With racism. Captioning sponsored by cbs this is the cbs evening news with scott pelley. Odonnell im Norah Odonnell. Scott is on assignment in havana and well hear from him in just a moment. It was the bestkept secret in the world until president obama went on National Television today to reveal it. Today, the United States of america is changing its relationship with the people of cuba. Odonnell nearly 54 years after president eisenhower severed diplomatic ties with the communist dictatorship, president obama said it is time to restore them. Two countries separated by just 90 miles, but more than half a century of hostilities, including a failed attempt to overthrow fidel castro, the cuban missile crisis that brought the world to the brink of nuclear war, and u. S. Embargo. Today, the president said it is time to cut loose the shackles of the past. We have a team of correspondents covering this historic day beginning with Major Garrett at the white house. I am convinced that through a policy of engagement we can more effectively stand up for our values and help the cuban people help themselves as they move into the 21st century. Reporter it started this march with a meeting between president obama and pope francis at the vatican. The president then authorized direct talks with cuba about the release of u. S. Aid worker alan gross and potential opening of diplomatic relations with the castro regime. Ben rhodes and rickardo zuniga med with officials in canada in june 13, leading to talks with top catholic officials in the vatican in october. In a 45minute phone call with castro from the oval office tuesday, president obama finalized the release of gross and a prisoner swap. It was the first substantive phone conversation between a u. S. President and cuban leader since the cuban revolution in 1959. The u. S. Released three members of a spy network known as the cuban 5. In exchange castro released an unnamed yiewben national to served 20 years in jail for working as a u. S. Spy. This man whose sacrifice only known to a few provided america with the information to arrest the cuban agents transferred to cuba today as well as other spice in the United States. Reporter the u. S. Will view cub cue. U. S. Credit and debit cards will soon be accepted there. In havana, castro acknowledged the historic breakthrough. He said the progress made in our exchanges proves that it is possible to find solutions to many problems. The u. S. Will build an embassy in avenue nay and the administration is lifting trade and travel restrictions with cuba but only congress can fully eliminate all commercial barriers between nations and the white house add miss that will be an uphill political battle. Odonnell thank you. Alan gross had been held in cuba for more than five years. More on him from state Department Correspondent margaret brennan. Reporter an elated alan gross was mobbed by wellwishers after landing outside washington, d. C. A devowed jew, he told reporters he felt blessed. Today is the first day of hanukkah, and i guess so far its the best hanukkah i will be celebrating for a long time. Reporter the former Government Contractor said he didnt believe it when his lawyer called yesterday to say his fiveyear ordeal was coming to an end. But just before 9 00 a. M. Today, the u. S. Government plane carrying him and wife judy crossed into american airspace. Making him a free man. Maryland democrat Chris Van Hollen was on board. When we were gathered on the airplane and crossed into u. S. Air space, alan gave a big hoorah and put hands up. Up. Reporter cross thanked president obama on the plane. And later everyone for his release. God bless you and thank you. It was crucial to my survival knowing i was not forgotten. Reporter imprisoned in 2009 the cuban government charged gross for crimes against the cuban state and sentenced him to 15 years. He had been distributing Communications Equipment as part of a program to promote democracy. Gross family feared he would die in captivity. He had lost 100 pounds, vision in his right eye and five of his front teeth. The years behind bars gave him new clarity. A judicious lesson ive learned from this experience is that freedom is not free. Reporter alans first words to his two daughters were im free. That taste of freedom was popcorn, a corned beef sandwich on rye and potato luckies with sour cream. Odonnell margaret, thank you so much. Only congress can lift a ban on americans traveling to cuba. Nancy cordes has the reaction on capitol hill. The white house has conceded everything and gained little. Reporter republican senator marco rubi marco rubio l only give castro power. This president is the worst negotiated in the white house in my lifetime who basically has given the cuban government everything it asked for and received no assurances of any advances of democracy and freedom in return. Reporter rubio, son of cuban immigrants, is threatening to block funding for a u. S. Embassy in cuba. If the white house is normalizing relations what good is holding up funding for an embassy going to do . The white house the decide any decision they want but have to come to congress to fund and implement it. Reporter another son of cuban immigrants slammed the deal. Trading mr. Gross for three convicted criminals sends an extremely dangerous precedent. I think it stinks and is wrong and im disappointed in the president. Reporter its hard to gauge how deep the opposition runs because the senate wrapped up work last night and went home. Senator Patrick Leahy was onerun of three lawmakers who brought gross back from cuba today. Was this mission coinciding with congress leaving town for a year and if so why . They have beenworking hard and came together now. Odonnell . Reporter some senators are open to lifting the ban. Ive always said if someone will limit my travel it should be a congress, not my own government here. Reporter rubio disagrees. He thinks the votes are not there for lifting the travel ban but many lawmakers have long been pushing to ease restrictions on farms and businesses in their states who want to trade r trade with cuba and many of those lawmakers will welcome the move. Odonnell nancy cordes, thank you so much. Miami is home to nearly 1 million cuban americans. Vincente arenas has the reaction from there. shouting reporter reaction was swift and strong in the streets of Little Havana in miami. The Gathering Place place for hundreds of thousands of cuban exiles. Osvaldo benitez fled to the u. S. 50 years ago. What went through your mind when you heard the president would normalize relations with cuba . My heart shrunk. I screamed on the television. Reporter outrage on one side. Others were ecstatic. It is the first and only alternative we have to help the people in cuba. Reporter inside the cafe, myriam bosch watched with great interest. I know my dad is turning in his grave. Reporter her father was an compile in the community known as castros big critic but she thinks today is good. Why i is there a shift in the thinking of the Younger Generation . Because the younger generous never felt the pain of losing everything. Reporter so many in the Younger Generation dont remember life under castro or were actually born in the United States. Odonnell thank you. One of the interesting things we learned today is the role pope francis played in the breakthrough. Allen pizzey is at the vatican. Reporter good evening. Pope francis sent letters to president obama and cuban president rauul castro last summer. U. S. Ambassador to the holy sea said a senior vatican official met face to face with representatives of both sides in october. As the arc archbishop of miami , the pope did what he was supposed, to build bridges and promote peace. Secrecy the lifeblood of the smallist and arguably most leak proof state, the vatican. The announcement came on pope francis 78th birthday. Perhaps the best birthday president for the first whatten american pope. Odonnell we wonder how todays news is going down in moscow. Charlie dagata is there. Charlie . Reporter good evening. The russians are actually quick to say they support the u. S. Move, calling it a long overdue measure and proof sanctions never work. But ever since the rungs took over crimea, president Vladimir Putin has been actively courting cuba. He was just in avenue nay in july where he was promising to write off 30 billion in debt. Talking about gas and Oil Exploration off the coast and even promising to lease out seven jets, this is right in americas backyard. The open question tonight is how many of these projects are still going to hold now that america has resumed the relationship with cuba . Odonnell charlie, thank you. And our scott pelley is in havana tonight with more on how that is playing there. Scott, good evening. Pelley good evening. It is a beautiful and blustery night in havana where almost no one is talking about anything else other than todays diplomatic breakthrough. There have been celebrations in the streets, swarms of motorcycle riders honking horns, children parading in the streets. This is seen almost universally as very good news. Cuba has its economic problems and people are beginning to think that this could be the beginning of the end of those problems. They see this as an opportunity for americans to travel to cuba, to bring money to cuba. They see this as potentially the opportunity to increase trade with the United States. This is still a country where you can walk into a supermarket and see the shelves empty. So there is a great deal of optimism, a great deal of hope tonight that this will bring those days to a close, at least eventually. But overwhelmingly, cubans are saying that, as they say in this city, we havent had time to swallow this yet. They dont really know exactly what it means. But there is a sense of hope in the air. We now have some more perspective on all this from our chief washington correspondent and anchor of face the nation bob schieffer. Reporter much the same feeling around here. Every american president since eisenhower has tried to figure out what to do about cuba and most attempts to improve relations have gone for naught. Im of the generation when mr. Americans thought fidel castro was behind president kennedys murder. But with all the other news, cuba hasnt been on anyones radar lately and washington seemed caught completely offguard. Many reps maybe oppose normalizing relations but the incoming chairman of the Foreign RelationsCommittee Bob corker is a republican and says he wants to study it before taking a position. More importantly the u. S. Chamber of commerce, long time financial cornerstone to have the republican party, says it welcomes the move and it will allow Free Enterprise to flourish. So expect business to open cuba as a more lucrative market for american goods. That means many reps who oppose this may have to make hard choices. For sure, washington is glad alan gross is home, but my sentiment, scott, is the rest of it so stunned washington its not quite sure what to make of all of it. Pelley bob, thanks very much. More from havana later in the broadcast. Coming next, Sony Pictures has made a dramatic decision in the face of threats about its new movie. 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Com for locations and save 10 im a believer. Odonnell tonight, sources tell cbs news the u. S. Government is preparing to blame north korea for the hack attack on Sony Pictures entertainment. Sony decided today to cancel the christmas release of the comedy the interview after hackers threatened terror attacks on theaters that show the movie. Heres bob orr. Reporter Sony Pictures entertainment pulled the plug due to threats of violence in movie pictures we have decided not to move forward with the december theatric cal release. I spent a lot of time with kim and i think hes not a bad guy you cannot pull out reporter the film features reporters on a mission to kill the leader of north korea. An online threat tuesday warned movie gores to stay away. Remember september. The hackers called themselves guardians of peace, the same group behind a wideranging cyberattack on sony. Law enforcement sources say investigators believe the guardians are states sponsored hackers inside north korea, but the u. S. Government has not yet publicly named a suspect. And the regime of kim jongun has denied any involvement in the cyber attack. The assault on sony is one of the most destructive and disruptive Cyber Attacks to hit any u. S. Company in history. Sonys already lost mels and maybe more in prestige to hacker who destroyed films and critical computer records. Odonnell up next the president and first lady describe their experience with racism when we come back. [ whistle blowing ] where do you hear that beat . Campbells healthy request soup lets you hear it in your heart. [ basketball bouncing ] heart healthy. [ mm. ] great taste. [ tapping ] sounds good. Campbells healthy request. 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Reporter compounding pharmacies are supposed to customecustomize prescriptions producing a drug for people who cant swallow a pill, for instance. This lab knew they were producing medications in unsanitary conditions. Under the conditions in which these drugs were being made, it showed extreme disregard for human life. Reporter the 131count indictment includes racketeering, conspiracy and mail fraud for manufacturing and distributing the steroid methylprednisolone tainted with fungus. One of the owners and the companys chief pharmacist, barry cadden and glen chin, are charged with 25 murders that carry a life sentence. Theres no evidence to indicate he knew that the batch was contaminated and or that he continued to cause harm or death to any other person. Whats up, girls . Its been an emotional day for j. R. Mazure who received the tainted steroid in michigan and still has fungus in his spine after three operations. I cried. When i first heard it, i cried. And then to see it on the news where you see barry cadden walking in with handcuffs, there is maybe a little justification here finally. Reporter one of the items defense lawyers will have to address is if 38 tests were conducted of clean rooms in 2012, 27 times the tests came back positive for bacteria and mold and those were test results, they say, that were ignored by those arrested today. Norah. Odonnell jim axelrod, thank you. President and mrs. Obama spoke today about their personal experience with racism. In an interview with people magazine, mrs. Obama said shed been mistaken for a store employee and mr. Obama at a black tie event, a waiter. According to the president , theres no black male my age whos a professional who hasnt come out of a restaurant and was waiting for their car and someone didnt hand them their keys. The couple discussed racism with their daughters saying, these conversations arent new to us. 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Protected. Given new hope. During the subaru share the love event, subaru owners feel it, too. Because when you take home a new subaru, we donate 250 dollars to helping those in need. Well have given 50 Million Dollars over seven years. Love. Its what makes a subaru, a subaru. The sony hack is turning into a Christmas Day crisis. The question is, will you go to the movies or stay away . What we should focus on is the people that are doing the hacking. Will threats against the interview ruin other movies this Holiday Season . We take the threats very seriously and will take extra precautions at theaters. Also, 7th heaven dad stee Stephen Collins goes on camera with his pedophile past. Why now . I sat down with charlie sheen, came out alive and got answers. Theres a show you tid fdid fora long time that is two and a half men. I was willing to be part of the final episode. Im very proud of