U.S. Restores Diplomatic Ties with Cuba After 54 Years.
WHITFIELD: All right. The U.S. flag raised above the American embassy in Havana for the first time in 54 years. The U.S. and Cuba marking their resumption of diplomatic relations. But what happens now between the two countries? Joining me from Houston, CNN presidential historian Douglas Brinkley, and in New York, Stephen Schlesinger, a fellow at the Century Foundation, whose father Arthur Schlesinger worked in and wrote extensively about the Kennedy White House. Good to see both of you.</s>DOUGLAS BRINKLEY, CNN PRESIDENTIAL HISTORIAN: Thank you.</s>STEPHEN SCHLESINGER, ADJUNCT FELLOW, CENTURY FOUNDATION: Nice to see you.</s>WHITFIELD: All right. So, Stephen, to you first. You know, what was that moment like for you, and did your dad ever talk about possibly seeing that kind of day, or that day happening, like what we saw yesterday?</s>SCHLESINGER: I think he always wanted this day to happen. I don't think he would have realized it was going to take another 50 years. You know, it's quite remarkable. Ten presidents I believe have been in office since the embargo was instituted against Cuba. Finally, we have a president who made a breakthrough and it's a very impressive turnaround, and I think it will pay very much dividends, both with our relationship with Cuba as well as with the entire Latin American community.</s>WHITFIELD: And so, Douglas, you know, this ceremony was full of symbolism, you know, from the U.S. Marines involved 54 years ago, taking the flag down, to now being the ones to help raise the flag. Apparently the cane that Secretary of State, you know, Kerry was walking on also had its significance there. How important was this moment to set a tone, so to speak, of how these two countries will be working together this day forward?</s>BRINKLEY: Well, it's a very important tone-setting moment for John Kerry. It's one of the high watermarks of his tenure as secretary of state. Barack Obama will most likely get very high marks in history for kind of healing U.S.-Cuban relations. But we've got to be cautious here. Embassies can open and they can close. We had an embassy in Venezuela, in Caracas, running and then we shut it down. We'll have to see. We're not -- the friendship with the United States and Cuba is not ironclad at this juncture. There's still human rights issues. And if we ever find out that Cuba is in some ways sponsoring terrorism against the United States, things could dissolve. But for the moment, as Stephen Schlesinger said, this is a very healing moment after this many decades of the United States and Cuba at each other's throats. It looks like now a friendship is blooming.</s>WHITFIELD: And blooming in what way do you see, Stephen? Because yes, unfinished business. We're still talking about, you know, an embargo that has yet to be lifted. It takes an act of Congress in order for that to happen. But what do you see next in the short term as opposed to the long term?</s>SCHLESINGER: Well, I think there are going to be a series of small steps. I think Doug is quite right that -- you know, Cuba is not going to change overnight. In fact, it may not change for years. So the small steps are important. I think right now Secretary Kerry has been talking about some of them. For example, dealing with narcotics interdiction, or the environment, or issues of financial transactions or agriculture or telecommunications. All those issues are pretty straightforward and can be dealt with in a bilateral basis. But when you get into the issues of human rights, the settlement of expropriated property of Cubans and Americans, and issues of democracy, it's -- you're talking about a much longer-term situation.</s>WHITFIELD: And then, Douglas, you know, just listening to the ceremony and listening to the -- whether it be the poet or even Secretary Kerry, some beautiful, you know, words that were being used. And when using language like, you know, as two peoples who are no longer enemies or rivals, but neighbors playing the Cuban national anthem first, and then later playing, you know, the U.S. national anthem. In what way do you see those as, you know, significant moves in order to really kind of thaw the ice?</s>BRINKLEY: Well, I think the Cuban people and the American people have a shared rich history. And so one of the ways that the ice thawing is going to happen are cultural exchanges. Students going down to Cuba now. People going to do tourism. I went down to Cuba just to see the sight of the Bay of Pigs invasion. And went to see where Theodore Roosevelt's, you know, history down there. It's an amazing place, Havana. So I think the influx of American tourists going to Cuba is going to be quite remarkable. And when people start talking and dialoguing, sharing music, food, it's a chance for these two countries to get much closer. And also Fidel Castro is on his last legs, so to speak. And Raul Castro has shown more of an -- shown signs that he liked to get along with the United States. So for some people that remember the Cuban missile crisis, this is really a moment to celebrate when tensions are at an all-time low right now.</s>WHITFIELD: Yes, neither of the Castros were there, but, you know, their aura, indeed.</s>WHITFIELD: You know, is certainly in the vicinity.</s>BRINKLEY: Yes.</s>WHITFIELD: Stephen Schlesinger and Douglas Brinkley, thanks to both of you. Appreciate it.</s>BRINKLEY: Thanks.</s>SCHLESINGER: Thank you.</s>WHITFIELD: All right. We'll be right back.