Conspiracy Theories The 600 Lives of Fidel Castro
Sep 3, 2025
Explore the audacious attempts on Fidel Castro's life, with the CIA planning over 600 plots filled with bizarre tactics. From explosive cigars to mafia collaborations, the failed assassination missions reveal a tangled web of espionage. The bold use of poison pills and dangerous commando raids highlights the extremes taken to eliminate him. Delve into Castro's defiance, the intriguing history of 1950s Havana, and how his survival stoked U.S. fears, intertwining his legacy with the notorious Bay of Pigs and the dark corners of Cold War intrigue.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Early Policies Spark U.S. Backlash
- Fidel Castro's early policies rapidly turned Cuba from U.S.-aligned to Soviet-friendly, provoking American alarm.
- The U.S. responded by severing ties and beginning covert plans to remove him from power.
Mafia Recruited For Assassination Plots
- The CIA recruited mobsters like Sam Giancana and Johnny Roselli to use the mafia's reach against Castro.
- The mob later turned up dead or suspected murdered after threats and hearings about the plot.
Marita Lorenz's Claimed Plot
- Marita Lorenz claimed a brief love affair with Castro and says the CIA gave her botulinum pills to kill him.
- She says she couldn't go through with it and flushed the unusable pills, later recounting the dramatic encounter at the Hilton.
