a fierce champion of cuban nationalism. he remained a controversial future, at once fear and criticized. for hundreds of thousands of americans of cuban descent he , was a symbol of tyranny and oppression. although normalize relations in in 2015, his death leaves an uncertain future for cuba and its relationship with america. we begin with an update from charlie, who is on the ground in cuba. to deceive. you don't look like you are on the ground, you look like you are way up in the air. charlie: resistance of sadness, has passed a huge footprint in cuba but also someone who is the leader of a small caribbean nation. he had a global profile. everybody understands that. he was in a sense the poster person for the revolutionary that influenced so many people in latin america. who wanted to change their own country whether in his image or somebody else's image. that image that he carefully created survived until the day that he died. even though he was 90. they are set about that. -- they are sad about that. there are many peop

both for the cuban people and for cuban americans in this united states. i don't think it changes anything in terms of -- i don't think the u.s. expects any flood gates to open in political openings. what is going to happen to this diplomatic between the u.s. and cuba under president-elect trump. president-elect trump has said president-elect trump said he could walk back some of the openings that president obama gave to cuba such as the trade reopening and the travel. he wants to make sure the openings and restoring of ties is trickling down to the people. there have been already reopening of trade and business. millions of dollars millions of dollars in cuba right now. i think it would be hard to undo some of that. certainly there are some executive orders that president-elect trump could undo but this opening. >> all right. thank you very much. i'd like to go back to havana now. of course we will get back to her shortly. we will be getting reaction from around the world here on cnn. right now the most important reaction on the streets of havana with our

three people of cuban descent. tell us what this means to you. >> the cuban diaspora have been waiting for 50 years, because they saw, in fidel castro, the symbol of tyranny. every family here has been impacted either way. by their grandparents or parents, by someone being in jail, by someone being killed by the government, by properties being taken, so everyone here in miami has not healed and this is why there is so much enthusiasm here in little havana. and everywhere throughout the united states. >> reporter: it's interesting because of your position as the mayor as and because we're in a city where local government has had foreign policy statements over the years. is fidel castro's death simply symbolic or does it mean something, recognizing that he's not been in power, authoritative power, for at least four, almost five years? >> well, raul castro has governed the island of cuba under the shade of fidel castro, under fidel castro's guidance. and they have shown that very clearly, because once in a while, they

if we want to promote things like the empowerment of the cuban people, a better life for the cuban people, that is best served by not looking backwards but by looking forwards. >> all about cuba when we continue. >> funding for charlie rose is provided by the following: >> and by bloomberg, a provider of multimedia news and information services worldwide. captioning sponsored by rose communications from our studios in new york city, this is charlie rose. >> good evening, i'm jefer ree goldberg of the atlantic filling in for charlie rose who is in cuba on assignment. fidel castro died on friday, he was 90 years old. the cuban revolutionary lead the country for nearly half a century. he first came to o power in 1959 as a passionate guerilla leader who transformed the small island nation into the first and only communist state in the western hemisphere. to many it was his fixation on the united states that most defined the spirit of castro's rebellion. his defiance of american power in the region and around the world made him a powerful symbol of revolution. a fierce champion of cuban naltis

the cuban revolution represents .nation of cuban history behind fidel castro, even perhaps had a fidel castro, our people, a people who lead been struggling for and nationalation sovereignty for the better part of a century. fidel castro happens to be the person who had the capacity to bring to fruition the historical of a long process. it happens that this process culminates in the early 1960's at the same time the decolonization of africa and southeast asia and the middle east -- then all of a sudden, cuba comes in with a global phenomenon. worldly no country in the is more of an imprint of the american domination more than cuba did in the 20th century. so that fidel castro with 6 million of the cubans assumed the political position of challenging the american presence, of minimizing american influence, asked sounding american capital, of breaking diplomatic relations, and then ofhstanding 60 years invasion, multiple embargoations, and an most of it speaks to the resolve not only a fidel castro, but the resolve of t

a fierce champion of cuban nationalism. thousands ofof americans a few minutes and, he was a symbol of tyranny and oppression. although as an obama normalized relations with cuba, his death left cuba with an uncertain future. we have an update from charlie. charlie, you don't look like you are on the ground, you pick your up in the air. that he hashink passed a huge footprint in cuba but also someone who is the leader of a small caribbean nation. he had a global profile. everybody understands that. he was in a sense the poster person for the revolutionary that influenced so many people in latin america. who wanted to change their own his image orer in somebody else's image. that image that he carefully created survived until the day that he died. even though he was 19. they are sad about that. there are many people who believe that he was a tyrant. that myoing things limited human rights. things that showed no respect for political opposition. i want to get your members of fidel castro in a minute. abouto me for a moment wh

his brother the current cuban president raul castro announced his death on cuban television. he said he died friday night and will be cremated early saturday. >> castro has been a controversial leader to say the least. he survived numerous as satisfies nation attempts a assassination attempts and his death has drawn mixed reaction. in miami, florida you see here where people came together despite the rain to celebrate the death of fidel castro. but in havana, it is a different scene. people have been quite quiet there. news of castro's death has likely not reached many cubans as it broke late at night. and it is important to point out as we heard from patrick oppmann that many learned from him. let's talk now about little havana in miami. it is the home to thousands of cuban immigrants and exiles. >> chris moody is following the reaction and he joins us live. you can describe the mood? and we're about 15 minutes before national mourning starts in havana. of course what you're witnessing is very different. >> reporter: that's right. celebration is in the air in miami, florida.

there's a sense of music and afro cuban jazz and music. it has a tremendous influence, and so when he led the -- and became an ally of the soviet union and became to our terms an outlaw, someone who would execute -- i remember it happening as a kid -- 600 people. he just executed them publicly by firing squad. it certainly made most americans see him as the enemy, as a brutal dictator who believed in communism and did not believe in freedom as we know it. certainly not in an election. didn't believe in any opposition. even to this day if you show any political ambition in that country or try to speak out, you're arrested. there is no freedom in cuba today. this is something that -- the way people should be treated in the world. i don't take a benevolent view towards the man. in fact, i'm glad that now i can say i feel good about visiting cuba, because i didn't want to have anything to do with supporting him. i don't think we americans as a people -- everybody everyone has their own judgments to be make here -- wants to be part of his succe

cubans called him simply" fidel." he was a thorn in the side of ten american presidents, a defiant communist allied with the soviet union in the cold war, and a dictator who imprisoned and killed his enemies and drove a million of his citizens to flee. castro was the father of a revolution that delivered healthcare and education to his people but deprived them of a better quality of life by most other measures, and, most of all, of political freedom. late last night, president raul castro went on cuban state television to announce the death of his older brother and predecessor, but he gave no cause. fidel castro had suffered from an intestinal disease for over a decade. raul castro announced nine days of national mourning and said his brother would be cremated, with his ashes interred in the city of santiago, near where he grew up. in havana, flags are at half staff and the mood has been somber, the streets largely empty of people and traffic. president barack obama expressed his condolences to the castro family. mr.

and part of not only it's not only the cuban exiles but also those on the island, the cuban dissidents. one famous cuban dissident jailed in cuba for human rights activism and held dozens of hunger strikes believes obama's trade and investment reforms should be halted or at least renegotiated until the castro regime meets democratic reform demands. this month he met with senators marco rubio and bob menendez, both cuban americans, and he said obama's reform has only emboldened the regime to be more oppressive against him and other freedom fighters. >> translator: things are worse economically, politically and socially. there has been increased oppression, incarceration, assaults and torture because the government felt it delegitimized their actions. >> and, arthel, raul castro says he will step down some time in 2018, so we shall see how that will effect president-elect trump then-president will be handling all of this. >> all right. we'll have more on fidel castro's death and controversial legacy ahead on the "fox report," but first, trump white house coming into focus. the president-

she's a cuban exile. take a listen to what she and some of her colleagues had to say. >> he was a sadistic murderer who brought great suffering to the 11 million people of cuba. he should not be revered. he should be reviled. >> i'm also here in representation of people like my grandfather who was in political prison for 12 years and who was tortured, people like his brother, who was executed without trial. >> ultimately, there will be that final day when the dictatorship of the castro brothers is no longer reality. when it will be put in the dust heap of history. and when the cuban people will enjoy the ultimate freedom, freedom and democracy. >> reporter: as a candidate, president-elect trump vowed to undo the executive actions that president obama took to try to normalize relations with cuba. the reality is, he can undo those. those are executive actions. they are not bound by an act of congress. however, it gets a little bit trickier when you look at the details of it. the fact that you do have some t

they will talk to cubans, and cubans will have different opinions. the vast majority, i can assure you, will be very upset by the passing of fidel castro. >> will they be upset because -- this is something that we see in countries with similar situations -- he has represented the entire contemporary history of the country for half a century? so there are emotions attached to that. or will he be upset because they miss his style of governance? >> well, futurecast is -- has been the leader or a leader of the cuban revolution since the days of the revolution, since the overthrow of batista, an ambitious dictator who killed tens of thousands on the island. so it's -- fidel castro represents the best of cuba, along with the other historic leaders of the revolution. and they are very much respected by people across the island. of course mistakes have been made. at the end of the day, cuba is a proud independent company that's achieved an awful lot despite the ongoing aggressive u.s. blockade for over 50 years. >> i do have to push back with one thing. i me

and cuban relations.able statements there from him that his administration is willing to work on it. thank you so much, we appreciate it. >>> i would like to point out the white house released a statement on the death of fidel castro as well. our coverage continuing at the top of the hour. martin, thanks for being here. >> my pleasure. >> we'll be back tomorrow. ( ♪ ) ♪ they tell me i'm wrong ♪ ♪ to want to stand alongside my, my love ♪ ♪ whoa, talkin' 'bout my love ♪ ...stop clicking around...travel sites to find a better price... ♪ to want to stand alongside my, my love ♪ the lowest prices on our hotels are always at hilton.com. so pay less and get more only at hilton.com. >>> voting's underway for the cnn hero of the year. >> i want to introduce you to one of this year's top ten heroes. >> rivers are amazing teachers. i definitely learned a lot about what makes me happy and what i want to pursue and do each day. the idea for first decents came up with me. my aunt was diagnosed with cancer as a young ad

thousands of cubans fled to the u.s.nd health problems finally forced castro to resign the presidency in 2008, at that time he named his brother raul as his successor. between 1965 and 1973 alone, more than 260,000 left in a u.s.-organized airlift. others left in these makeshift boats across the state of florida. >> many of them made homes in little havana in miami. amid cheers and banging of pots and pans, cnn's chris moody joins us live. chris, how are people reacting and why are they reacting this way? >> well, it was not long after the announcement of fidel castro's death that people here in miami began to pour into the streets here in the little havana neighborhood where so many cuban exiles have called home. it was a feeling of celebration. people were marching through the streets here. banging pots and pans. noisemakers, drums, dancing. popping champagne bottles. i saw people holding up their phones doing facetime for family members that have moved maybe to europe and abroad, so that they could see this occasion t

but at the same time it preserved that cubanness of the cuban culture. the food, the way of talking gesticulating with your arms and hands, it's where people ft free to be cuban in miami. more than anywhere else. i mean, not only in miami, but the entire united states. >> we'll continue to follow the situation in miami, of course. >> yeah, and around the world. we are bringing you all sides of the story here on cnn. let's bring in patrick upman now our correspondent in havana, cuba. patrick what are you hearing? i know it's the middle of the night? are you getting more reactions? you told us earlier you had been the one to inform many cubans. i know you are in the middle of this. are they calling you now? what are you hearing? >> yes, i'm seeing cuban friends that i have who have access to internet, which is a very small slice of the population starting to post on facebook. when i got the news and came rushing to the bureau, the streets were empty. cnn havana bureau employees told me when they came in there was already a military presence on the streets.

that's the heart of the cuban exile community and where generations of cuban americans have now grown up. this is a day they had hoped to see for decades. no more fidel castro. he is now dead at the age of 90. everyone has been coming out with their cuban flags, flying them high. you got castro dead newspapers, you got pots and pans banging and you have got smiles from ear to ear on every face we see here. there is really an authentic celebration. joining me is gilberto, born in cuba? >> yes, i was. >> reporter: you got here in '59? >> july of 1959. >> reporter: your family wanted something like this to happen for a long time, i imagine? >> it's long overdue. this is a spontaneous celebration among the cuban community and a way to exercise all the anguish and pain this murderous tyrant has caused us. it's long overdue. i feel for so many of the cubans that have not been able to celebrate, that passed away while this tyrant still remained in power. i feel for them and their souls. >> reporter: you think it's a celebration for a man's death or more of a celebration of an end of a chapte

senators of cuban descent all described castro's treatment of cubans as briewtdal. senator marco rubio spoke to cbs by phone. >> he is not a heroic figure in any way. if history has an honest assessment of him, as one of the most brutal dictators the western hemisphere has ever known. >> reporter: it's been just over a year since the cuban flag began flying once again outside its embassy here in washington. comes will be listening closely to president-elect trump's words to see where the relationship between u.s. and cuba goes from here. reena, mr. trump said he joins cuban americans today in the hopes of one day seeing a free cuba. >> ninan: errol barnett in wagt the son of a sugar plantation owner, castro kept his private life closely guarded. he was married twice and is said to have fathered nine children from five mothers. publicly he was a flamboyant figure, highly regarded among a circle of world leaders. jonathan vigliotti has their reaction. >> reporter: reena, fidel castro's death was, for the most part, greet greeted with sorrowd the world. glowing tribute

>> to support my cuban family. to support -- all these people have come here today to celebrate and to teach my daughter there is a moment in history. and the reason why i'm here, for freedom. i left when i was 9 years old, cuba. and one day i will go back. when i go there with my american passport. because i'm an american. >> reporter: thank you, tanya. we appreciate it. we also spoke with a republican congresswoman, iliana ros-lehtinen, who herself came to the u.s. when she was a child. what's the rest the country to make of all that's happening outside of versailles? >> i know. i know people are looking at these visuals and they're thinking are these people nuts? they're celebrating someone's death. and we're not. we're celebrating an opportunity of a new beginning. people. we're never going to stop dreaming of a free cuba and working toward one. >> reporter: we noticed today that people were taking small cuban flags and bringing them to nearby graveyards, where their relatives are buried. as one woman said, i w

of crowds waving large cuban flags.ecause we have exiles or emigrants from many parts of latin america there are folks here in solidarity from venezuela, colombia, ecuador, in other countries. after theed shortly new started to spread. i would say maybe around 1:30-2:00 a.m. people started spilling into the streets. setting off fireworks, people in their pajamas, this has been awaited here for a very long time. there was a lot of pent up was released. some of it is bittersweet because cuba remains under fidel's posthumous rule. many of the folks who ts of repudiation and had their homes taken from , manynd suffered greatly of those have passed away. the children feeling he bittersweet sense of victory perhaps. i'm not sure if that is the right word. there are a lot of emotions here. host: do you think it is a hopeful crowd? many of the restrictions on cuba have been changed. changing with the obama administration's policies. are you finding people mainly hope now that castro has died? guest: i think that people have --

rafters and cuban go fast boats that were smuggling in cuban citizens and i got to see firsthand what it looked like on these boats, dozens of families, babies in diapers and best choice in the middle of the night not knowing what would happen than to live in cuba. and cuba at a distance may look beautiful, it may look mysterious, it may look nostalgic but up close it is cracked. it is faded and the people are hungry and that should be the legacy of fidel castro. >> there are no questions, no question that there are horrors ongoing horrors in cuba right now and, of course, for decades that you just referenced but, ron, you know, you covered -- you were in our miami bureau for years at abc news and you've been in cuba. make on behalf of the castro regime. >> well, the literacy rate in cuba is one of the highest i believe in the world. the infant mortality rate i believe is as low or maybe lower than it is in this country. but as tom was saying, you know, i've been there in the late '90s and more recently earlier this year and people live in fear there of even saying the name castro out

some cubans living in that nation. reaction to learning of castro's death, a mix of sadness and shock. >>. >> translator: i felt an immense pain. a pain that cannot be explained with words. i couldn't fight the tears because of such strong emotion. a great revolution has died. the greatest one. the one who has taught us, educated, who has given us freedom, education, health and conviction. these are very important things that a human should never lose. that change will owe your when the blockade is lifted from cuba. that is what has screwed us. it is not the system of cuba. it is the political economic blockade which we have been subject to for more than half a century. >> translator: i am here for the sad and unfortunate news of the death of commander in chief fidel castro. a lot of pain and sadness and also with a lot of strength to keep going. >> translator: for me, it is something shocking. rather for his figure. but it does not sadden me. as president, 90% of the population never liked him for everything he did an

cuban exiles are celebrating in the streets. >>> celebrating a new cuba, that is going to be free, that is going to be democracy. >>> the question now, what happens next? we'll talk one on one with an outspoken critic of the regime, his take on future relations. >>> good evening i'm rob carter fidel castro died last night he was 90 years d his brother current president raul castro made that announcement on cuban television for some time it is for some, i should say it is a time of sadness there were candles lit in churches flags flying at half staff in his memory, ceremony will take place on island nation as they seized property and jailed distants, you were there for all of this, what's been the over all feeling where you are? >>> i can tell you it is definitely electric 24 hours learned of the death they continue to come out here to little havana the famous cuban restaurant where they gather daily for coffee happening in this community for decades now the talk all about of course the death of fidel castro you can see lots of smiles in the crowds out here that's on the surface when you

-cuban relations.of leadership, we always wondered when fidel castro was president, w.h.o. would succeed him and it is raul castro. there isn't that uncertainty in terms of leadership. this is a leader -- to many cubans met fidel castro, shook his hand, were forced to go to his speeches. when he gave a speech, literally every tv and radio station carried the speech. that's what is so striking to me that it was not on the radio other than this one brief mention on cuban tv that he had passed. it had not begun to blanket the air waves. that will change in the days ahead. this is an island the communist party controls the media and now they will begin the process of mourning fidel castro, something so many foreso long have wondered what -- have hoped for this, so many false rumors over the years but tonight, finally the news is real. i remember fidel castro used to joke when he did die nobody would believe it because there have been so many false death reports over the years and now we are living that mom

and cuban relations.ntly said that he was going to scale back president obama's actions on cuba that were aimed at normalizing relations between the countries. a lot of those actions included lifting restrictions on imports, for example. listen to what candidate trump had to say in september. >> but all of the concessions that barack obama has granted the castro regime were done through executive order. which means the next president can reverse them. and that, i will do, unless the castro regime meets our demands. those demands will include religious and political freedom for the cuban people and the freeing of missile prisoners. [ cheers ] >> reporter: so the question becomes, will pahrump think that cuba's meeting those demands that he just laid out. but he hit the nail on the head with the key point that the steps that president obama took are executive actions which means they technically can be reversed, rolled back. here's where it gets trickier. the fact is trade has opened up between the two coun

cuban children are taught, he is the most important cuban figure. so it is a sense of monument built in people's heads, not quite brainwashing, but this is someone who became the center of life in cuba. you heard his speeches on the radio. even tonight we are seeing many of his appearances played again, and that's not unusual for cuba. for the government, fidel castro has been the main rallying tool they used to keep loyalty to the government because so many people in the beginning had respect, admiration, even love for him. but over the years with the economic difficulties, that really has changed. i think for the government, there has to be a sense that there will be a lot less passion for this government and that certainly the most important figure of this revolution, a man who had he not been born cuba would be a very different place, that with his passing it marks the end of a chapter. i just keep going back to this. every cuban i talked to, when i told them this they changed physically. you could see they would remember for the rest of their l

he had said good-bye to cubans.alth, the transition had started many years before. so you see a very iconic figure of the 20th century that survived the 21st century. that overlived at least in power ten or 11 u.s. presidents. and now he passes right before president-elect trump assumes the white house. but, yes, you see a fear that is revered by many, hated by others. very conversational. but someone able to establish a communist government 90 miles from the u.s. and have that government and become a respected leader as he showed as a latin american leader. it say big story. it is not surprising. >> i know you were in cuba in march when president obama visited there, what were the relations there? >> you have to go back to 2014 when president obama made the simultaneous announcement by raul castro. there was a lot of hope. people were really happy, president obama say very popular figure in cuba but when time passed and saw that change wasn't coming as fast as expected, they lost some hope but expecting that it wil

when did your family leave cuban?they escaped in 1963, and four days in the gulf of mexico, ended up in cozumel, and then they went to mexico city, and i am the liberty baby, and my mother was seven months pregnant with me, and i was born in los angeles, and i am a welfare baby. the captain was in on it and made it looks like a mutiny, and they were all scared because they didn't know if somebody was going to be working for the government and they ended up in cozumel in mexico. >> reporter: people are seeing celebrations and they are hearing about a head of state dying. you have to explain to our nation, why would somebody be thrilled at somebody's death? would you call him a dictator? >> yeah, a dictator, thug, a murderer, and he's my parents' version of hitler, and everything that is wrong that a human being can do and all they did was divide families. what does it take for a country to send their children out through the peter pan stories -- >> explain that. peter pan, this is where families took their children and

((fidel romero/cuban american: it's a very touching moment. it's very emotional." )) ((mauricio marin)) although he shares his first name with fidel castro---because he was born in 1959---the same year of the cuban revolution---he and his family don't share the communist ideas castro pushed. and last night watched the news of fidel castro's death closely. ((fidel romero/cuban create a big change. i mean fidel was controlling. even in the last 10 years he's been kind of out of the picture but he still had control." )) ((mauricio marin)) at the lunch table inside florida cafe cuban bar and grill in las vegas--- most sharing the same sentiment. ((pedro hernandez/cuban american: "we just hope that people realize they need change." )) ((mauricio marin)) for pedro hernandez who left cuba when he was only 12 years old--- he hopes economic change can happen with castro now gone---change that will of cuba. ((pedro hernandez/cuban american: "it's a beautiful country but it would be better if you could do everything they want and have democracy and peopl

familiar face as to cubans, but also to last and westerners are no longer part of the cuban government as of friday, the vice president was eliminated from the government. balenciaga, castro's personal assistant who is the foreign ministry. what is so interesting about this is these men had a thick waists are fidel castro and the revolution unstintingly almost 24/7 for 20 years or so and they were taken out. at least 15 people we know about. some of you may recall right here in washington during the whole song to. there is a cuban diplomat who basically was the ambassador here. they had at the intersection for non-governor has and he basically was the cuban point in and did a very effective job for cuba. they were the winners. the u.s. was the losers which tends to be the case. and fernando ramirez is one of these men who is now gone. this is how when a high-level purge this has been in this very interesting how little press and attention this has gotten in the united states. tell me if i'm going to fire, too deep, too soon to write other and why would something that significant, almos

cuban exiles are celebrating in the streets of we are live in miami. what's the over all tone where you are? reporter: well >>its electric is what i can tell you. people celebrating what they're calling a joyous occasion. the street where i'm at, southwest eight th street is the buzz and hub of activity as we show you a good look. right under that cuban flag you see is the famed coffee window where day today, the talk has been about nothing other than the death of fidel castro. people from all walks of life coming out here to be in community. >> they died there and couldn't see the happiness that i'm experiencing says enrique. he left cuba in 1999 and never saw his parents again. its who start their story here in the u.s. like this grandfather bringing his granddaughter to witness a historic event. they're just some of the many celebrating fidel castro's death in the town square of cuban miami where old and young gather including this fidel castro look alike with one purpose. >> celebrating a new cuba. that is going to be democracy. reporter: local lea

his mother and other cubans accompanying the boy died trying to get to the us. the boy was returned to his father and grandparents in cuba. >>> some in the us now believe with fidel castro dead there could be an influx of cubans immigrating to th miami-dade county public school superintendent says the district is getting ready for it, quote, potential influx of child and adult learners even going as far to work with state and federal departments to prepare. more cubans have already been making their way to the us since president obama began working to normalize relations with eva. their fear with us policies will put cubans on a fast track to legal residency could be repealed as relations between the 2 countries improve. for website, wfla.com . you can also watch for more live reports from miami tonight and tomorrow morning right here on news channel 8. >>> much more still ahead the sunday morning. coming up: donald trump appears to become president. could the election being question this morning we was behind a recount expected to begin this week. later, donald

the vast majority of cubans benefited from the cuban revolution, and other countries around the world, poor countries, looked to cuba in that way as a leader for what they could do for their people, bringing literacy and health care. >> we've got just a few seconds left. can you just quickly tell us what you think is going to after fidel castro has died? >> fidel castro really has not been involved very much in anything day-to-day or even in the large policy directions for the last at least five years. so i don't think there will be much change. i've gotten messages from friends in cuba who tell me that there is great sadness as if the father of the country has died. >> philip brenner, professor at american university, we appreciate your insight this morning. thank you very much. >>> and coming up heren fidel castro's death. >>> and a look at the flood of tourists hitting cuba. could it change everything? keep it right here. family road trip! fun! check engine. not fun! but, you've got hum. that's like driving with this guy. all you do is press this, and in plain english, ?coolant?, y

this is the epicenter of the cuban exile community here in miami. had a chance to talk to some people who were born in cuba about what they thought about fidel castro's death. take a listen. >> i've been waiting for 56 years for this night and i thank god it happened the day after thanksgiving. >> this is a very important day for me because you know what my grandfather suffered a lot to see the man that took everything from him, to see him dead today. so, you know what, this is an emotional day for me today. as a cuban american. >> reporter: so for many of these people, they've seen their livelihoods taken away or maybe their father or grandparents and so this is a day of jubilation for them after their experience in cuba and coming back to the united states. now they are realistic about the future. they know that just because fidel castro has passed away, cuba is not going to change over night. but for now, they're taking the time to celebrate something they waited a long time for. back to you. >> chris, i don't know if you can hear me, but i under

cubans will start one week of mourning to remember fidel castro. the thousands making their way today to attend a variety of ceremonies. ((kirsten joyce)) >> plus -- it's cyber monday! we're live from zappos headquarters.. with some of the best deals out there. ((brian loftus)) >> and, some parts of the valley are finally seeing the white stuff! the extra cool temperatures that are finally stai now forecast. ((kirsten joyce)) >> 8 news now good day, the valley's news leader, starts right now./// ((now, live...this is 8 news now good day.)) brian loftus >> thanks for joining us, i'm brian loftus. kirsten joyce >> and i'm kirsten joyce. cuba is observing 9 days of national mourning following the death of former cuban dictator fidel castro. ((brian loftus)) >> he died on friday at the age of 90 .. castro had been in poor health decade ago. >> 8 news now reporter nia wong joins us in studio with a look at the reaction to castro's passing. nia? ((nia wong)) >> brian and kirsten. today schools and government offices in cuba are closed. but depending on w

a million cubans have left. most of them landed in miami with nothing but their lives and the fierce determination to bring fidel castro down one way or another. in april of 1961 an army of cuban exiles backed by the cia tried to slip into the bay of pigs and liberate the island. the invasion was a disastrous and embarrassing failure. with a jubilant castro playing role he fine-tuned for the rest of his life, with help from the soviet union. >> this is a cbs news extra. >> reporter: the following year, in 1962, u.s. spy planes spotted the russians installing nuclear missiles in cuba. >> those are russian-made, russian-manned ballistic missiles. >> reporter: this was the cold suddenly, cuba seemed very, very important. >> i have directed the armed forces to prepare for any eventuality. >> castro did not blink. it appealed to him to play this role that he would harbor these missiles that could threaten the great imperial -- that he could do this. >> reporter: jay taylor cuba in the 1980s. >> the world teetered on

cuban exiles who escaped his regime, they're cheer, they're smiling, waiving cuban flags, they are chanting freedom and they're banging on pots and pans, making their feelings known this morning. >> cnn patrick oppmann is live from havana, the only u.s. television correspondent in cuba. >> so patrick, talk to us about people's reactions because what's extraordinary here is the fact that overnight you were the one who inform some people when you wanted to ask for what their reaction was, they were hearing from you for the first time that fidel castro had actually died. >> reporter: yes. as i raced to the office, i tried to stop along the way on the sea front wall and ask people if they heard the news and nobody they encountered was watching television, the state television channel last night when the news was announced. people were listening to radio hadn't heard it and everyone was just shocked. we of course had so many rumors over the years. this was not a rumor, it was really the real thing. when i told the cubans that i encountered that raul castro made this announcement, people became v

i think now the hope in the hearts of cubans there, the hopes of the cubans here is that there will be better things for all. >> reporter: this is the kind of thing people are debating in front of the coffee stand. what will this mean for the future? some people think it's not going to do much, that the system that is in place will be entrenched for generations. do you think it will make a difference? >> well, there's no doubt it's entrenched. there's no doubt there's very little movement from the regime in general. that's nothing to move that too much. but if there's one thing and one symbol that alleviates in the minds of so many over there and of the hopes of the ones here is fidel castro. there has to be positive from this happening. >> reporter: i'm sure over the last year or so, as president obama has tried to normalize the relationship between the u.s. and cuba, you've heard the conversations here about that, what are people saying about the future of that relationship? what do they want to see? do they like the path that it's on or do they want to take it backwards? >> in gener