William Symington: “The week of December 9 to 15, 1996, I was privileged to join three other former Members and two then sitting Members of…”

“The week of December 9 to 15, 1996, I was privileged to join three other former Members and two then sitting Members of Congress on a bipartisan fact-finding trip to Cuba. The delegation of three Democrats and three Republicans consisted of our association president, Lou Frey of Florida, as its chairman, myself as co-chairman, Mike Barnes of Maryland, Dennis DeConcini of Arizona, Toby Roth of Wisconsin, and Jon Christensen of Nebraska. Our very full schedule of visits and appointments, arranged in part privately and in part via the Cuban Government, brought us together with ordinary people, students, academicians, church leaders, political dissidents, industrialists, Government officials, members of the diplomatic corps, and the U.S. intercession. For these contacts and opportunities, we were indebted to our very able association consultant, Walter Raymond, and to the good offices of a former Cuban hand, retired Ambassador Timothy Towell, who advanced and accompanied us on this trip.”