
In 1959, as Fidel Castro ascended to power in Cuba, he faced a perilous brush with death. A 19-year-old student named MarĂa Esther Bueno, who posed as a supporter, gained access to a rally where Castro was speaking and concealed a small gun in her purse. As Castro delivered his address, Bueno approached him and drew her weapon, but her nervousness led her to drop the gun before she could fire. Castro quickly reacted and had Bueno arrested. The incident highlighted the constant threat that Castro faced from opponents seeking to eliminate him.