Fidel and Herbert L. Matthews

In 1957, Herbert L. Matthews of the New York Times - then considered one of the premiere foreign correspondents of his time - tracked down Fidel Castro in Cuba's Sierra Maestra mountains and returned with what was considered the scoop of the century. His heroic portrayal of Castro, who was then believed dead, had a powerful effect on American perceptions of Cuba, and profoundly influenced the fall of the Batista regime.

When Castro emerged as a Soviet-backed dictator, Matthews became a scapegoat;' his paper turned on him, his career foundered, and he was accused of betraying his country. WUSF's All Things Considered Host Susan Giles Wantuck interviews New York Times reporter Anthony DePalma about his new book on Matthews and Castro.