a diplomatic breakthrough last month. mr. obama formally asked congress last night, to end the half-century old embargo. >> when what you're doing doesn't work for fifty years, it's time to try something new. ( laughter ) >> ifill: but not all in congress support the president's moves on cuba, as republican ileana ros-lehtinen of florida

night's address to congress and the nation and on the president's declaration that years of recession and war are finally over. >> it has been, and still is, a hard time for many, but tonight, we turn the page. >> ifill: and for mr. obama turning that page means pushing a newly assertive agenda despite last fall's democratic losses. the agenda includes first-time proposals, such as:

brought out a major and often dangerous response effort from health workers. in his state of the union address last night, president obama hailed americans who've served on the front lines. >> in west africa, our troops, our scientists, our doctors, our nurses and healthcare workers are rolling back ebola. >> brown: sitting with the first lady during the speech, dr. pranav shetty served as the

>> ifill: and of his plan to raise the minimum wage. >> if you truly believe you could work full-time and support a family on less than $15,000 a year, try it. if not, vote to give millions of the hardest working people in america a raise. >> ifill: today, house speaker john boehner drove home the point. >> all the president really

taxes. >> but for far too long, lobbyists have rigged the tax code with loopholes that let some corporations pay nothing while others pay full freight. >> ifill: and of his plan to raise the minimum wage. >> if you truly believe you could work full-time and support a family on less than $15,000 a year, try it. if not, vote to give millions of

macneil/lehrer productions >> the shadow of crisis has passed, and the state of the union is strong. >> woodruff: president obama takes his state of the union message on the road we talk with mayors about how his proposals might affect main street.