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Article: Bush heats up Puerto Rico debate
- Article from:
- Chicago Sun-Times
- Article date:
- February 20, 1989
- Author:
CopyrightCopyright (null) Chicago Sun-Times. (Hide copyright information)
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Most Americans don't know the legal relationship between Puerto
Rico and the United States. They think of it as a wonderful winter
spot in the Caribbean. And are often surprised to learn that all
persons born there are automatically U.S. citizens. Yet the
language, culture and institutions are Spanish. Puerto Rico is a
possession of the United States. It was part of our prize from the
Spanish-American War of 1898.
President George Bush, in his first message to Congress,
surprised everyone by announcing that Puerto Rico should be given the
option of changing its link with this country. It can get closer to
us and become our 51st state. Or, he says, it can form its own
sovereign ...