I have waited 35 years for an American president to have the courage to articulate a new foreign policy initiative as pertains toward Cuba.

In 1995, when writing about my meetings with Fidel Castro in the 1980s, I said we should "…resume trade, lift the economic sanctions, establish diplomatic relations, etc…" I had come to these conclusions after two visits to Cuba and witnessing firsthand how ineffective was U.S. policy. All we were doing was to lock the Soviets in and keep ourselves out.

So much time has gone by that a refresher course is in order to put the recent events into perspective. Fidel Castro came to power by ousting the dictator, Fulgencio Batista. Batista was a corrupt, despotic autocrat who brought nothing to Cuba except the American mafia and misery. Cuba had no health care or public education systems for its poor. Before Castro, Cuba's illiteracy rate was among the highest in the world. Not so today.

Today, though still lacking many of the niceties of life, 99 percent of the population is given both a sound education and decent health care. Indeed, Cuba exports its doctors and nurses throughout the world, gaining enormous good will, especially in Central and South America, as well as Africa.

I recall my experience as a delegate to the inauguration of Nelson Mandela in South Africa. The world was in attendance. When the American delegation was introduced there was applause. When Fidel Castro and the Cubans were introduced there was thunderous applause. It was actually embarrassing, so stark were the different receptions.

During the past several decades, U.S. policy toward Cuba has been dictated by Cuban exiles in Florida who, using the presidential primary process, have forced both parties to knuckle under to their view of Cuba.

My visits to Cuba were to accomplish two things. The first was a joint scientific venture in marine science. Fish, after all, do not know where the oceans are communist or democratic.

The second visit was to free several American women who had violated Cuba's drug laws and were confined to prison. I arranged for their release and had them flown back to the United States. Two were from Connecticut. Remember, few countries in the world treat drug offenders with the same tolerance as the United States. Cuba's tough drug laws were more the norm throughout the world.

I mention these matters to show that engagement, not isolation, betters the world. In this I am joined by most every government, including those of our closest allies, who long ago recognized Cuba. In other words, prior to Wednesday's announcement by President Obama, everybody was there but us.

To end on a light note, I remember my friend and philosophical foe, Jesse Helms, trying to block my second trip to Cuba. He implored the White House to forbid my departure. He failed and, on hearing the news, came to me on the Senate floor and said, "You won this time. But, incidentally, while in Cuba could you bring me back a box of cigars?" I did, along with the freed Americans. Still, I have no doubt that were Jesse alive today he'd by bouncing off the walls over Obama's decision.

As for me - I say, "Well done, Mr. President."

Lowell P. Weicker Jr. is a former U.S. senator from Connecticut and a former governor of Connecticut.