On January 3

On this day in ...
... 1961 (50 years ago today), the United States broke off diplomatic relations with Cuba, and thus closed the U.S. embassy in Havana. Taking this action was President Dwight D. Eisenhower, who would leave office later in the month. The break reflected tensions that had been mounting since Fidel Castro, whom U.S. officials deemed "too anti-American to be trusted," had become Cuba's leader 2 years earlier. Diplomatic relations between the 2 countries have not since been restored.

(Prior January 3 posts are here, here, and here.)