How did the Cuban Trade Embargo Start?

The roots of the Cuban trade embargo started taking hold more than a year before John F. Kennedy signed it into law. It started on March 17, 1960, when President Eisenhower approved a coovert action against Cuba, which included a "powerful propoganda campaign" designed to overthrow Fidel Castro.

On October 19, 1960 the US imposed a partial economic embargo against Cuba, which included food and medicine.

On September 4th, 1961 Congress passed the Foreign Assistance Act. This act prohibits aid to Cuba and authorizes the President to create a complete trade embargo with Cuba.

On September 7th, 1962 President Kennedy expands the Cuban Embargo to include all Cuban trade, except for non_subsidized sale of food and medicines. What few people know is that the night before Kennedy signed this order he sent his Press Secratary, Pierre Salinger, on a midnight flight to Cuba to buy a stockpile of Cuban Cigars. You can watch Pierre Salinger substantiate this claim in the video below.

President Kennedy was originally going to make Cuban Cigars expempt from the trade embargo, but he ran into resistance from the Tampa Florida cigar producers.

On March 23rd, 1962 Kennedy expands the embargo to include all imports of products containing Cuban goods, even if they were made outside of Cuba.

On August 3rd, 1962 the Foreign Assistance Act is amended to prohibit aid to any country that provides assistance to Cuba.

On February 8th, 1963 the Kennedy Administration makes travel to Cuba, and all financial and commercial transactions with Cuba illegal.