Armando Hart — known for his shock of white hair and dark-rimmed glasses — focused on promoting the life and works of Cuban independence hero José Martí. Mr. Hart was reelected as a member of the party’s Central Committee in April 2011, although he gave up a seat on the more powerful Politburo. After Fulgencio Batista took power in a 1952 coup, Mr. Hart joined Cuba’s Federation of University Students in protests against the new government. Castro soon named Mr. Hart education minister. Mr. Hart received the Order of Felix Varela, First Grade, the highest award Cuba’s communist government grants to Cuban and foreign intellectuals.

Source: Washington Post November 27, 2017 17:18 UTC