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U.S.-Cuba relations had long been expected to be a big part of the president's State of the Union address since he made the landmark announcement last month establishing more ways for Americans to travel to the island nation and plans to begin opening trade and full embassies in both nations.
Another indication that the area would be addressed in this evening's speech was the fact that Alan Gross, the American freed as part of a humanitarian release in December after being held in Cuba for five years, a move that triggered the new relations, was listed to attend as a special guest of the White House.
During the speech, President Obama said that he was \"overjoyed\" that Gross was released.
![\"PHOTO:](\"http://a.abcnews.com/images/US/gty_alan_gross_jc_150120_4x3t_384.jpg\")
Members of Congress have expressed varied reactions to the calls to lift the embargo, with some from both parties—mostly with Cuban-American ties--pushing against such a move. But, recent Pew polls show more than 60 percent of Americans approve of Obama’s decision to reestablish diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Tomorrow, high-level State Department talks will begin in Havana, the first such talks since the Carter administration.
The president's speech starts at 9 p.m. ET on ABC.
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