Jimmy Carter remembers Fidel Castro 'fondly'
Former President Jimmy Carter had kind words for Cuban dictator Fidel Castro, who died Friday, saying in a statement he and his wife "remember fondly our visits with him in Cuba and his love of his country."
Castro, who was 90, was long a scourge of the U.S. who brought the Cold War to America's doorstep. But he and Carter, a Georgia native, had warmer relations.
Carter took a step to normalize relations between the two nations during his presidency, and the two shared several visits, including a 2011 journey where Castro called Carter a "friend."
President-elect Donald Trump had a decidedly different reaction on Saturday morning.
Here's the full statement from Jimmy Carter, issued Saturday by the Atlanta-based Carter Center:
Rosalynn and I share our sympathies with the Castro family and the Cuban people on the death of Fidel Castro. We remember fondly our visits with him in Cuba and his love of his country. We wish the Cuban citizens peace and prosperity in the years ahead.
Fidel Castro
About the Author
Greg Bluestein is the Atlanta Journal Constitution's chief political reporter. He is also an author, TV analyst and co-host of the Politically Georgia podcast.
