 He wholeheartedly supported the US economic assistance program under way there, which he later described as a "pioneer" and "solitary example" of what was required of the US in Latin America.In January 1959, Eisenhower named Bonsal United States Ambassador to Cuba just days after Fidel Castro came to power.The "New York Times" called his appointment "a splendid choice" and described him as "a distinguished career diplomat" with "every qualification that could be asked for the difficult and gratifying task he is taking on."