Castro, Beth

This interview was recorded in Tubac, Arizona on June 5th, 2019 and covers the following themes:  

b. 1949 

• Father Raul Castro’s childhood experiences with discrimination. 

• The meeting of Beth’s parents. 

• Father’s love for Arizona, career drive, and desire to break glass ceilings. 

• Beth’s childhood growing up in a political, interracial family.   

• Family friendship with Ted DeGrazia. 

• Growing up in the shadow of a public figure.  Father’s consciousness of his public image. 

• Childhood social isolation because of father’s public career.  Threats against family. 

• Beth’s use of the Castro name to raise money for scholarships. 

• Father’s political ethos. 

• Beth’s childhood on her family’s pony farm.  The Rillito River and horseback riding in the Catalina Foothills. 

• Family move to El Salvador.  Life in US embassy and expectations for the daughter of a diplomat. 

• College in Dallas and visits to Bolivia.  Bomb going off at embassy. 

• Father’s Arizona gubernatorial run and career-focus. 

• The stresses of Beth’s father’s political career her mother. 

• Visits to Argentina. 

• Raul Castro’s life after his political career.