CIA-Cuba negotiations, the real story

http://nsarchive.gwu.edu/NSAEBB/NSAEBB542-Oscars-Bridge-of-Spies-the-Sequel/

Oscars: "Bridge Of Spies," The Sequel

'Meta-Diplomat' James Donovan (Tom Hanks), Subject of Best Film Nomination, Won Massive Prisoner Release in Cuba

Once-secret CIA and White House records reveal Donovan's mission to negotiate normal relations with Castro, provide historical backdrop to Obama's forthcoming trip to Cuba

CIA established secret task force to support Donovan-Castro negotiations

National Security Archive Briefing Book No. 542
Edited by Peter Kornbluh
Posted - February 26, 2016

Washington D.C., February 26, 2016 – With covert support from the CIA, James Donovan, who is the central figure in the Oscar-nominated movie, “Bridge of Spies,“ conducted the first secret negotiations ever with Fidel Castro, according to White House and CIA records posted today by the National Security Archive--providing a little-known historical foundation for President Obama’s forthcoming trip to Cuba.

The documents show that in the aftermath of the Cuban missile crisis, Donovan engaged Castro in discussions on improving U.S. relations with Cuba and predicted that, eventually, “an accommodation of views could be worked out.“