March 20, 2016international eventforeign policydiplomacyforeign policydiplomacypresidential power
Obama visits Cuba, first presidential visit since Coolidge in 1928
President Barack Obama arrived in Havana on March 20, 2016, leading a delegation of roughly 1,000 officials, business leaders, and members of Congress — the first sitting US president to visit Cuba since Calvin Coolidge in 1928. Obama toured Old Havana, met with Cuban dissidents for two hours, and delivered a televised address at the Gran Teatro broadcast live on Cuban state television calling on Cuba to expand political freedoms. He and Raul Castro held a joint press conference at which Castro pushed back publicly on US criticism of Cuba's human rights record. On March 22 the Tampa Bay Rays played an exhibition game against the Cuban national team at Estadio Latinoamericano.