Played through a full 50 year sandbox on the Los Guerreros (maybe not the real name) map today. It was relatively easy, as the map had indicated, though I had trouble getting all the buildings to fit in that little valley and on the beach. I finally gave in and stuck an oil refinery right in the middle of my tourist beach, which was the best choice because oil is apparently incredibly valuable (who would have though).
Ended the game with $30,000 or so in Swiss Bank from Slush Funding, around 450 citizens, none in shacks, respect of 80 or more with all factions (including both nations) and a budget surplus of $100 000 (it got easier to save money when there was no room on the island for land). I ran into trouble in the 80s when my mine ran dry and I kept going into debt between tanker shipments (Like, $20,000 debt, alleviated only by my cigar industry). The oil saved me.
I started with the Moscow U. background, with Entrepreneurial and Diplomatic benefits, Elected for Family Values. My weaknesses were Coward and Cheapskate.
The US hated me so much that I had to rush for an alliance with the USSR after only 4 or 5 years. Then, 2 years later, they demanded that I let them perform nuclear testing on my island, which I outright refused. So their base sat next to my cigar factory in a corner of the valley for the whole game. Later, the US ended up loving me anyways, because my Liberty level was so high and the Capitalists liked me. It seems more beneficial to be allied with the US, since they pay you more foreign aid.
I only had one rebel attack, consisting of 3 men against my 14. Of course, they chose to attack a farm that was positioned right behind my army base. Everybody loved me, though. Even these 3 flipped only because the US took over my TV station at one point (they also tried to assassinate me). I won about ten elections by a landslide, fair and square.
I would have liked if the USSR collapsed in 1991 or something, though. Or if I could get the Pope to visit more than once. Does the Pope actually have a unit? I looked for him, but couldn't find him.