Cuban-American actor Andy Garcia clashed with Matt Lauer over Elián on Tuesday — and won. Here's the transcript of the exchange.

4/07/00 3:10 p.m.
Garcia v. Lauer
The Today Show, April 4, 2000

Matt Lauer: Now more on the tug-of-war over little Elián Gonzalez. With Elián's father expected to come to the US as early as today, polls show a majority of Americans think the little boy should go back to Cuba with his father. But many of the 800,000 Cuban-Americans living in Florida strongly disagree. Cuban-American actor Andy Garcia is in Miami this morning. Andy, good to see you. How you doing? Mr.

Andy Garcia: Good, Matt. How are you?

Lauer: I'm fine. There's — there's so much emotion on both sides of this issue, Andy, and I know you feel that even if the father comes to the US, Elián should stay here. Can you explain that for me? Mr.

Garcia: Well, you know, Matt, I'm — I'm a product of the same fate that — that is awaiting Elián in the sense that I left Cuba when I was about to turn six years old at the time. My parents were — I was very fortunate they were able to get me out of the country. At that time there was laws passed that are still very much in — in — in order to Cuba today, which the state takes over the rights of the children from their parents. So this is not really — you know, you basically go into an indoctrination program where you become a member of what they call Los Pioneros, which is Communist Pioneer Youth Group, which their motto is, you know, "Pioneers For Communism, We Will Be Like Che," you know, and this is a very important factor we must ascertain in this case, because it's not a normal custody case. In this case, the father does not have real legal rights over his own child. The father, in this case, is the state. And — and that's something that has to be taken into account.

Lauer: But — but we — we're trying to read the mind of this father. I know you feel that he has little control, if any, over his actions and his statements. But can we be sure of that, Andy? Can we say that this father truly doesn't want to stay in Cuba and doesn't want his child back there under any cir — circumstances?

Garcia: Well, no, you can never be sure of that. But what you can be sure of, that there's only one opinion in Cuba, and that's the state opinion. And if the father had contrary thoughts to that, those would never be voiced, or be permitted to be voiced. And — and that is a fact.

Lauer: I know you feel that the father — that — that Castro originally wanted the father to come here with 30 or so other people, and that's a clear sign that — that they are — are very much afraid that this father would express his true feelings once he arrived on American soil. Mr.

Garcia: It will be difficult for him to do so, I think, if he does come here. Because they will never permit his other members of his — of his extended family, his own wife, his other children, to — to come with him. So they will be sort of held, you know, in house arrest there. And it would be difficult for him to actually express his true feelings. But the — the real issue here is really what's best for the child. And — and in a normal custody case, a child has his day in court, and — and the — and the judges determine whether the — the — the people that are going to take over the — the child's life, in this case, the father, who is the remaining parent, is — is — is fit. And in this case, the — the parent, like I say, in my opinion, is really the state, and he will be, you know, as soon as he gets back to Cuba, he will be, as Castro put it himself, begin the process of decontamination, which apparently we've done to this poor child here in the United States.

Lauer: You — you shared a little of your personal story about coming here when you were about to turn six. Let me ask you take this and make it a personal issue. You've got three children, is that right?

Garcia: Yes, yes.

Lauer: So if you were in Cuba, and Elián was your child here in the United States, could you honestly say that you'd rather have him stay here than be reunited with you in Cuba?

Garcia: With — with complete conviction, Matt. I would never — it's a fate worse than hell to have my children — to think that my children would be growing in that system over there. I mean, I was a product of that. I was singing "The Internationale" when I was about to turn six years old before we left Cuba. And I can tell you firsthand by many experiences the situation in Cuba for a young man is not — is not a good one. I mean, we had a terrible issue in 1994 with 72 Cubans who left on a tugboat from Cuba, and the Cuban fireboats, or Coast Guard, approached this vessel, and with fire hoses proceeded to — to drown and--and to capsize these boats, where 41 of the 72 died. And amongst them were 10 children. So this personal obsession that — that Fidel has over this child is obviously for political reasons. And this child, if he goes back, will become sort of a pendant around, you know, Fidel's, you know, neck, as his trophy on his anti-American sort of mantle.

Lauer: Isn't it also possible, though, Andy, that he becomes somewhat of a trophy to Cuban-Americans living in Florida if he remains here?

Garcia: You know, the people who feel passionate about this are people who know the reality of life in Cuba. Those who do not know the reality of life in Cuba would obviously side with the — with the child reuniting with his own parents. But I speak to you not only as a friend, but with — from the deepest sentiments of my heart. I know for a fact that this child is, in my own heart, in my own opinion, this is my opinion, that this — this child deserves the civil liberties that we so enjoy here in the United States.

Lauer: All right. Andy Garcia, always good to see you. And thanks for your opinions.

Garcia: Thanks. Good to see you, Matt.

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