“Cuba ought to be free and independent, and the government should be turned over to the Cuban people.” That in many ways summarizes decades of U.S. policy towards its island neighbor. However, the quote is not by John F. Kennedy or George W. Bush, but rather by President William McKinley — which demonstrates rather clearly that the intense feelings each has towards the other are rooted in a history that long pre-dates Fidel Castro and the Cuban Revolution. Attempts to improve relations and ultimately lift the U.S. trade embargo have stalled for various reasons over the years, until President Barack Obama's historic announcement on December 17, 2014, that the U.S. would normalize relations with Cuba. In many ways, the U.S. has been here before: back in 1977, the Carter administration decided to establish ties with Cuba, with the goal of ultimately lifting the embargo and establishing embassies. While there was initial progress, relations were again put on the back burner over Cuban troops in Africa and increasing involvement in Central America.
Terence Todman was Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of American Republics Affairs (or ARA, now WHA or Western Hemisphere Affairs) and was the first U.S. diplomat to travel to Havana for negotiations. He was interviewed by Michael Krenn beginning in 1995. John Bushnell was the Deputy Assistant Secretary in ARA and had to deal with the nitty gritty of re-opening a U.S. mission in Havana; he was interviewed by John Harter in 1997. Jon Glassman was Deputy Principal Officer at USINT right after it opened and was charged with enticing the Cubans to improve relations in exchange for lifting the embargo. He was interviewed in 1997 by Peter Moffat.
You can also read about how the Cuban government vilified the head of the U.S Interests Section and how Cuban agents killed actress Kathleen Turner‘s family pet when she was a child living in Havana.
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