading small arms and ammunition imported from Belgium. Views of the severely damaged ship and destruction around it. Workers clear debris. Fidel Castro declares a public funeral for the victims and leads a processional parade, his arms linked with others. The funeral cortege proceeds along street in Havana.
On July 4th Cubans celebrate the American Independence Day in Havana, Cuba as a sign of U.S. friendship. People in colorful dresses during a parade. A crowd on the streets to watch the parade. A Battleship Maine Monument. People gather near the monument and hold posters. They hold the flag of Cuba and march.