Rafael José Díaz-Balart (c. 1899 – 1985), was a Cuban politician and mayor of the town of Banes. With his wife América Gutiérrez, he was the father of Rafael Díaz-Balart and progenitor of the Díaz-Balart family, an American political family. He was briefly the father-in-law of Fidel Castro through Castro's marriage to Díaz-Balart's daughter, Mirta Diaz-Balart, but after the Cuban Revolution, he became a major anti-Castro figure living in exile in Miami, Florida.
Born in Santiago de Cuba, Díaz-Balart received a law degree from the University of Havana in 1919.[1] Soon after joining the Bar, he became a municipal judge in the city of Palma Soriano, where he served for four years until, by civil service examination, he obtained the post of civil law notary in the town of Banes in eastern Cuba. While maintaining his law practice he was elected City Council President and Mayor of Banes. He was elected to the Cuban House of Representatives and transferred his law practice first to the city of Holguín, then to Havana. There, he founded the law firm of Diaz-Balart, Diaz-Balart and Amador, with his son, Rafael Lincoln, and partner Rolando Amador.[1] The Díaz-Balarts became one of Cuba's wealthiest families.[2] After several years, Díaz-Balart assumed the post of Land Registrar, also by examination.[1] From 1952 to 1954, Díaz-Balart was Transport Minister in the cabinet of Fulgencio Batista.[3]
In 1948, Díaz-Balart's daughter Mirta married Fidel Castro, then a fellow philosophy student at the University of Havana. They divorced in 1955, and in 1959, Castro led the Cuban Revolution, overthrowing the government with which both Díaz-Balart and his son Rafael were affiliated.[4] Díaz-Balart went into exile in Miami, and became a United States citizen. In 1965, Díaz-Balart, along with his son Rafael, entered law school at the University of Madrid in Spain, where he received a second law degree. Díaz-Balart then returned to Miami, Florida, where he remained until his death, in 1985.[1]
^Georgie Anne Geyer, Guerrilla Prince: The Untold Story of Fidel Castro (2011).
^Philip Brenner, A Contemporary Cuba Reader: Reinventing the Revolution (2008), p. 8.
^Servando González, The Secret Fidel Castro: Deconstructing the Symbol (2001), p. 227.
January 24, 2023
rafael, josé, díaz, balart, 1899, 1985, cuban, politician, mayor, town, banes, with, wife, américa, gutiérrez, father, rafael, díaz, balart, progenitor, díaz, balart, family, american, political, family, briefly, father, fidel, castro, through, castro, marriag. Rafael Jose Diaz Balart c 1899 1985 was a Cuban politician and mayor of the town of Banes With his wife America Gutierrez he was the father of Rafael Diaz Balart and progenitor of the Diaz Balart family an American political family He was briefly the father in law of Fidel Castro through Castro s marriage to Diaz Balart s daughter Mirta Diaz Balart but after the Cuban Revolution he became a major anti Castro figure living in exile in Miami Florida Biography Edit Rafael Diaz Balart Hall building of the Florida International University College of Law named in part for Rafael Jose Diaz Balart Born in Santiago de Cuba Diaz Balart received a law degree from the University of Havana in 1919 1 Soon after joining the Bar he became a municipal judge in the city of Palma Soriano where he served for four years until by civil service examination he obtained the post of civil law notary in the town of Banes in eastern Cuba While maintaining his law practice he was elected City Council President and Mayor of Banes He was elected to the Cuban House of Representatives and transferred his law practice first to the city of Holguin then to Havana There he founded the law firm of Diaz Balart Diaz Balart and Amador with his son Rafael Lincoln and partner Rolando Amador 1 The Diaz Balarts became one of Cuba s wealthiest families 2 After several years Diaz Balart assumed the post of Land Registrar also by examination 1 From 1952 to 1954 Diaz Balart was Transport Minister in the cabinet of Fulgencio Batista 3 In 1948 Diaz Balart s daughter Mirta married Fidel Castro then a fellow philosophy student at the University of Havana They divorced in 1955 and in 1959 Castro led the Cuban Revolution overthrowing the government with which both Diaz Balart and his son Rafael were affiliated 4 Diaz Balart went into exile in Miami and became a United States citizen In 1965 Diaz Balart along with his son Rafael entered law school at the University of Madrid in Spain where he received a second law degree Diaz Balart then returned to Miami Florida where he remained until his death in 1985 1 On February 10 2007 Florida International University dedicated the Rafael Diaz Balart Hall as the building housing the Florida International University College of Law jointly named for Diaz Balart and his son Rafael 1 The United States Congress also passed a resolution in 2007 honoring Diaz Balart s contributions 1 References Edit a b c d e f United States House of Representatives Recognizing and Honoring the Lifetime Contributions of Rafael Jose Diaz Balart H Res 131 February 7 2007 Georgie Anne Geyer Guerrilla Prince The Untold Story of Fidel Castro 2011 Philip Brenner A Contemporary Cuba Reader Reinventing the Revolution 2008 p 8 Servando Gonzalez The Secret Fidel Castro Deconstructing the Symbol 2001 p 227 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Rafael Jose Diaz Balart amp oldid 1120137618, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
