Che Guevara frightened the CIA, even after the impatient guerrilla-war tactician lost influence with Cuban leader Fidel Castro and was disowned by the Soviet Union for his refusal to play along with Latin American Communist parties. When he surfaced in the Bolivian jungle, leading a small force bent on fomenting revolution, U.S. special forces moved in and co-ordinated his capture. “I am worth more to you alive than dead,” he shouted with a powerful sense of self-awareness. The CIA’s operatives agreed, hoping to learn the secrets of capitalism’s most influential enemy. But Bolivian leaders demanded his execution, and he was summarily shot. Death could not be denied, but Che’s romantic aura was only enhanced – his penetrating gaze immortalized as the iconic look of youthful rebellion.
Ernesto "Che" GUEVARA is the third man in the Governmental hierarchy, as President of the Cuban National Bank. Andrew Saint-George / Magnum Photos
A series of images during an exclusive interview with Ernesto (Che) Guevara at his office in 1963 taken by photographer Rene Burri/Magnum Photos
A contact sheet of images from the exclusive interview in 1963 with Ernesto (Che) Guevara taken by Rene Burri /Magnum Photos
The last in a series of exclusive photos taken in 1963 of Che Guevara by photographer Rene Burri/Magnum Photos
Che Guevara profile pic taken in 1964 by Elliot Erwitt/Magnum Photos