jan 1, 1961 - JFK attempts to overthrow Castro - In 1961, President John F. Kennedy attempted to overthrow Castro by sending armed Cuban exiles to invade Cuba on its south coast called the Bay of Pigs. The plan failed, and some exiles fell as casualties. Castro's forces gathered the rest of the exiles and placed them in prison. Many viewed this attempt to overthrow Castro as an embarrassing attempt to overthrow communism. (Timeline)