But first, the nightline five. My grandsons got this blanky that gets filthy. But hes got such sensitive skin that you worry about what you use in the laundry. So, i use new tide pods, free and gentle. To get a deep clean thats free on skin. Stop nexium can take 24 hours to work. Zantacs different. Zantac rushes relief in as little as 30 minutes. For relief without the wait. Try zantac. No pill relieves heartburn faster. Number one in just 60 seconds. Good evening. This has been an historic day, as president obama announced the u. S. Will restore full diplomatic relations with cuba. Suddenly, the ban lifted, and the pope played a major role. But not everyone is celebrating. Our david muir sat down with the president at the white house today to find out why. Here now with the full story, abcs Senior National correspondent, jim avila from havana. Reporter after five long years in a cuban prison, American Contractor alan gross is suddenly a free man. It was crucial to my survi l survival, knowing that i was not forgotten. Reporter spirited out of havana aboard a government jet, in a deal that could change history. In this video, provided exclusively to abc news by senator jeff flake, who was on board, allan gross peerm peers window at freedom. And then u. S. Air space. Reporter and the actual reunion with his wife judy, who flew to cuba along with his attorney. His first words, simply, im free. Today is the first day of hanukkah, and i guess so far, its the best hanukkah that ill be celebrating for a long time. Reporter his release was the final condition in a year and a half of secret negotiations. Now, for the first time, in more than a half century, president obama acted to restore full diplomatic relagtss with cuba, installing an embassy in the isolated socialist nation. Which could open the door for trade, tourism and american investment. Neither the american nor cuban people are well served by a rigid policy thats rooted in events that took place before most of us were born. Reporter tonight, in new york, a group of young cubanamericans gathered to celebrate and debate that historic moment. The reality is the basic freedoms that we all enjoy in countries like the United States, those basic freedoms arent given to cubans on the island. Reporter nathalie grew up in florida. Like most first generation cubanamericans, she supports the decision. Im very hopeful about what this means in terms of our abili ability. Reporter to understand and respect the fact that their parents and grandparents may remain strongly opposed. Miami radio host is an outspoken cuban exile who broadcast on radio mambi. This is the worst message that president obama could have sent, not only to the cuban people, but to the administration. And the people inside cuba, members of the opposition, feel the same way. Reporter her sentiments are echoed by prominent cubanamerican politicians on both sides of the aisle. This undermines our moral credibility at the leader of the free world. If this Administration Takes cuba off the state sponsored terrorism, what a message were going to send. Reporter but despite that criticism today, polls show that a majority of americans, even of cubanamericans, now support more open relations with cuba. We look forward to getting back our a lot of our cuban heritage and going to see our family will be easier. Reporter and here in havana, bells rang askew ba witnessed something people here thought they might never see. President s from the u. S. And their home island agreeing on the future. Do you think more americans coming here will be good for you, good for cuba . Of course. Reporter because . Tourism. Tourism. Reporter money. Of course, money. We need money. Reporter world news tonight anchor david muir spoke exclusively with president obama about earlier today. Well, im not sure that, you know, raul castro at the age of 80something is going to be changing significantly. But theres going to be generational change in cuba. This last conversation was substantive and the point that i made to mr. Castro was that given the proximity between the United States and cuba, given the Strong Family ties between the United States and cuba, there should be a way for us to move the relationship forward. I was very insistent with him that we would continue to promote democracy and human rights and speak out forcefully on behalf of the freedom of the people of cuba. Reporter Officials Say the ailing contractor, alan gross, was released on humanitarian grounds. But the u. S. Also negotiated a prison swap today. Releasing three cuban spies for one of our own. Held in cuba for 20 years. A deal the pope helped broker. How crucial a role did the pope play in all of this . He played a very important role. When i had the meeting with pope francis for the first time, back in the spring, this was one of the items on the agenda. Reporte will you visit cuba . I dont have any current plans to visit cuba. Not ruling it out . Lets see how things evolve. Reporter the u. S. And gu have a long, contentious history that began at the height of the cold war. First, the bay of pigs invasion, and then, brink of Nuclear Disaster during the missile crisis. This is a cuban patrol boat. We are on it with fidel castro. Reporter abcs Barbara Walters was inside enemy lines while fidel castro was still aligned with the soviet union. Mr. President , when will your country and my country have normal relations . Translator i believe that that depends on the good will of both parts and i believe it also depends on time. Reporter since then, cubans have suffered under economic embargo and weathered Many Political crisis, including the fight over little elian gonzalez, whose mother was one of tens of thousands of cubans who resorted to rafts to escape extreme poverty. But desite this relationship, this island, only 90 miles away has retained a romantic hold on americans, who, for generations, have dreamed of returning. Cuba is a real place. Its not just this place where my family suffered or, you know, its not just about righting past wrongs. Its a real place where real people are living their lives today and i think we need to take that into consideration that its not just about us. Its also about them. Reporter a new generation of cubanamericans who, like many here in havana, look forward to a new era. For n untinightline, im jiav next, will this mother finally released from prison after being convicted of murder make it home for the holidays . Her emotional journey. And later on nightline, what could intimidate former nfl great Michael Strahan . Could it be a line of dancers . Whaoh wow t . hello, humans. Focus on me focus on the guard. Dont tell anyone what youve seen in here. Have you seen whats in there . They have intel. This is where it all changes. Vicks nyquil severe. Helps relieve your ugliest, nastiest, roughest, toughest cold symptoms. Vicks nyquil severe. With maximum symptom fighting ingredients. vo rescued. Ed. 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. Tonight, a major twist in a case weve been reporting on for six years. Hannah overton is a mother of five. In the eyes of the law, she was also a murderer. Spending years in jail for the bizarre death of a boy she was trying to adopt. But now, the conviction has been overturned. Nightline coanchor juju chang has been on this story from the start as was with overton as she began her journey home. Somebodys worst nightmare, after your child dies, to be told that somebody thinks its your fault. Reporter Hannah Overton convicted and sent to jail for the murder of her 4yearold foster son. Behind bars for the past seven years. Yet, all along, shes maintained her innocence. Did you mean to kill andrew . No. Reporter but whats happened since her arrest has turned into a long and twisted fight for freedom. Id never hurt a child. Never. What are you looking for, andrew . Im looking for that. Reporter little andrew ended up apart of hannahs family after a troubled infancy. Born to a meth addict, abused and placed in foster care at the age of 2. At the time, hannah and larry overton, former missionaries, had four biological children all under the age of seven. Even as thhannah was expecting fifth child, they volunteered as foster parents. It was exciting to give that love to somebody who needed it. Reporter within a few weeks of moving in, hannah and larry began to see odd behavior. I started noticing that he was hording food. Anything that he found, he would put in his mouth. He ate dog food, cat food. Reporter it only got worse. Obsessing eating. Excessive tantrums. Just four months after andrew moved in, another unusual tan trem. He was throwing a fit for quite awhile and then he threw up. Reporter when the 4yearold complained of being cold and started shaking, hannah says she and her husband suspected the flu. When his condition got worse, they raced him to the hospital. Within yards of the urgent car saecenter, he stopped breathing. Reporter andrew had salt poisoning, with a sodium level almost double the norm. Ive never seen sodium that high in anyone. If you take salt at a level faster than your body can remove it, your sodium level will go up. It can cause brain swelling and come you have shuns and event l eventually death. Reporter after two bowls of soul, andrew wanted more. Instead, hannah offered him a sippy cup with water with a few sprinkles of seasoning. So, my thought is that i would calm him down, appease him. Give him like a broth. Without giving him a tummy ache. Reporter but that story didnt add up to the medical staff. One doctor calculated it would take 23 teaspoons to get andrews sodium level that high. The day after he was admitted to the hospital, andrew died. We had been told that we wouldnt come back to the hospital, so, we we sent my mom and my stepdad and my pastor up there and they sat with him. Reporter both hannah and larry were charged with capital murder. Automatic life sentence. The authorities quickly began weaving a sinister tale of murder. Andrew had an enraged mother who didnt, i dont think, love him the way she loved her own biological children. Reporter at trial, the prosecution suggested that despite her calm demeanor and no prior history of violence, hannah had turned abusive, forcing andrew to eat a toxic dose of that seasoning. But the defense had a different theory. That andrew might have had pica, a strange eating disorder marked by an obsessive appetite. Did you force feed him salt . Absolutely not. Reporter did you force feed him the seasoning . No. Reporter who would the jury believe . We the jury find the defendant Hannah Overton guilty. Reporter hannah was given a life sentence. Larry later pled no contest to negligent homicide in return for probation. Hi, hannah. Nice to meet you. In the six years since 20 20 has covered her case, the devoult mother of five has remained steadfast in her faith and confident her conviction would be overturned. Her new defense team finally won a new hearing in 2012. At the center of the appeal, two doctors who believe in hannahs innocence, but never got a chance to take the witness stand. First, dr. Edgar cortez. Insisting that his concerns about Andrews Health were ignored by the prosecution. Im the one that felt that he hate other kinds of neurological problems. Reporter and then, dr. Michael moritz. He told the Appeals Court exactly what he told abc six years ago. The most likely scenario was that andrew ingested the salt all on his own. I think most people would never suspect salt poisoning, since it is something very few pedestrians have ever encounters. Reporter despite their testimony, hannah didnt win her appeal. But just this past december, the break hannahs team had been praying for. Texas highest criminal Court Reversed hannahs convict, granting her a new trial based on ineffective council. Just a week after the good news, we visited hannah once again at her texas prison. I just want to khug my kids. Reporter you havent been allowed to do that for seven years. Yeah. Reporter she missed so much. The baby girl born just prior to hannahs try, who she had been nursing, is now a 7yearold. Their oldest son is now a teenager. Hannahs girls are now 12 and 13. Sebastian, just 3 when his mother left, is now 10 and clearly feeling the emotional weight of his mothers absence. Tell me, whats been the hardest part about all these years waiting for her . Not being able to spend time with her. Reporter late yesterday, a judge set hannahs bail at 50,000 and ordered her to be released. Hannah emerged from this elevator greeted first by her moth mother, then into the arms of her two eldest children. A few moments later, hannah finally able to embrace the other three children she hasnt touched for seven years. But their reunion is tinged with sadness. She still misses an true and says she has no regrets about trying to give him a forever family. I wouldnt trade that time that we had with andrew for the world. Reporter while the prison bars are now gone, hannah is not completely free. Rather than dismiss the charges, a new prosecutor continues to believe Hannah Overton is a coldblooded killer. And is planning to try her again for capital murder. Make sure to tune into home for the holidays on 20 20 next friday, right here on abc, for the full report. Coming up, our Michael Strahan once played in the nfl. And tonight, hes working up a sweat again, this time, with a Different Group of athletes. One, two, three rockettes celebrate whats new, the bigger, better menu at red lobster with more of what you love try our newest woodgrilled combination maine lobster, extra jumbo shrimp, and salmon so hurry in and sea food differently. [electronic music] new ricola revitalizing herb drops. Powered by an effervescent center that soothes and revitalizes. Riiicoooolaaaa 7 powerball tickets 6 match 6 chances 5 cash 5s 4 big 4s 3 daily numbers 2 Mega Millions joe happy holidays, rita. rita thanks, joe man what a great gift announcer Pennsylvania Lottery tickets make great gifts, like the new 1 million peppermint payout. joe happy holidays and best wishes from the lottery we put all the apps you love inside a car designed to connect you to a world of possibilities. The connected car by volvo. Innovating for you. Give the gift of volvo this season and well give you your first months payment on us. He tackled his way into the nfl hall of fame with both grace and fearlessness. Tonight, our Michael Strahan is taking on yet another demanding physic physical challenge. Hes not afraid, and his new line mates may surprise you, as they stretch the star athlete in new ways. Reporter the radio city rockettes make it all look so easy. The kicks, the costume changes. That makeup. But how hard is it really to be a rockette all day . Lucky me, the ladies invited me to find out. Im here at radio city music hall, im so excited. You know why . Because im about to become a rockette arms pumping in there. Reporter first step . Warming up. The rockettes are in up to four shows a day, kicking more than 300 times per performance. So, to prepare, they stretch. And they stretch. I dont know about this. And they stretch. There are perks to all the hard work. The rockettes say theres no need for a special rockette diet. They burn up to 1,000 calories each performance. Put your right arm across. Reporter it was time for the dancing to begin. Two, drop it three, hold four. Were going to go one, and youre going to kick your right foot, together, jump, kick your left foot. And then youre going to do a big pose at the end. Reporter with the steps down. Right, center, four times in the center. Well, pretty much down. It was time to add some music. Im so nervous now, because the music is going to be so fast. Check this out. Okay. I dont know what just happened. But one, two, three rockettes a day with the rockettes, now thats what i call kicking the holidays into high gear. For nightline, im Michael Strahan in new york. Michael strahan, renaissance man. I about tore a hamstring just watching him. Thank you for watching abc news. Tune into Good Morning America tomorrow, and as always, were online at abcnews. Com. Good night, america. [cheers and applause] yeah hey hey hey. Hey welcome to millionaire. Weve got a bunch of amazing, young geniuses with us this week, all of them trying to win that 1 million. Its millionaire whiz kids [cheers and applause] todays returning whiz kid is an eighth grade straighta student whos already taken the a. C. T. S and completed two college courses. From baltimore, maryland, please welcome 14yearold mandy berry [cheers and applause] hi hi, mandy [applause] wow. Now, what are you gonna do with the money that youve won so far . I want to buy this little marsupial called a sugar glider. Well, the question is, is your mom gonna be okay with that . [laughter] ifive been talking about it for years now, so id hope shes all right with it. Well, let me tell you, you get that money, i think shell be okay with it. Yeah. I would hope so. Just to recap, you are working your way through round 1. Youve banked 16,600 and are 8 questions away