56 Facts About Polita Grau

Polita Grau was the daughter of Paulina Alsina and Francisco Grau San Martin, who died on November 30,1930.

Polita Grau's siblings were Paulina Grau-Alsina, Francisco Grau-Alsina, and Ramon Grau-Alsina.

Polita Grau's uncle gave Polita the ceremonial title of the "First Lady" during his presidential term.

Polita Grau was replaced by Carlos Prio Socarras in 1948.

Polita Grau sent her husband because he was a high risk for the underground activities that Polita was engaged in.

Polita Grau admits that she would do everything all over again a bit more secretly.

Polita Grau arrived in Miami from Havana for the first time during her senior year in high school.

Polita Grau completed her high school education at St Patrick's Academy located in Miami Beach.

The reason Polita Grau turned against her support of Cuba's 1959 revolution was after Castro began to nationalize industries.

Polita Grau was married twice, first to Roberto Lago-Pereda and then in 1939 to Jose Aguero-Cairo.

Polita Grau had a total of two children, Ramon Francisco and Hilda Maria Aguero-Grau, and six grandchildren.

Years later, in 1939, Polita Grau married her second husband Jose Aguero, with whom she had two children, a son named Ramon Fransisco known as Monchy, and her daughter Hilda, known as Chury.

Polita Grau was commonly known as Polita, but this particular name never appeared on any official identification document.

Polita Grau's family had gone again into exile in 1933, but this second time around was to Mexico and later on in Miami.

In 1934, Polita Grau had returned to Cuba after she had gone to exile and married Roberto Lago who was a leader of a student movement.

Polita Grau was exiled for the third time in 1935 to Miami due to her political involvement along with her husband Roberto Lago.

In 1952, Batista organized his 'coup d'etat' and established his dictatorship; Polita Grau joined the resistance to him.

Polita Grau left Cuba to join Antonio Varona, who played a significant role in the anti-Batista movement.

Polita Grau had stayed in Miami for five months after the dictator's overthrow as she was doubtful of the movies of Batista's successor.

Polita Grau was frightened by Castro's belief in Communism, therefore became a part of an underground movement that planned to overthrow the Cuban government.

Since Polita Grau was a women's coordinator, she was able to create a spy ring that was able to see Cuba in its entirety.

Polita Grau was exiled for her last time due to her political involvement until 1959, which was when Castro rose to power.

Polita Grau's exiles did not stop her from doing what she believed was morally correct.

In 1952, Fulgencio Batista led another 'coup de etat,' Polita Grau took this opportunity and became actively involved in the opposition led by Prio Socarras.

Later in her life, Polita Grau had gone to the White House more than once to be interviewed with former President George W Bush.

Polita Grau had gone to ask for help, specifically for her brother Ramon Polita Grau, to be able to migrate to the United States from Cuba.

Polita Grau was engaged in attempts that were unsuccessful against the life of Fidel Castro which included Operation Peter Pan.

In 1961 it was the year where Polita Grau first caught the attention of the Operation when a group of women possibly sent by Penny Powers had gone towards her brother's involvement in Operation Pedro Pan.

Mongo had agreed to helping out as well as Polita Grau who was actively handing out exit papers and airline tickets.

Polita Grau was able to be successful in completing what many families wanted.

Polita Grau had her entire women's group join the efforts of the Operation which increased the number of people involved.

The Polita Grau organization began to expand and was eventually all across Cuba and even outside of Havana.

Every one of these women engaged in Polita Grau's organization had the same intention which was to save the children in Cuba from Communism.

Polita Grau had later stated that all of these activities were being executed under the help of the CIA.

Polita Grau remembered that people would come to their home in Miramar, Florida which was coincidentally right next to the office of the security police.

Polita Grau had sent her daughter and son to Miami to stay along with her friends as she stayed in Cuba to take care of her elderly relatives.

Polita Grau gave shelter to multiple anti-government activists and had assisted them to obtain political asylum in Havana.

Polita Grau had gotten several other requests from people she knew such as priests and nuns who wanted to help children in their schools and congregations.

Polita Grau being well recognized, she struggled at times in finding spaces aboard airplanes for children.

Polita Grau was the President of the Cuban Chapter of the Red Cross, while being the coordinator of the women's counter-revolutionary action organization called 'Rescate'.

Polita Grau was accused of participating in a plan to poison Castro by giving him a milkshake their plan was unsuccessful.

Polita Grau further explained that a false revolutionary government law relating to this topic was being printed out.

In one of Polita's interviews, Polita Grau had mentioned that she did not believe it was entirely right but that she felt she had to do something to undermine the government.

Polita Grau believed that by doing so, the people would start their faith and hopes in the revolution.

Polita Grau was released after almost serving 14 years in prison, and her brother Ramon known as "Mongo" Polita Grau was released after serving 21 years.

Polita Grau was freed due to the encouragement of President Jimmy Carter who had convinced Castro to release a significant number of political prisoners in Cuba.

Polita Grau had described Operation Peter Pan as 'child abuse' and that the Federal government of the United States's participation was inhumane.

Polita Grau referred to the USacting inhumanely in the 1980s where the State Department denied a request from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to assist in reuniting Cuban children with their parents.

The only way that Polita Grau can be calm is to see the political prisoners free from prison in Cuba.

Polita Grau was excited to see her husband, Jose Aguero, and her children that she hasn't seen for 18 years.

Polita Grau had six grandchildren who she has never met before in her life.

Polita Grau's son had arrived in Miami days after his mother's arrival to attempt to obtain liberty for his mother in Cuba.

At the age of 84, Polita Grau died at the Villa Maria Nursing Center located on the grounds of Mercy Hospital in Coconut Grove, of congestive heart disease.

Polita Grau was published in multiple newspapers and was highly spoken of for her accomplished work.

Polita Grau was viewed as a symbol of 'decorum,' of the highest moral rank of Cuban women.

Polita Grau is remembered for her 'beauty, her sweetness, her generosity of care, her integrity.