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President Eisenhower approves plan including a "powerful propaganda campaign"; no more sugar, oil, arms, and the organization of a force of ex-Cubans to invade the island. Plan introduced to overthrow Castro.
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The Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 passes in Congress, effectively banning all trade with Cuba, a complete embargo.
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President Kennedy expands embargo on Cuban trade to anything that has any materials from Cuba - even if they were made in a different country.
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The Foreign Assistance Act is amended to state that the US is not offering any aid to countries that aid Cuba.
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Kennedy administration states that travel to Cuba and makes any trade with Cuba (commercial or financial) completely illegal for US citizens.
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Roughly a month after John Kennedy's assassination, Robert Kennedy aims to end the embargo on Cuba in a memo to Dean Rusk, calling the Embargo "inconsistent with traditional American liberties." The memo is later discussed without RFK and George Ball dismisses the idea of lifting the embargo.
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US announces that they will allow "foreign subsidiaries" of US companies to sell products in Cuba and that foreign countries that trade with Cuba will no longer be penalized for it.
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President Carter changes laws to allow travel to Cuba and for US citizens to spend money in Cuba.
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Cuban-Americans are permitted to visit their families in Cuba.
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The Reagan administration once again denies the right for US citizens to travel to Cuba and once again bans the spending of money there.
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Congress passes Cuban Democracy Act, prohibiting US based companies' subsidiaries trading with Cuba and travel to Cuba (including family visits).
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Cuban courts order the US to pay more than 127 billion dollars in response to the 40-year long embargo.
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The Cuba Policy Foundation release a poll in which the majority of Americans think that the embargo should be lifted, and Americans should be able to travel there.
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For the 15th straight year, the UN General Assembly votes for ending the embargo with Cuba, 182 in favor, 4 against, and 1 abstention.
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Michael B Enzi explains to the Senate that the embargo is not hurting the intended audience (the government), only the people of Cuba. He states that it is time for a different policy.