Jorge Mas Canosa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jorge Mas Canosa
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| Born | September 21, 1939 Santiago de Cuba, Cuba
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| Died | November 23, 1997 (aged 58) |
| Spouse(s) | Irma Santos |
| Children | 3, including Jorge Mas |
Jorge Lincoln Mas Canosa (born September 21, 1939 – died November 24, 1997) was a Cuban-American businessman. He started two important organizations: the Cuban American National Foundation and a large company called MasTec. In the United States, he was known for strongly supporting anti-Castro ideas. He worked to change how the U.S. dealt with Cuba.
Mas Canosa helped create Radio Marti and TV Marti. These stations broadcast news and information into Cuba. President Ronald Reagan chose him to lead the group that advised on these stations. In the early 1960s, he was part of a group trained by the CIA for the Bay of Pigs Invasion. He also served as a second lieutenant in the United States Army.
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Biography
Jorge Mas Canosa was born in Santiago de Cuba, Cuba, on September 21, 1939. His father sent him to the United States when he was young. He studied at a college in Maxton, North Carolina.
He went back to Cuba in 1959, just after Fidel Castro took power. Soon after, he was arrested for putting up anti-Castro posters. In 1960, he left Cuba and moved to Miami, Florida. There, he joined a group of Cuban exiles. This group was trained by the Central Intelligence Agency for the Bay of Pigs Invasion in April 1961. During the invasion, Mas Canosa's boat stayed offshore. After a short time in the United States Army, he left.
After leaving the army, Mas Canosa worked hard at different jobs. He washed dishes and delivered milk to support his family. He was very involved in groups that opposed Castro. In 1961, he married Irma Santos, his high school sweetheart. He also worked as a broadcaster for Radio Swan, a station that shared anti-Castro messages.
Through his connections, Mas Canosa met Ignacio Iglesias and Hector Torres. In 1968, he joined their telephone cable company, Iglesias & Torres.
In 1971, he bought the company for $50,000. He changed its name to Church & Tower. This company grew into a huge telecommunications business. It became the foundation of MasTec, a large international company. Jorge Mas Canosa became one of the wealthiest Hispanic businessmen in the United States.
In 1981, Mas Canosa and Raul Masvidal started the Cuban American National Foundation (CANF). This group was very important in shaping U.S. policy toward Cuba. For example, Congressman Robert Torricelli said Mas Canosa helped him create the 1994 Cuban Democracy Act and the Helms-Burton Act.
During the Iran–Contra affair, Jorge Mas Canosa's name appeared in notes of a government official named Oliver North. Mas Canosa said North was referring to a different person with the same name. He denied giving money to North. However, a friend of Mas Canosa, Félix Rodríguez (soldier), later said he received $50,000 from Mas Canosa to give to Oliver North.
Mas Canosa was involved in some public disagreements during his life. In 1990, a jury found that he had unfairly criticized his own brother, Ricardo.
In 1996, Jorge Mas Canosa had a public debate with Ricardo Alarcón. Alarcón was a leader in Cuba at the time. The debate was shown on TV. Mas Canosa said he would support Alarcón if Alarcón won a free and fair election in Cuba. Alarcón said he would not support Mas Canosa. In an interview, Mas Canosa said he never fully "assimilated" into American culture. He said, "I am a Cuban first. I live here only as an extension of Cuba."
Jorge Mas Canosa passed away in Miami on November 24, 1997. He died from lung cancer and other health issues. Thousands of people, including important politicians, attended his funeral.
Cuban American National Foundation
In 1981, Jorge Mas Canosa, along with Raul Masvidal and Carlos Salman, created the Cuban American National Foundation (CANF). This was suggested by Richard V. Allen, who was Ronald Reagan's National Security Advisor. The group was formed to focus anti-Castro efforts on political action rather than military action.
During Mas Canosa's time as leader, CANF was known as a very powerful group that influenced U.S. policy. It used donations to political campaigns to push its goals in Washington, D.C. Some officials believed that without Mas Canosa, the United States might have ended the Cuban embargo.
Business Success
Church & Tower
In 1969, Mas Canosa joined a construction company called Iglesias y Torres. This company built and maintained telephone networks. He renamed the company Church & Tower. Mas Canosa got a $50,000 loan and became a part owner. He managed the company's operations in Miami. He used his good reputation to get loans and improve how his workers built things.
The company grew from South Miami to Ft. Lauderdale. By 1980, it had $40 million in yearly earnings. Church & Tower became the start of a large telecommunications business. This made Mas Canosa one of the richest Hispanic businessmen in the U.S. When he died in 1997, his wealth was estimated to be over $100 million.
MasTec
Later, Mas Canosa's sons joined the business. In 1994, the company became MasTec, Inc. As of 2015, MasTec, Inc. is a huge construction company. It earns $4.2 billion in revenue and has about 15,900 employees. MasTec is a leader in several areas. These include building power plants, oil and gas pipelines, electrical lines, and wireless networks.
Media and Public Life
Radio and Television Martí
In the early 1980s, Mas Canosa asked President Ronald Reagan to create a radio station. This station would broadcast news into Cuba. After the station was created, it was named Radio Martí, after José Martí. President Reagan then made Mas Canosa the head of the advisory board for the Office of Cuba Broadcasting. This board advised the president on how the station should operate. Some employees later said Mas Canosa interfered with the station's content. They said he complained that the stations didn't cover his personal activities enough.
New Republic Lawsuit
Mas Canosa sued The New Republic magazine. This happened after a 1994 article called him a "mobster." The case was settled outside of court for $100,000. The magazine apologized for the title. However, the magazine still said that the article itself was accurate.
Miami Herald Disagreement
Mas Canosa often disagreed with The Miami Herald newspaper. He claimed the paper had Cuban spies on its staff. He accused the paper of spreading "hate, disinformation and reckless disregard" for the Cuban community in Miami. In 1992, the Herald wrote an editorial against a bill he supported. He then organized a boycott of the newspaper. He put up ads on city buses that said: "I don't believe The Miami Herald." The Herald's publisher, David Lawrence Jr., wrote a long article defending the paper. The newspaper received threats. After several months, they reached a truce.
Legacy
Jorge Mas Canosa Middle School
A middle school in Miami-Dade County, Florida, is named after him. The school opened in August 2007.
Freedom Tower
In 1997, Mas Canosa bought the Freedom Tower in Miami. He paid $4.2 million for it.
Union Patriotica de Cuba
In 2016, the leader of a Cuban opposition group, José Daniel Ferrer, honored Mas Canosa. He called him "the second José Martí of the Cuban exile community." José Martí was a famous Cuban national hero.
See also
In Spanish: Jorge Mas Canosa para niños
