Enjoying better relations, what does it mean for the future . A look back at the history and what is to come. Today, saturday, november 26th, 2016. Announcer from nbc news, this is today live from studio 1a in rockefeller plaza. Good morning. Welcome to today on saturday morning. Im Sheinelle Jones alongside dylan dreyer and we h jackson here with us. Happy to have you here on this side. Nice to take a break after sitting with you after stuffing myself for two days. And we start with a busy news day. Lets get to it. The top story is breaking news overnight. Cubas long time former leader fidel castro has died at the age of 90. Castro in power for nearly 50 years was in Failing Health in announced his death. We have Andrea Mitchell with a look back at Fidel Castros life. Reporter to his followers, he was commander or fidel. To enemies, a dictator. One of the worlds last communists. The illegitimate son of a land owner. He graduated with a law and doctorate. Tried running for the assembly until power seized. In 1953, castro led a coup. Castro ended up in jail for two years after it failed. In mexico, castro regrouped with his brother raul and fellow revolutionary. The three led a force back to war. Two years later on new years day, they marched into havana. At first the young leader promised democracy. Telling the u. S. He was not a commune any of t communist. Meet the press in 1959. I am not communist. Later, he went on the tonight you can ask all you want for the Public Opinion of the United States about anything you want. Reporter almost from the start, castro took the wealthy and silenced newspapers and nationalized Oil Refineries and signed a pact with the soviet union. In 1961, president kennedy ordered the cia to invade cuba on wednesday, resistance ends. Reporter that helped castro consolidate power. By then a declared socialist, he improved health care and litera literacy. Also accepted nuclear weapons. Requiring a full retaliatory response upon the soviet union. Reporter until jfks hard line got the russians to pull back. For 25 years, moscow with insurgents. But with the end of the soviet union, cubas economy imploded. On makeshift boats, thousands fled the regime. His legacy is a complicated one. There is no for getting how many cubans left the island under duress. Reporter in the 1990s, a ruler courted business men and 1988. He won friends by exporting cuban trained doctors and exporting medicine. In 1999, a custody battle over 6yearold elian gonzalez. Months later, a federal Court Ordered the child removed from miami. Elian returned to he heros welcome in havana. The leader collapsed from heat exhaustion in 2001. Tripped and broke his knee and arm three years later. The Bush Administration tightened sanctions cutting off travel. Castro arrested hundreds of oil from venezuela. After surgery, fidel castro turned over power to his brother raul in 2008. Then he commemorated the revolution and had a celebration of the 80th birthday. Fidel castro did not attend. Two years later, he stepped down. He wrote columns about his Life Experience and for Vladimir Putin and president jinping in 2014. He never commented on the president obama break through to normalize relations. Fidel was absent when his brother welcomed home three cuban spies. To the end, castro insisted his revolution would outlive him. There would be no problem of any sort. There remains a nucleus of leaders. Reporter he never tolerated dissent. His legacy may be Holding Power for half a century. Longer than any other modern leader. And andrea joins us now. Good morning to you. We are reading this morning. You interviewed him a number of times. That went until 2 00 in the morning. That is what happened with fidel castro. You would stay up fully clothed waiting for the call from the president ial palace. They would summon us and we go at midnight or 1 00 in the morning. Sometimes i have to confess, it was difficult to stay awake during his lengthy answers. We timed one of his answers of one of my questions at 45 minutes. He was very arguetiing and vy well red. He was on the internet every night. He once took me to a Cabinet Meeting that started at midnight. Rogated all of the people until the very end. He was very popular with the young people. He would have a student leader who was would rise through the ranks of the communist hierarchy. He had the repressive police. That was the other key to power. A totalitarian regime. Still is to an extent. There are some in the Obama White House are concerned that the opening will not last. Obviously executive orders can change and it does require an embargo fully. Andrea, on the one hand, he was a dictator and on the other, beloved by the people in the country. How do you see his legacy unfolding after his death . He is one. Iconic figures of the last century. Was clearly in Failing Health in the last decade. The legacy is already eroding that raul castro has instituted some market reform. Health care, health care he exported throughout latin america and africa to angola, that is part of a legacy. Fundamentally, a strong man, totalitarian man and no free elections at all as the passage of power to his brother and soon to be designated leaders. They call them elections. They are not elections in cuba. I think a lot of people are wondering how drastically things with his death. I think things wont change as dramatically as some suspect. He was at this point fundamentally symbolic figure. Only heard from rarely in columns he would write for the communist newspaper. That said, once raul castro passes power to the next generation, that is going to be a moment where you see some changes. Raul has been revolutionary in his own way. He has states and has accepted some market reforms. We see credit cards can now be used. Some telephone communications. Theres Postal Service for the first time in more than half a century between the United States and cuba. Also Airline Service as well. There have been changes, but not changes in terms of Free Expression and democracy. Very interesting. Andrea, thank you. A lot of cubanamericans miami. Live havana lighting up with cheers and fireworks in some spots. Nbcs Kerry Sanders in miami this morning with more on that and reaction from around the world. Kerry, good morning. Reporter good morning, hallie. One of three people who lives in the greater miami area is a k cub cubanamerican. Not all of them refer to this as home. Their political exile. Home. Their properties were nationalized and businesses were taken. Some why imprisoned and tortu tortured. That is the back drop why people would come and celebrate a death of a head of state. They say it is a long time and coming. Miamis Little Havana erupting in joy as nearly six decades in the making. The castro regime. Now they are hopeful that the death of fidel castro will bring change to cuba. The years of repression. Reporter a similar feeling. A new beginning can dawn on cuba. International leaders are more likely to see castro as a statesman who left a mark on the 20th indias Prime Minister called him an iconic personality. Mexico called him a friend. The former soviet union supported cuba. Vladimir putin said fidel castro was a true friend of russia. Back on the island today, many mourn a man whose life will be synonymous with cuba. Many cubanamericans gathered states. They learned about the castro regime over dinner tables and listening to parents and grandparents. None referred to fidel castro as president fidel castro. They used terms like the vampire saying he sucked out of the country of what they believe could have been. Chanelle. Thank you very much. We should note too that Funeral Services will be on december 4th in that country. Report lets bring in a congressman from the state of florida forced to flee with her parents when she was 8 years old. I think its interesting to see the difference hear the different perspectives from World Leaders who did not have to suffer the ingists of a fidel castro rule and we bare the communist dictatorship can do. People are optimistic that this will usher in a new opportunity for freedom and democracy for the enslaved cuban people. A tyrant is still in place. But we do have a new president. President elect trump has said he will roll back the concessions that president obama made. So sweet heart deals will benefit somehow the people of cuba. That never materialized, it just benefits the dictatorship. Given your journey from cuba, what was your reaction when you found out the news . Who was your first phone call . I first thought of my dad because i was born in cuba, came here when i was 8 and my dad, fight for a free cuba in a different way but i think of those generations of historic exile figures who they wished they were around to see this day but i dont think thal arer be meeting my father in heaven because i dont think castros going to heaven. Hes a man who executed a lot of family members of my constituency and imprisoned so many of them and his believe, is one of how you can hang on to power. Its very simple. You control every aspect of everybodys looife, where you le and work, everything is operated with very few exceptions and thats how you can remain in power. Like kim jungiland then his son. That transition from one changes this will usher in but as long as theres a castro in power theres not much hope for change. Thats what i was about to ask you. Your hope for how things would change. We hope the changes will come with the u. S. Policy towards that dictatorship that we wont be doling out all this hard earned money to the dictatorship because everything is run by the tyrannical rulers, the hospitals. The education, hotels, airlines, everything is operated and controlled and thats why its so difficult for human rights activists to really break out in cuba and have their voices heard because they get jailed and they get trampled upon literally. The ladies in white who peacefully marched through the streets of havana with pictures and sent to jail. Its a real harassment atmosphere against anyone who wishes to express an opinion contrary to the totalitarian regime in power. Congressman thank you very much for your time. Thank you. Of course fidel castro was death comes a at a time when relations between u. S. And cuba are finally starting to thaw. So what hap good morning to you. Reporter were just hearing that we can expect a statement from the president or the White House Administration at some point later today. Theyve been silent as the developments have been breaking overnight. But the Obama Administration policy towards cuba is one of the most significant Foreign Policy initiatives hes undertaken while in office and the question is what will remain donald trump saying he wants to reverse a lot of what happens. We know the president went there, historic visit back in march of this year. Much of what the president has done, all that he has done has been through executive order through regulatory changes, so now there are regular commercial flights back and forth between cuba and the United States. We know its easier for people to travel there. Island. What the Obama Administration is trying to do is increase peopletopeople contacts and they want to make these changes what they say, irreversible so the next president will be hard pressed to essentially dismantle these relationships that have been established in the past few months and past year or so. The question is how permanent will those changes be . President hopefully sometime later today. Unclear what kind of reaction he will make. I would imagine it will be sensitive to concerns on whats happening around the island. There are big Unanswered Questions about how much of the changes the president has initiat initiated, how much will remain Going Forward under a donald trump administration. Ron all. You heard ron talk about this. What happens next between the u. S. A of president elect trump. He has been critical in the past of warmer relations with cucuba. Nbcs Kristen Welker is near his home in florida. Reporter good morning. Donald trump is on a working vacation in palm beach. I anticipate we will get some reaction later on today. The critical question is what does this mean for u. S. And cuban relations . As ron was discussing, candidate actions that were put in place by president obama. Which included lifting restrictions on some imports. Take a listen to what he said in september. Baut all of the concessions that barack obama has granted to castro regime were done through executive order. That means the next president will reverse them. That i will do unless the castro regime meets our demands. Those demandsnc and Political Freedom for the cuban people and the freeing of political prisoners. Reporter now because the actions that president obama took were executive actions, president elect trump can roll them back if he so choses. This comes against the back drop of the president elect trying to pick a secretary of state. Mitt romney, antagonist and moderate. Both of the candidates largely in line with president elects views with cuba. Back to you. Thank you, kristen. We will have more on Fidel Castros death throughout the morning. People are heading home after the long thanksgiving break. Dylan, what is the travel forecast like . It looks okay for most of the country. The west coast is where o and snow in the mountain passes. We are watching a storm system in the middle of the country. If we look at where we can see airport delays today, think i tt is seattle and San Francisco with the largest delays because we are looking at the possibility of seeing some potential for heavy rain, low level clouds, fog. That reduces visibility. If you are traveling by road, we could see some troubles in the mountain passes. Thats where we might end up across Northern New England on i95 up into maine, we could see areas of snow and slippery conditions with temperatures close to freezing. We will see the possibility of airport delays on the west coast on sunday, but the possibility of slowing things down in minneapolis st. Paul. Overall, not too bad. The west coast and middle of the country on su. Scattered clouds for your saturday, not much rain, only about a 10 rain chance. Scattered clouds today, and less humid air starts rolling in for sunday. Overall the weekend is looking good for us here, temperatures travel troubles. I thought it came out right. It just didnt. Say that 20 times fast. Dylan, thank you. Still to come, our most talked about stories. Including this incredible basketball shot from nearly 600 feet from above the hoop. That doesnt go in . And stars are just like us. How alisters celebrated thanksgiving. But first this is today on still to come on today, we go back live to miami where they celebrated all night long with the news of Fidel Castros death. And when it comes to good deals this holiday weekend, you may think about travel. The list of hot spots that are easy on your wallet. Good morning. 8 27. Gulf port police trying to determine if a teen arrested friday morning is part of the same Group Responsible for kidnapping a child thanksgiving day. Sean roue someone drove away with it. The driver only made it a few feet before crashing. Police later arrested 18year old Cedric Clinton after he tried to steal another car. Starting out cloudy this morning but a mix of clouds and starting off in the 50s and 60s out there, above where we should be in sometime of year. 79 today, lower humidity sunday with 78, and warmer next week with decent rain chances by we are back on this saturday morning, november 26th, 2016. As we follow the overnight breaking news of Fidel Castros death. Many the streets overnight in miami to celebrate. That is, of course, one of the headlines today. The former cuban leader dead at the age of 90. The news announced on cuban tv by his brother, president raul castro. As we saw, a lot reaction on the streets of Little Havana in miami. We will have more on that in a few minutes. A thanksgiving weekend of gratitude for a california Sherri Papini was found chained along a highway three weeks after being abducted. And the president ial vote now set for a recount in at least one state. Former Green Party Candidate jill stein filing that with the Election Commission in wisconsin. Steins pushing for the same thing in the swing states of michigan and pennsylvania. Her goal isnt to overturn the results, but establish voter integrity. Lets go back to reaction in miami where people Fidel Castros death. Nbcs Kerry Sanders is there with more. Good morning, kerry. Reporter good morning. We have a little bit of a sun shower. People have gotten under the overhang. You can see folks gathered out here. She is wearing a shirt that says cuba. There is anticipation and a lot of people waiting and in some cases almost a lifetime to watch fidel castro die. Now it seems odd. Why would you want a head of of the cuban people. You look at eighth street in Little Havana. Filled with people celebrating. Because they were exiled from their country. When he came to power, he took not only power, but he nationalized businesses. He took property. Many people were imprisoned. Some were tortured. Some