April, 1959

Cuban photographer Alberto Korda captures a candid image of Fidel Castro paying his respects at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C.

Shortly after assuming power in Cuba, Castro visited the U.S., primarily to look for financial aid. President Dwight D. Eisenhower refused to meet Castro, citing his reservations regarding the dictator's political intentions, especially pertaining to the Cold War. Castro was able to meet with Vice President Richard Nixon, ironically proclaiming his aversion to communism and disdain of dictatorship before going home and allying with Nikita Khrushchev.

Though the trip didn't go as well as expected, Castro was at least able to lay a wreath at the feet of someone he idolized throughout his life, the moment becoming immortalized in gelatin silver print.