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Our America and Theirs: Kennedy and the Alliance for Progress - The Debate on Free Trade
To check the spread of revolution in Latin America in 1961, Kennedy proposed the Alliance for Progress—a program for free trade and development in the Americas. Che Guevara , described by Time magazine as “Cuba’s scraggle-bearded economic czar,” condemned the plan as a new strategy to subjugate the continent to U.S. interests. The introduction describes the backstage drama that unfolded when Kennedy’s special envoy Richard Goodwin had a cordial encounter with Che at a late-night party. The book includes never before published material, such as Che’s televised speech in which he outlines the issues posed by the Alliance for Progress. Available in Spanish as Punta del Este (ISBN 1-876175-65-6)
160 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 2003
2 people are currently reading
110 people want to read
About the author
Ernesto Che Guevara
406 books2,086 followersErnesto "Che" Guevara, commonly known as El Che or simply Che, was a Marxist revolutionary, physician, author, intellectual, guerrilla leader, diplomat, and military theorist. A major figure of the Cuban Revolution, since his death Guevara's stylized visage has become an ubiquitous countercultural symbol and global icon within popular culture.
His belief in the necessity of world revolution to advance the interests of the poor prompted his involvement in Guatemala's social reforms under President Jacobo Arbenz, whose eventual CIA-assisted overthrow solidified Guevara's radical ideology. Later, while living in Mexico City, he met Raúl and Fidel Castro, joined their movement, and travelled to Cuba with the intention of overthrowing the U.S.-backed Batista regime. Guevara soon rose to prominence among the insurgents, was promoted to second-in-command, and played a pivotal role in the successful two year guerrilla campaign that topled the Cuban government.
After serving in a number of key roles in the new government, Guevara left Cuba in 1965 to foment revolution abroad, first unsuccessfully in Congo-Kinshasa and later in Bolivia, where he was captured by CIA-assisted Bolivian forces and executed.
Guevara remains both a revered and reviled historical figure, polarized in the collective imagination in a multitude of biographies, memoirs, essays, documentaries, songs, and films. Time magazine named him one of the 100 most influential people of the 20th century, while an Alberto Korda photograph of him entitled "Guerrillero Heroico," was declared "the most famous photograph in the world" by the Maryland Institute of Art.
His belief in the necessity of world revolution to advance the interests of the poor prompted his involvement in Guatemala's social reforms under President Jacobo Arbenz, whose eventual CIA-assisted overthrow solidified Guevara's radical ideology. Later, while living in Mexico City, he met Raúl and Fidel Castro, joined their movement, and travelled to Cuba with the intention of overthrowing the U.S.-backed Batista regime. Guevara soon rose to prominence among the insurgents, was promoted to second-in-command, and played a pivotal role in the successful two year guerrilla campaign that topled the Cuban government.
After serving in a number of key roles in the new government, Guevara left Cuba in 1965 to foment revolution abroad, first unsuccessfully in Congo-Kinshasa and later in Bolivia, where he was captured by CIA-assisted Bolivian forces and executed.
Guevara remains both a revered and reviled historical figure, polarized in the collective imagination in a multitude of biographies, memoirs, essays, documentaries, songs, and films. Time magazine named him one of the 100 most influential people of the 20th century, while an Alberto Korda photograph of him entitled "Guerrillero Heroico," was declared "the most famous photograph in the world" by the Maryland Institute of Art.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
May 1, 2022
In this book we learn about the Cuban Revolution and the American conspiracy. It was written by Ernesto Che Guevara, the undisputed leader of the Cuban Revolution. This is based on a series of speeches by Che Guevara about the Alliance for Progress, organized by President Kennedy in 1961.
June 9, 2025
Essential Che read. These are perhaps the best speeches he ever delivered (and there are MANY speeches he gave). On that note, where are the great orators of today? It is a lost art it would seem, an art that has died with humans who allow themselves to be subdued by the forces of gross normalization of the wickedness of the world. I find it impossible to read this without feeling myself, ascended in my convictions, in my sense of justice, optimism, and dedication to those principles and more.
I have never witnessed a statesmen verbally annihilate another nation so brutally and concisely before like this. Guevara absolutely dogwalks the crap out of the Kennedy admin and the Alliance for Progress in front of all participating delegations across Latin America. When you talk about someone firing on all cylinders, oh man, just the transcriptions of these speeches is packed with enough fervor where you feel you can hear him, that you feel that you're in the room right in front of him. It's absolutely insane how palpable his energy is here. The wit, the humor, the unyielding firmness of his values, his stamina. Dude is absolutely locked in, while the U.S. is stuck in amateur hour.
For context, in August of 1961, delegates from all Latin American nations and the United States met at a conference in Punta del Este, Uruguay, to ratify the Kennedy administrations "Alliance for Progress". This was an initiative born out of the OAS (Organization of American States) that proclaimed to be part of a foreign aid program to help bolster Latin American economies, quality of life, education, healthcare, etc. What it really was, and Guevara puts this plainly, simply another imperialist tactic of deceit to gain more of a financial chokehold within Latin America. More importantly, the Alliance for Progress's purpose was to take cultural and political power away from Cuba, to distract from and play down Cuba's achievements under the revolutionary government. If you know the politics of the OAS, this should come as no surprise. The Kennedy administration was scared straight. The appeal of the Cuban revolution was too powerful to ignore. Their massive strides in industry, healthcare, education, the arts, were undeniable. The Kennedy administration had to do something about it.
The United States attempted to appropriate these victories, the achievements celebrated by Cuba, and pretended that these programs were now their idea; even going as far as to claim that theirs was the true Bolivarian vision of the Americas. Everything put forth in this initiative echoed, however, in a false manner, the exact policies Cuba had put forth; literacy campaigns, land reform, investment in essential production that would make them a self sustainable country and diversify their trade, low interest loans arranged viz a viz, the Soviet Union's loans to Cuba, and more.
A farce, a confidence trick, Guevara would show of the Alliance for Progress. Guevara lays bare that the Emperor Has No Clothes. Some key points Guevara makes from the text of the initiative that is the Kennedy Alliance for Progress:
-Consistently ambiguous language in the legislation, using phrases like "might", "when possible", "depending on", constantly. Language that would allow the United States to pick and choose when and who they want to commit to at any time.
-The fact that Congress must continually approve these appropriation of funds, showing that Secretary Dillon and Kennedy can make no such promises absolute, however vague they are.
-Investment totals that pale in comparison to Soviet investments abroad, such as highlighting the totality of first year investment and the only guaranteed investment in the initiative, of half a billion, which the same amount the USSR alone gave to Cuba alone, versus the promise given by the US to the entirety of Latin America.
-Language that excludes any nation that isn't capitalist enough by US standards. Claiming in vague language, basically that any nation with a system that doesn't exactly align with United States values, would now be exempt from the Alliance. Fortunately this was amended by pressure from predominantly Cuba, but also pressure from Mexico, Brazil.
-Land reform dedications were also made in a vague sense. No elaboration on the strategy and goal of agricultural reform was given, simply that land reform must be done in a more cooperative, ideal manner and the legislation left the subject at that.
-Investments in infrastructure and industry were chosen poorly. The bill stressed that Latin Americas main investment problem, was the lack of sanitation, roads, housing etc. While those are certainly important, Guevara highlights the need for investment to go into production. Production, so that these nations can become self sustainable. What good are investments in roads and housing, if a nation cannot build their own? Where in the initiative does it mention a plan and funds allocated for these nations to be able to build their own tractors, their own concrete factories, their own chemical plants, refineries, so that they may take care of these problems on their own? Clearly these investments were done in a way to make these countries further dependent and put them further in debt with the United States. (This should come as no surprise to anyone with even a surface level understanding of international finance, cold war history, and 20th century imperialism, especially in the neoliberal era.)
-The initiative also mentioned a consolidation of Latin American media control that the US would now be allowed to have governance over. Why would Latin America agree to a foreign imperialist power that could essentially now force censorship and silence the voices that those nations deem important?
-Guevara even makes it into a "friendly" competition, mocking the United States delegation that the time frame of the goals they promise for Latin America that could take up to 10 years, as stated by the initiative. These goals had already been accomplished in the 2 years by the time of this meeting for Cuba. Questioning the United State's ability, as the leader of the free world, and superpower, how and why they could not guarantee matching the standard of living that Cuba had already achieved at this time.
Additionally, Guevara would warn the United States what would become of these nations if the initiative wasn't amended properly. It's wild that pretty much everything he warned the US of came true. Imagine giving your enemy this courtesy, especially because if the US actually listened, they would become much more popular within Latin America, therefore coming closer to accomplishing the goals of the initiative. I can't imagine the courage and the discipline it took to be part of this, because not too long before, the United States had engaged in multiple terrorist attacks on Cuban soil, bombing a refinery, bombing a mill (50 dead), bombing a ship, the La Coubre (100 dead, many more injured) and lying that it wasn't them, only to later be confronted with the evidence and issue a craven apology about the former 2 bombings. The US made it abundantly clear it wanted Che and his people dead. He even brings this up these acts of violence, and a secret document that had been leaked, about the United State's real goal regarding the Alliance for Progress. Che addresses these issues and still is like, "it's all good, we just ask this of you guys and you don't do this to us anymore and we'll be chillin".
I do find it odd he tells a journalist towards the end that he is happy about the results, considering Cuba only got so much of the initiative changed that they wanted, and still abstained from voting on most of it. On top of all this he quite clearly knew the Alliance for Progress would ultimately fail and cause more issues. Personally I think he said this because he obviously viewed this as a competition of achievements in a way, and loved that each nation had to report its progress, knowing confidently that Cuba would shine above the rest. It was really like a "Unbothered. Moisturized. Happy. In my lane. Focused. Flourishing." moment, where he was like "alright we're gonna keep doing us regardless and you'll see".
Also like... that Professor getting shot outside the conference was 100% an assassination, no?
The apex of the human spirit. Like, Haydee Santamaria said of Che, he is a new human being, and like him, the rest of the Cuban revolutionaries are too. Their dedication to protecting and uplifting their fellow humans, to progress, equality, justice, optimism, to education, to healthcare, to the arts, to international unity, and to the brightest parts of life and love itself, shows this is undeniably true. And to anyone who reads this and thinks I am simply glazing a man because he happens to be part of huge historical mythos for leftists, I challenge you to read, as I am currently in the process of, Che's published works in completion; as well as reading at least a few additional books on the Cuban revolution.
The stuff that these people were made of, was nothing short of legendary. These were fearless, committed people who exhibited the highest virtues of humanity. Do not let the propaganda fool you. The west would have you condemning all our heroes and worshiping all our villains. Our media apparatus and educational system at worst, frequently vilify those who act with the highest level of love and conviction, and at best, like with MLK Jr., utterly neuter, decontextualize, and mystify his message, disconnecting it from all context and any sense of a holistic understanding of the man's ideals.
The Kennedy Alliance for Progress was simply a chauvinistic attempt at diplomacy, one that infantilizes Latin America, and treats them with severe condescension. The United States and other Western powers did this before, and continue to do so; to treat the people's of the global south as if they are stupid, inferior, with dishonesty and contempt.
The events of the decade following would show that Guevara's predictions were correct. Like Castro, History Has Absolved Him.
I have never witnessed a statesmen verbally annihilate another nation so brutally and concisely before like this. Guevara absolutely dogwalks the crap out of the Kennedy admin and the Alliance for Progress in front of all participating delegations across Latin America. When you talk about someone firing on all cylinders, oh man, just the transcriptions of these speeches is packed with enough fervor where you feel you can hear him, that you feel that you're in the room right in front of him. It's absolutely insane how palpable his energy is here. The wit, the humor, the unyielding firmness of his values, his stamina. Dude is absolutely locked in, while the U.S. is stuck in amateur hour.
For context, in August of 1961, delegates from all Latin American nations and the United States met at a conference in Punta del Este, Uruguay, to ratify the Kennedy administrations "Alliance for Progress". This was an initiative born out of the OAS (Organization of American States) that proclaimed to be part of a foreign aid program to help bolster Latin American economies, quality of life, education, healthcare, etc. What it really was, and Guevara puts this plainly, simply another imperialist tactic of deceit to gain more of a financial chokehold within Latin America. More importantly, the Alliance for Progress's purpose was to take cultural and political power away from Cuba, to distract from and play down Cuba's achievements under the revolutionary government. If you know the politics of the OAS, this should come as no surprise. The Kennedy administration was scared straight. The appeal of the Cuban revolution was too powerful to ignore. Their massive strides in industry, healthcare, education, the arts, were undeniable. The Kennedy administration had to do something about it.
The United States attempted to appropriate these victories, the achievements celebrated by Cuba, and pretended that these programs were now their idea; even going as far as to claim that theirs was the true Bolivarian vision of the Americas. Everything put forth in this initiative echoed, however, in a false manner, the exact policies Cuba had put forth; literacy campaigns, land reform, investment in essential production that would make them a self sustainable country and diversify their trade, low interest loans arranged viz a viz, the Soviet Union's loans to Cuba, and more.
A farce, a confidence trick, Guevara would show of the Alliance for Progress. Guevara lays bare that the Emperor Has No Clothes. Some key points Guevara makes from the text of the initiative that is the Kennedy Alliance for Progress:
-Consistently ambiguous language in the legislation, using phrases like "might", "when possible", "depending on", constantly. Language that would allow the United States to pick and choose when and who they want to commit to at any time.
-The fact that Congress must continually approve these appropriation of funds, showing that Secretary Dillon and Kennedy can make no such promises absolute, however vague they are.
-Investment totals that pale in comparison to Soviet investments abroad, such as highlighting the totality of first year investment and the only guaranteed investment in the initiative, of half a billion, which the same amount the USSR alone gave to Cuba alone, versus the promise given by the US to the entirety of Latin America.
-Language that excludes any nation that isn't capitalist enough by US standards. Claiming in vague language, basically that any nation with a system that doesn't exactly align with United States values, would now be exempt from the Alliance. Fortunately this was amended by pressure from predominantly Cuba, but also pressure from Mexico, Brazil.
-Land reform dedications were also made in a vague sense. No elaboration on the strategy and goal of agricultural reform was given, simply that land reform must be done in a more cooperative, ideal manner and the legislation left the subject at that.
-Investments in infrastructure and industry were chosen poorly. The bill stressed that Latin Americas main investment problem, was the lack of sanitation, roads, housing etc. While those are certainly important, Guevara highlights the need for investment to go into production. Production, so that these nations can become self sustainable. What good are investments in roads and housing, if a nation cannot build their own? Where in the initiative does it mention a plan and funds allocated for these nations to be able to build their own tractors, their own concrete factories, their own chemical plants, refineries, so that they may take care of these problems on their own? Clearly these investments were done in a way to make these countries further dependent and put them further in debt with the United States. (This should come as no surprise to anyone with even a surface level understanding of international finance, cold war history, and 20th century imperialism, especially in the neoliberal era.)
-The initiative also mentioned a consolidation of Latin American media control that the US would now be allowed to have governance over. Why would Latin America agree to a foreign imperialist power that could essentially now force censorship and silence the voices that those nations deem important?
-Guevara even makes it into a "friendly" competition, mocking the United States delegation that the time frame of the goals they promise for Latin America that could take up to 10 years, as stated by the initiative. These goals had already been accomplished in the 2 years by the time of this meeting for Cuba. Questioning the United State's ability, as the leader of the free world, and superpower, how and why they could not guarantee matching the standard of living that Cuba had already achieved at this time.
Additionally, Guevara would warn the United States what would become of these nations if the initiative wasn't amended properly. It's wild that pretty much everything he warned the US of came true. Imagine giving your enemy this courtesy, especially because if the US actually listened, they would become much more popular within Latin America, therefore coming closer to accomplishing the goals of the initiative. I can't imagine the courage and the discipline it took to be part of this, because not too long before, the United States had engaged in multiple terrorist attacks on Cuban soil, bombing a refinery, bombing a mill (50 dead), bombing a ship, the La Coubre (100 dead, many more injured) and lying that it wasn't them, only to later be confronted with the evidence and issue a craven apology about the former 2 bombings. The US made it abundantly clear it wanted Che and his people dead. He even brings this up these acts of violence, and a secret document that had been leaked, about the United State's real goal regarding the Alliance for Progress. Che addresses these issues and still is like, "it's all good, we just ask this of you guys and you don't do this to us anymore and we'll be chillin".
I do find it odd he tells a journalist towards the end that he is happy about the results, considering Cuba only got so much of the initiative changed that they wanted, and still abstained from voting on most of it. On top of all this he quite clearly knew the Alliance for Progress would ultimately fail and cause more issues. Personally I think he said this because he obviously viewed this as a competition of achievements in a way, and loved that each nation had to report its progress, knowing confidently that Cuba would shine above the rest. It was really like a "Unbothered. Moisturized. Happy. In my lane. Focused. Flourishing." moment, where he was like "alright we're gonna keep doing us regardless and you'll see".
Also like... that Professor getting shot outside the conference was 100% an assassination, no?
The apex of the human spirit. Like, Haydee Santamaria said of Che, he is a new human being, and like him, the rest of the Cuban revolutionaries are too. Their dedication to protecting and uplifting their fellow humans, to progress, equality, justice, optimism, to education, to healthcare, to the arts, to international unity, and to the brightest parts of life and love itself, shows this is undeniably true. And to anyone who reads this and thinks I am simply glazing a man because he happens to be part of huge historical mythos for leftists, I challenge you to read, as I am currently in the process of, Che's published works in completion; as well as reading at least a few additional books on the Cuban revolution.
The stuff that these people were made of, was nothing short of legendary. These were fearless, committed people who exhibited the highest virtues of humanity. Do not let the propaganda fool you. The west would have you condemning all our heroes and worshiping all our villains. Our media apparatus and educational system at worst, frequently vilify those who act with the highest level of love and conviction, and at best, like with MLK Jr., utterly neuter, decontextualize, and mystify his message, disconnecting it from all context and any sense of a holistic understanding of the man's ideals.
The Kennedy Alliance for Progress was simply a chauvinistic attempt at diplomacy, one that infantilizes Latin America, and treats them with severe condescension. The United States and other Western powers did this before, and continue to do so; to treat the people's of the global south as if they are stupid, inferior, with dishonesty and contempt.
The events of the decade following would show that Guevara's predictions were correct. Like Castro, History Has Absolved Him.
September 22, 2008
This book makes me want to live in Cuba. I would take free education and free health care over free speech any day. What would there be to complain about anyway? (Kidding. Kind of.)
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