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01/08/13 - Broadway World - James Britt Donovan Presents 50th Anniversary of Historical Negotiations

The first phase of a website, [1]www.jamesbonovan.com, is dedicated to
James Britt Donovan's legacy of ideas and action, as they relate to his
role in the Bay of Pigs/Cuban prisoner negotiations and subsequent
release. The web design team, [2]www.Section101.com, worked to the last
minute before the holiday to make this happen in conjunction with the 50th
Anniversary of this historic milestone where Donovan played the starring
role on behalf of the Cuban Families Committee and the Kennedy
Administration. On December 22, 2012, Donovan's daughter, Mary Ellen
Donovan Fuller Fletcher spoke at the Bay of Pigs Museum in front of an
audience of prominent Cuban-Americans and the Mayor of Miami at a ceremony
commemorating the anniversary. A picture of Donovan now hangs in the
Museum, and a letter from Mary Ellen, printed in the Miami Herald on
December 21, appears on the home page.

Fifty years ago, Donovan was greeted in Miami by President Kennedy, along
with the press and jubilant Cuban-Americans, upon his successful
negotiations for the release of thousands of prisoners. He then flew on
Air Force Two to Plattsburgh Air Force Base (now known as Plattsburgh
International Airport), where he was greeted by members of the press. He
then held a press conference at the Lake Placid Club Golf House, part of
the storied Lake Placid Club, founded by Melville Dewey (of the Dewey
Decimal System), where Donovan was on the Board and the President of the
Lake Placid Club Education Foundation. My family is very lucky to have a
home in that very special little village nestled in the Adirondack
Mountains, www.lakeplacid.com, which has not only hosted two Olympic Games
and is the home of the greatest moment in sports history, but also the
home of history of another kind.
Had Donovan and JFK lived, I firmly believe the United States would be in
a very different position with Cuba. Donovan forged a very strong
relationship with Castro upon this very intense negotiation over the
months following the Cuban Missile Crisis and the Bay of Pigs invasion. He
died in 1970 at the age of 53: a life cut way too short with so much more
to accomplish. That said, what he did achieve in such a short lifetime is
remarkable and exemplary for current and future generations. The site
shows just one part of history where he played the starring role, and
there is much more to come.

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References

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1. http://www.jamesbonovan.com/
2. http://www.section101.com/


Original Source / Fuente Original:
http://books.broadwayworld.com/article/James-Britt-Donovan-Presents-50th-Anniversary-of-Historical-Negotiations-A-Reference-for-Modern-Negotiations-20130108