michelle gillen is here now with more on his remarks and the story behind them. >> reporter: the story behind the story. today's remarks come on the heels of my visit with alan gross at his -- and his wife in the capital. the company plans on visiting south florida next week while the president is headed to cuba. a critical mission he says the well today he addressed the national press club. experience in cuba was not about me. it was never about me. but i also recognize that at least to some extent i became an unintentional catalyst for a huge change in cuba us relations. now that i am able to enjoy my freedom, i have become an intentional catalyst and i support any progress evolving from newfound constructive engagement. after all, why have the state department or diplomacy if we don't engage? >> one of his many questions in an in depth interview on state department policy and his five- year journey of imprisonment i sat down with the former us contractor once interrogated in cuba for allegedly being a spy. he shared with me his message for the south florida cuban- american community