Fidel Castro was a Cuban revolutionary leader who became the Prime Minister of Cuba in 1959 and later its President. He is known for establishing a one-party socialist state in Cuba, which was heavily influenced by Marxist ideology. Castro's government implemented significant reforms in education and healthcare, but his rule was also marked by political repression and limited freedoms. Castro's relationship with the United States was tense, especially after the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962, which brought the two nations to the brink of nuclear war. He remained a controversial figure, admired by some for his defiance against imperialism and criticized by others for his authoritarian practices. Castro ruled until he retired in 2008, passing leadership to his brother, Raúl Castro.