cuba. he works with the foundation for human rights in cuba. the organization is part of the cuban american national foundation which released a list of 47 political prisoners who received support from the foundation. >> i remember many occasions in which political prisoners have been released for important visitors. i guess this time is another occasion. it doesn't mean they will not continue incarcerating people. >> reporter: for more on this list by the cuban american national foundation, log onto back to you in havana, cuba. >>> there you go. now there is a list. during the president's speech today, he touched upon a few topics that have been gone viral as you can imagine. one of those topics is the postponement of the rolling stones concert. >> a lot of people were looking forward to that big concert here in cuba. let's check in with julia bagg. >> the stones were supposed to rock their way into history yesterday, but their show ended up postponedor five days because of a certain someone's arrival in havana. that someone being president oba

both leaders will be off the island soon. cuba's president saw off his guest, serious differences between the two governments remain. but for many ordinary cubans, that's no longer an impediments to friendship. lucille newman, aljazeera, havana. >> the u.s. and cuba, a new era, joining me for that conversation, pedro has an international practice that co-chairs the cuban form. senior at lat american progress, andan lift at the kato institute. thank you for joining me. pedro, i'd like to grin but, and not only were you in havana, but you were in that theater, there as president obama delivered his remarks, and take us into that theater and what was it like? >> it was an amazing scene. i was in a second level balcony with a bunch of other cuban americans. 300 yards in front of me was president obama. 100 yards to the side was raul castro. president obama came in to thunderous applause. he first paid tribute to the victims of brussels, and then he said i'm here to talk to the cuban people, i'm here to end the cold war, and then he did

cuba, a new era? it's "inside story". >> the u.s. and cuba, a new era? i'm speaking with pedro, molly, senior fellow at the center for american progress, and carlos, a latin american policy analyst at the kado institute. one of the big questions, humor rights. there were moments even when the president was on the ground in cuba, there were dissidents arrested, in public n. view of the press as the president was departing cuba. is there enough? do you think, in what the president did and said in that openness to give dissidents in cuba encouragement? or do they think, we got nothing. >> the reaction from the cuban dissidents has been a high point for me, and i think a lot of other observers in this process. they reacted really positively. they engaged in a way with interaction with a head of state. and also, when the president was meeting with them, and saying, he specifically said multiple times, i'm speaking to the cuban people. and the cuban people seem to have taken that on and really embraced that. so i do think that that has created quite a lot of en

morning about really what this means, more importantly what it possibly could not mean for the people of cuba. so many questionstill surrounding exactly what is going to happen from this day forward and especially looking at -- we're looking at a change in presidents here in the united states too. you know, with new faculty takkg over, a strong foundation laid now could take us many, many years down the road in term of a positive direction with our relationship. >> certainly, if you are watching this, if you are a cuban or cuban american, it has to be pulling emotions, whether it's outrage or a sense of hope. we have jackie d jawann who have been there several days now and talking to folks there and getting a sense of how they are feeling and how they are taking this trip in. i believe we have them in the phone with us. actually able to see what we see here in the palace of raul castro and president obama shaking hands and talking to each other and meeting with local dignitaries and congressmen. what can you tell us that people are saying there? >> well, i'll tell you one thing, first of all,

and their feeling about cuba. the of americans saying they approve or favor u.s. reestablishing diplomatic relations with cuba. as of last year, 73% saying that they approve the ending of the trade embargo against cuba as of the summer of last year. 72% say they approved. the pew research saying, for the first time, the majority of americans have a favorable view of cuba. the gallup survey from february saw 54% of americans had a favorable view of cuba. this is a dramatic change from 1996 when just 10% said they had a favorable view of the country. the partisan split still remains. nearly three-quarters of democrats said they had a favorable view of democrats, while just 34% of republicans said the same. those numbers from the pew research center to the president is in cuba on this historic trip. bill is an auburn, pennsylvania, a republican. caller: yes, hello. and 70 years old. i have been a republican all my life. i ate trump supporter -- i am a trump supporter. i want to talk about the riots at the events. , a dem

for the first time in a long time, the president of the united states is visiting cuba. s a trip that will, in its people to people, official and serious moments, earn both scorn and praise. michael bustamante, ambassador and john suarez is still with me. john, the policy is going forward, the visit is going forward, there your perch what is the best course of action from now on? there's a cuban flag flietion on 16th street jusflying on16th sts from where we are in washington, d.c. >> the president who makes the argument over the last 50 years or 55 years there was a static policy on cuba. that's not the case. in the carter administration 19875 to 1980, the marielle crisis, and the clinton administration they attempted to normalize the relations, and this is at a time when the clinton administration was having joint military actions continuing to the present date. that ended another immigration crisis and also opened up trade. he shook hands with fidel castro. what's interesting under obama's watch we're talking about american interests beginning in 1972 when saw trade co

there are so many crises a around the world. cuba is not really that significant in the big scheme of things to the united states national interest, why there and now. >> as it relates to the american ikeee overall, i think other than big alliae, i think that cuba is a major discussion ever since 1966 when john gilbert passed or introduced the cuban plus got passed by lbj, president, democrat, in d.c.. they have a lot to tha the democratic party on that. >> but to your point on. >> ed, are you feeling a little outnumbered here. >> i got to point that out. >> but the point of. >> i think he makes a great point, by the way. >> but the point of this movement inuba, he mentioned it in 2008 when he came to the omni. he spoke at the cuban american foundation where marco rubio leave. he spoke about having some discourse with cuba. and i think this is the right time. >> he's b bn-- the president has been talking about cuba for a long time, in the greater scheme of world affairs. it has not that important but to us in south florida, it is cri

the pilgrimage to cuba to pay homage to fidel castro and raul castro. leftists celebrate vicious >> reporter: senator cruz not the oly one blasting president obama for this trip. >> reporter: donald trump tweeting out, wow, president obama just landed in cuba. big deal. raul castro wasn't even there to eet him. he greeted the pope and others. no respect. speaking of president obama, many cuban americans as well as cubans here on the island believe the president won't see the other side of cuba that so many people talk about. we spoke with a family who showed us their day-to-day struggles. driving through cuba, you say paved roads and what looks like clean streets of f well kept neighborhoods. maybe a different image of what the cuban government wanted to present to the president obama on the island. but this is the other side. a wake-up call to reality. cubans living the deplorable living in rotted wood homes and bathrooms. he welcomed us into his home and introduced us to his family. they live in a neighborhood where they struggle to live day-to-day on

. >>> jawan straaer on the ground in cuba showing the struggle of people there on the island. a side of havana president obama will not see. >>> plus, the tampa bay rays for a >>> more than half a century the sight of a.s. president here in havana would have been unimaginable, but this is a new day. it is nueva dia between our two countries. >> presiden barack obama and raul castro side by side for the first time to talk about the new day in cuba. >> the two leaders spoke to reporrs two hours ago following a private meeting. >> nbc 6 news is everywhere. jackie nespral and jawan strader continue our team coverage live from havana, cuba. >> we are live in front of the museum of the revolution right here in the heart of old havana in theenter of the historic district. >> president obama and cuban leader raul castro held a joint news conference here on the island. it was awkward at times, but they discussed everything to diplomacy to democracy and political prisoners and donald trump. >> for nbc 6, jay gray has more on this histo

yet the embar go is in place. cuba is in the throes of change and the relationship with the ufts may never bunited states pe same. president obama has removed some restrictions on trade and bank and this month he traveled to the country. no sitting president has set foot in havana since calvin coolidge sailed there in 1928. but president obama spoke to them live from the great theater of havana. listen. >> i believe the citizens should be free speak their mind without fear to organize and to criticize their government and to protest peacefully. and that the rule of law should not include arbitrary detensions of peopldetentionsof people whoe rights. >> our reporter david ariosto used to live in havana, as a base to report on it for an american audience. he went back to have a look at the america's policy and how it could fundamentally change cuban communism. >> reporter: for restaurant owners in cuba this is the picture of progress. live music, free-flowing rum and a high class of clientele who aren't just foreigners, c

the. trade with laos yet we don't trade with cuba. i think trade might let things up and also helped to topple the castro's. >> all those countries, i don't want a system for cuba. i don't want a system where you can't express yourself. i don't want to cuba where you can't have elections. we are perpetuating a system similar to what is in cuba now. john: so we shouldn't trade with the soviet union of our china either? >> i do not agree with trading with cuba for the sake of trading. the history of the embargo who, why not use it? we are not going to force something from the cuban government. john: there was a time in the early 90s when they considered going to chinese the cuban government. they decided not to and china as flowing a larger private economy. >> you can uncertain property. you cannot do that in cuba and to your point congressman if there was a way of negotiating a deal where you would force the government to allow companies u.s. companies dealing there to deal directly with the people said the government would pay the peop

, five years from now, does it look like the cuba that we know today? >> we won't repaco >> really? >> it's gonna be a completely different place because we have this whole process toward a market economy. that's what we're working to see with cuba. you know, once the market economy is entrenched more in cuba, then you're going to see more changes happening there. because the state-controlled system that they've had there, obviously, you know, people want to see a change. they want to see more -- a dynamic change in terms of people's lives being improved. >> do you think -- pretty safe to say that the castros probably won't be in power five years from now. therefore, the question becomes, will things change positively for the cuban people -- let's they're not making $20 a month on average? the better? >> well, yeah, most definitely. i mean, western union was one of the participants of the summit, and, obviously, they're also jockeying to position in terms of seeing more transactions happening, in terms of more funds being sent over b

that's something that the old cuba, the socialist cuba that could look after all of its citizens wouldll hits. the train is coming. it's either going to roar by and they're going to be able to jump on and go with it, or it's going to derail and it will be a mess. all of it's possible. ♪ ♪ [ speaking foreign language ]. >> my mom is asking me if you would like to taste the rice? >> oh, it's fantastic. like a lot of cubans, yosimi rodriguez lives in the same working-class neighborhood where she was born. >> i live with my mom, my sister, my niece. of course i would like to have my own bedroom, but there are people who don't even have a house. >> you were a translator, that's correct? you are now a journalist? >> i've been writing for "havana times" and another independent website. >> she struggles to eke out a living in an industry where the state firmly controls all media. what subjects in particular are of interest to you? >> racial issues. >> racial disparity. this is something that the revolution promised to address. >> their main mistake was to say that they had eradicated racism, t

ofer the years our cultures have dr. carlos' work in cuba paved the way for generations of doctors, including walter reed, who drew on dr. findldl's work to help combat yellow fever. just as marti wrote some of his most famous words in new york, earnest hemingwayayound a home in cuba. >> we share a national pastime. and later today our players will compete on the same havana field that jackie robinson played on before he made his major league debut. and it is said that our greatest boxer michelle mohammed ali, that draw with the great stevenson. >> or even as our governments became adversaries our people continued to share these common passions. particularly as so many cubans came to america. in miami or havana, you can find places to dance the cha or salsa. people in both of our countries have sung along with gloria estaban and now listen to pit bull. millions of our people share a common religion. a faith that i paid tribute to at the shrine of our lady of charity in miami. a peace that cubans find. for all of our differences, the cuban an

the. trade with laos yet we don't trade with cuba. i think trade might let things up and also helped to topple the castro's. >> all those countries, i don't want a system for cuba. i don't want a system where you can't express yourself. i don't want to cuba where you can't have elections. we are perpetuating a system similar to what is in cuba now. john: so we shouldn't trade with the soviet union of our china either? >> i do not agree with trading with cuba for the sake of trading. the history of the embargo who, why not use it? we are not going to force something from the cuban government. john: there was a time in the early 90s when they considered going to chinese the cuban government. they decided not to and china as flowing a larger private economy. >> you can uncertain property. you cannot do that in cuba and to your point congressman if there was a way of negotiating a deal where you would force the government to allow companies u.s. companies dealing there to deal directly with the people said the government would pay the peop

the people of cuba. cubans cannot tell this to america. >> you think about what it represents to all the people in that regime. it was a very tough regime to live under. not tolerant of a lot. when you look at this and you say, okay, all right, this is good. there is some downside in this, too. how do you come out on president obama side saying that this is actually a good day. >> i lived several years in miami florida. their family escaped under the regime. first of all, i do believe that he finally succumbs to death at some point. that will change going forward. this is the very early stages of the relationship. if we just look at how it can be to the united states, tapping into any kind of business. we need to change that in cuba. it could be a game changer. >> the telecom industry will have a field day there. what could it represent economically? and is that really what it took to get through all of this? >> there is plenty of countries that we can do well in. it does not mean that we have to engage.

i ask, why would cubans flee if the promise of a better life in cuba is just on the horizon? when president obama took office those numbers were less than 7000 annually. cuba 51000, we heard that self-employment in cuba is growing. the number of self employed workers in cuba has actually decreased. the cuban government today is licensing 10000 fewer self-employed workers than it did in 2014. in contrast, castro's military monopolies are expanding at record pace. even the limited spaces in which self-employed workers previously operated are fi being squeezed as the cuban military expands its control of the islands travel, retail and financial sectors of the economy. >> now will speaking recently in washington and the nation's capital, president, presidentch obama argued how this new policy is creating the environment in which a generational change in t transition will take place in cuba. the key question is, a generational change in transition towards what, and by whom? cuban democracy leader has concisely expresses concern he said legitimizing the castro regime is a path contr

the u.s. dollars in transactions with cuba. josh earnest said the shift could advance economic reforms in cuba. >> it also could apply more pressure to the cuban government to implement additional reforms to the cuban economy. all of that would be a good thing and all of that would be in service of the basic policy goals that we have laid out from the beginning. i would just observe that those were also the policy goals under their power -- they were prioritized by the us government for 50 years under a cuban embargo. in an attempt to isolate the cuban nation. amy: peter kornbluh, the latest restriction lifting that is taking place now, direct flights, bank accounts? letnd obama's decision to individual u.s. citizens become people to people abbasid is by simply checking off a box on the ticket to cuba. i thought it was extraordinary last night at the president of u.s. arrived on you air force one. the first thing he does is take a tour of old havana like a tourist with this family and yet the truth of the matter is, it is still

the visit is not without detractors, here and in cuba. republican leaders continue to bash the president for what they call supporting an oppressive regime. support correspondent joins us. how is the president addressing the objections that some have to the visit? >> one of the ordinarily goals is to cement and solidify the president's initiative. you recall it was on september 2014 where he made a surprise announcement that he was going to pursue the normalization after 53 years of estrangement between the united states and cuba, followed by the mutual openings of embassies, and the fanfare around that. removing some of the context around that and the american companies. part of a goal to expose cubans to american society, open communication with america itself. what the president is trying to do here first and foremost. and you see it with the stage craft and choreography. the president landing aboard aircraft one, touching down with his wife in to you. spring breakers. malia and sasha, and his mother-in-law. one of the first things he's

ahead of the cuba's church is cardinal. we're hearing he's about to step down and we have an exclusive said to fill his shoes. >> reporter: the catholic church in cuba which for decades was silenced has come back strong. the cardinalal is said to have played a role in getting the u.s. and cuba to the table. >> it's major role but we can't just look at politics for change. even though politics is imrtant, our two nations have to live in this wold in fra fraternal way. >> president and his family went to visisi the cardinal in havana's cathedral. >> i consider this visit a positive step. president obama has been courageous to break the circle. >> after 40 years serving in cuba and over 20 as cardinal, he's said to be stepping down. he's a possible replacement to lead not only the six million catholics on the island but now move into a position of power. he sits to the cardinal's left. i asked the bishop about the possibility of becoming cardinal. >> that is unpredictable. god will tell. then i'll tell you. >> we also attended

president stepped into the cuba, 1928. hat is when then president calv calvin cooliage sailed there aboard a ship. the decades-long freeze between cuba and the united states is ending. today he and the first family walked the walk. now standing on a new clean batpage of u.s. history. the obama family will be in cuba until tuesday. they have many plans. president obama will sit down face-to-face with president castro. i want to take you straight it havana. my friend and colleague chris cuomo is there. what a moment chris to be there. i know the weather is cooperating. a little bit aftof a downpour behind you. tell me what it is like to be there and also the fact president kcastro wasn't there o meet president obama at the airport. >> well, think about it, when your child, and you are getting close, when your child comes into the world, it will be a different relationship between the u.s. and cuba. for generations, cuba was told this would never happen. is this raining? yes. the air was thick with anticipation then the clouds

the u.s. president stepped foot in cuba. it is wonderful to be here. >> this is day two of the president's three-day visit. the culmination of a diplomatic thaw. the president and his cuban current part raul castro. we join melissa chan in havana. >> the biggest event is going to be president obama's bilateral meeting. it is important to mention that he's not going to be meeting with fidel castro. the two are going to assess the progress of normalization, their new bilateral relationship and they have re-established diplomatic ties. now for the goal of president obama very much on this trip it is symbolism to a certain extent misbecause he's thinking about his legacy, but he's considering the possibility that the next president might not move the process forward enough. his trip exceptionally makes it very difficult, irversible, in terms of the changes we have seen in the u.s.-cuba relationship over the past 14-15 months. now on tuesday morning president obama is going to be meeting with dissidents, human rights activists in

would be on the people of cuba. and also, themselves. that is a different story today at versailles, where the story is very much anti-castro. from a demographic of people who has bebe anti-castro who arrived in exilele 50 or 60 years ago. people feel almost betrayed that the president would set f ft on cuban soil without signs of democracy there. without attention to the human rights abuses they perceive there. a betrayal of sorts for them for symbolic gesture, let alone practical changes. in the next couple of days, there's more protests planned on 8th street. i think you'll see a lot of debate back@ and forth. the people that consider themselves cuban exile, there's now the younger generations who have grown-up in exile, but who feel like change and progress is a good thing. that's the story for here from versailles this afternoon. >> anchor: deputies serving a search warrant were shot in indiana. shots were fired in russiaville, rth of indianapolis this morning. they were serving a warrant when police say the sus

cuba? and he is hearing from the foreign people. >> see the foreign minister of cuba. we see number two at foreigns y ministry for foreign affairs. i haven't seen cuban president raul castro. you think, how did president tweet that? there is no 3g. obviously the u.s. government has capabilities. >> they have some bells and whistles on air 1. >> that impresses me. landing and sending a tweet. >> let's make effect of this rain you might be not looking in right now. this is not an easy transition. every journey begins with a single step. that's hopefully what he are seeing today is a big step. the question is, in what direction and at what pace? >> i think that you know, we have to look at this as being the large moment in the fall. and in 2018 raul castro will be stepped down and barack obama won't be there. so for the trade embargo to be lifted, it won't happen during president obama's white house tenure or with raul castro. but suddenly american airlines will have flights to the united states. we will have educational groups going down to take tours of the bay of pigs o

cuba is sovereign and rightly has great pride. and the future of cuba will be decided by cubans not by anybody else. at the same time, as we do wherever we go an the world, i paid it clear that the united states will continue to speak up on behalf of democracy, including the right of the cuban people to decide their own future. we'll speak out on behalf of universal human rights including freedom of speech and assembly and religion. indeed i look forward to hearing from and meeting with cuban individuals tomorrow, and as president castro invitation b ct believes with an attitude of mutual respect that we can both learn. and make the lives of our people better. a part of normalizing relation means that we discuss these differences directly. so i'm very pleased that we've agreed to hold our next u.s.-cuba human rights dialogue here in havana, this year, and both of our countries will welcome visits by independent united nations experts as we combat human trafficking which we agree is a profound violation of human rights. even as we discuss

what is the truth about cuba's growing private sector? e press is reporting some 400,000 cuban entrepreneurs have started new businesses on the island. that has been made possible by changes implemented by the president. is that true? and what kind of jobs are we talking about? >> reporter: well, i was able to walk around somewhat yesterday, and i talked to some of them. they are mainly in the service sector, like you have the taxi drivers, beauticians, for instance, restauranttours, small mom and top shops. and the one complaint that i kept hearing over and of again was, you know, that they have this need for infrastructure, better communications, access to the internet, things that make a business grow. >> yes. yes. >> reporter: so i heard that a lot. i couldn't tell you if 400,000 of them are actually operate, but i could see a lot of mom and pop stores and people trying to set up shop. >> as someone who has covered this story from the united states and cuba, are you as confident as president obama when he says the embargo is going to e

and david, they told me today that the human rights situation here in cuba has gotten worse over the past year. >> jon karl with me here in cuba. jon, thank you. >>> and much more from cuba later in the broadcast, including, when will americans be able to come here simply as tourists, not as part of an exchange. and the american hotels tonight, already announcing their new plans. tonight. >>> but from the political headlines here to the race for the white house back home. tomorrow, voters head to the polls in three more key states, and tonight, donald trump in washington, defending his supporters, and the fights, the violence breaking out at some of his rallies. trump turning the blame for this incident in tucson back on the protesters. tonight here, i ask president obama who he makes of trump's prediction, possible riots in the party tries to stop him in a contested convention. how the president responds in a moment. but first, abc's tom llamas on the campaign from washington. >> reporter: today, mr. trump goes to washington, working the city he hopes to call home. his motorcade pull

the world. but i also know that cuba will always stand out because of the talent, hard work, and pride of the cuban people. that's your strength. cuba doesn't have to be defined by being against the united states any more than the united states should be defined by being against cuba. and i'm hopeful for the future because of the reconciliation that's taking place among the cuban people. you know, i know that for some cubans on the island, there may be a sense that those who left somehow supported the old order in cuba. i'm sure there's a narrative that lingers here, which suggests that cuban exiles ignored the problems of pre-revolutionary cuba and rejected the struggle to build a new future. but i can tell you today that so many cuban exiles carry a memory of painful and sometimes violent separation. they love cuba. a part of them still considers this their true home. that's why their passion is so strong. that's why their heartache is so great. and for the cuban-american community i have come to know and respect, this is not just about politics. this is about family. the memory of a home that wa

the. trade with laos yet we don't trade with cuba. i think trade might let things up and also helped to topple the castro's. >> all those countries, i don't want a system for cuba. i don't want a system where you can't express yourself. i don't want to cuba where you can't have elections. we are perpetuating a system similar to what is in cuba now. john: so we shouldn't trade with the soviet union of our china either? >> i do not agree with trading with cuba for the sake of trading. the history of the embargo who, why not use it? we are not going to force something from the cuban government. john: there was a time in the early 90s when they considered going to chinese the cuban government. they decided not to and china as flowing a larger private economy. >> you can uncertain property. you cannot do that in cuba and to your point congressman if there was a way of negotiating a deal where you would force the government to allow companies u.s. companies dealing there to deal directly with the people said the government would pay the peop

cuba. president obama is not the only one going to cuba. many travelers h@re in south florida are also heading to the island nation around the same te as the commander in chief. most have one thing in common -- th say they welcome the changes between the u.s. and cuba and hope president obama's trip will bring more changes and communication between the two nations. in our next half-hour of news, nbc 6 will bring you more on what people think about the president's historic visit. >>> there are reminders of the first family's visit everywhere you go. vendors are looking to cash in by selling shirts, buttons and other items with the president's face on them. one vendor is selling magnets showing the president and first lady in humorous situations. cuba's national team is busy training ahead of their exhibition game against the tampa bay rays. the rays will become the first major league baseball franchise to play in havana since 1999. attend tuesday's game. it will be played at the 45,000-seat latin american stadium that is undergoing improvemen

, any more than the united states should be defined by being against cuba. and i'm hopeful for the future because of the reconciliation that is taking place among the cuban people. you know, i know for some cubans on the island, there may be a sense that those who left somehow supported the old order in cuba. i'm sure there is a their ti tiff -- narratives that suggests that cuban exiles, rejected the struggle to build a new future. but i can tell you today that so many cuban exiles carry a memory of painful and sometimes violent separation. they love cuba. a part of them still considers this their true home. that's why their passion is so strong. that's why their heart ache is so great. and for the cuban american community that i have come to know and respect, this is not just about politics. this is about family. the memory of a home that was lost. the desire to rebuild a broken bond. the hope for a better future. the hope for return and reconciliation. for all of the politics, people are people, and cubans are cubans. and i have come here. i have travelled

we believe in the entrepreneurs cuba, there's no turning back. and another who said this opens up up to the world. and one who said just give usp a chance. well, as your friend and partner, the united states of america wants to help you get that chance, and we're so grateful that here off to this outstanding start at this event today. muchas gracias. thank you. thank you very much. >> okay, we continue to follow the president's historic visit to cuba. the first time in 90 years that a sitting president has been in cucu. 89 years ago, calvin coolidge was there. and you heard him talk about achieving more to help themselves, and also the future and the younger generations in cuba. the president wrapping up his remarks at a news conference, earlier today with raul castro. america wants to be your partner, encouraging more access to the internet. and he continues to speak, let's listen in. >> anchor: okay, the president just wrapping up those remarks a few moments ago. he has a state dinner at 7:25 tonight. and then the president will be addressing th

the list? >> absolutely. >> did cuba have a hand in it? >> no. we were very clear that we're going to meet with who it is we want to meet. >> you're aware of some of the numbers, mr. president. by some estimates, 1,400 people arrested in january alone, setting a new high. 500 of them women. in fact, the arrests are higher since you announced normalizing relations with cuba. >> right. >> even arrests as you were arriving here in havana. does that concern you? >> well, it does concern me, and, you know, my view is that people have a right to express their differences. now, one of the things i said to president castro, and i truly believe in this, is that if they were less fearful of dissent, that not only might they be able to improve governance here, but i suspect that they could enhance their legitimacy in the eyes of the cuban people. >> will you meet with fidel castro? >> you know, if his health was good enough that i could meet with him, i'd be happy to meet with him. just as a symbol of the end of, or, the closing of this cold war chapter in o

the last time a sitting u.s. president stepped foot in cuba 1928 when calvin coolidge sailed there on a battleship from florida. they landed in havana a tonight. remember 15 a months ago, the president announced decades long freeze was ending. the president's agenda is part business. part diplomacy and part outreach. he will meet with dissidents, people who oppose the castro regime and this visit sets the tone for the two countries new future together. chris cuomo is live in a rainy but what a night in havana. when you are talking to the people there, what are they saying about what this means for them? there's anxiety and a mix and that's not unusual. that is what this is. cuba has a lot of history. a lot of star dust for periods of the revolution. at the end of the day it is an oppress arive regime. at the end of the day cuba remains a third world country. people here, not just they don't have freedom of travel to the united states, they don't have running water on a regular basis, no power grid here. the internet is more of a myth than a re

but this is the president of the cuba, communist cuba for the first time. so they want to be able they avoid any risks when it comes to security for the president. >>>>eporter: when calvin coolige caca with his wife, he arrived by a war ship. and when he arrived cuba holiday. but people are going to be lined up waiting for the motorcade through the streets of havana. i want to say coolidge was showered with red roses and the entire floor of the palace was taken care of, so he can stay thtre with his wife. in 1928, prohibition was still enforced in the u.s. and coolidge tried to act like he wasn't interested in the cuban rum here. >> reporter: different times. we were friends back then with cuba. >> reporter: at that time, five years after coolidge came, the president' government was over thrown and in 1959, fidel castro had the revolution in cuba. >> anchor: we were talking about the secret service and what it must be entailed, as you see the vehicles coming into the airport. you wonder how they're going to mix with the cuban secret service. >> anchor: abso

saying, the united states and cuba are no longer enemies. a thaw, decades after the cold war ended. today. the two leaders did not always see eye to eye. there was the hand shake between the american president and the president of cuba, and then a private meeting between the two. and then, a very rare, a true sign of the shift here, news conference. raul castro taking questions along with president obama. and castro did not hide his criticism of the united states. and, in another unexpected conference, raul castro reaches for president obama's arm there. it made for an awkward moment, with much of the world watching. a short time after arriving here in cuba, our exclusive walk with president obama, through old havana. and, tonight, right here, our new interview with him. we sat down with him just a short time ago, after his meeting with raul castro. and we begin tonight with what it was like in that room. you have said that you would speak candidly with president castro about the serious differences you have with the cuban government, particu

anchor: since you came to the senate in 1975 you have wanted to see new relations between cuba and thetates. what does this mean to you? leahy: i hoped an american president would visit cuba. i didn't know whether i would actually see it when i was in a senate. 50 years of shunning them in the embargo did not work. do we agree with everything in cuba? of course not. to have theoolish embargo. i was in a position to bring messages back and forth between the two countries. we saw the steps being taken. anchor: in january the cuban government arrested 1400 activist. is the leopard changing its spots? etc. leahy: that action goes beyond stupid. i have told them that. understand that it is a different world. if they really want to take advantage of this opportunity, you can't run it as an old soviet style country. it has neither the power nor the resources to do that. they know that with a declining birthrate and an aging population there will have to be changes. isn't there a risk that the cuban government uses this visit as political cover to carry on persecuting its people? sure.r leahy:

what a sight this was over the skies of cuba. >> anchor: it really was. the entire first family you can see walking off the plane in rainy cube at jose' marti' international airport. >> anchor: the cuban government cracking down on dissidents. several members of the well known ladies in white, were arrested. >> anchor: there were small protests in south florida. this was the seen today in little havana. >> anchor: it's a day of building excitement. a lot of unknownwn and questions going on in the presidential visit. but it is history no doubt about it. >> anchor: it really is. the president has a packed we have live team coverage. total ten news anchors are live in a rainy havana. tell us what do you see? >> anchor: is it a rainy havana. >> anchor: we're hoping it's like south florida where it comes and goes. >> reporter: history in the making here in havava, cuba. of course the president arriving ahead of schedule, about a half hour ahead of schedule at the jose' marti' international airport. the first american sitting president to come to cuba and step f