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    Back to To the Point

    To the Point

    President Obama Opens a Door to Cuba

    More than 50 years after the US ended diplomatic relations with Cuba, President Obama made history today — renewing ties that were ended before he was born. There have been 18 months of secret negotiations, ended by a phone call with Raoul Castro, the President of Cuba.

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    By Warren Olney • Dec 17, 2014 • 1 min read

    More than 50 years after the US ended diplomatic relations with Cuba, President Obama made history today — renewing ties that were ended before he was born. There have been 18 months of secret negotiations, ended by a phone call with Raoul Castro, the President of Cuba. The Administration will open an embassy in Havana, ask Congress to end the trade embargo and use other means to improve Cuba's human rights record.

    We hear how the deal came about, the role of Pope Francis, and sample political reaction.

    The full episode

    1 of 2
    Historic Thaw in US-Cuban Relations and 2016 Presidential Contenders
    1. 1:50President Obama Opens a Door to CubaYou’re reading this
    2. 25:15Jeb Bush Explores Running in 2016
    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Warren Olney

      former KCRW broadcaster

    • KCRW placeholder

      Andrea Brody

      Senior Producer, KCRW's Life Examined and To the Point podcast

    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Evan George

      Director of Content, News

    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Benjamin Gottlieb

      Reporter, Fill-in Host

    • KCRW placeholder

      Michael D. Shear

      New York Times

    • KCRW placeholder

      Julia Sweig

      University of Texas-Austin

    • KCRW placeholder

      Ruben Navarrette, Jr.

      Political Columnist

      NewsNationalPolitics

    The full episode

    1 of 2
    Historic Thaw in US-Cuban Relations and 2016 Presidential Contenders
    1. 1:50President Obama Opens a Door to CubaYou’re reading this
    2. 25:15Jeb Bush Explores Running in 2016
    Back to To the Point