havana u.s. president barack obama push cuba improve human right historic visit communist-led island monday publicly spar president raul castro show flash anger hit back u.s. double standards obama praise castro openly discuss differences say full flower relationship would happen progress issue right absence think continue powerful irritant obama say joint news conference castro begin joke tense time america believe democracy believe freedom speech freedom assembly freedom religion american value universal value say men remark broadcast live cuban state television cuba palace revolution room drape star strip cuban flag castro counter country meet international right appear uncomfortable make rare step take question journalists country media state control obama first u.s. president visit cuba 88 years agree 2014 improve relations former cold war foe pressure home push castro government allow political dissent open soviet-style economy say two side would hold talk human right havana late year opponents say obama give away much improve tie little castro return although lead republican candidate nov. presidential election donald trump say monday would likely continue normalize tie cuba elect castro army general become president ail old brother fidel retire 2008 never take question foreign reporters live cuban television clearly irritate ask political prisoners cuba demand reporter produce list jail tell political prisoners give name name castro say political prisoners free nightfall cuba say political prisoners dozens list dissident group instead common criminals castro say cuba strong record right health access education women equality government criticize unite state racism police violence use torture guantanamo bay naval base cuba ben rhodes senior obama aide late insist cuba political prisoners say u.s. government share list cuba say cuba shift long prisons term short-term detentions political opponents late even castro sit obama first lady michelle obama dinner rum flavor soup pork table also include leaders top advisers obama ease reporters question contrast castro manner tension palpable castro decline call slew cuban journalists yearn rare chance ask question fumble headset provide translation 84-year-old leader scold reporters ask right say agree take one question obama playfully encourage address second castro seem reluctant oblige many countries comply 61 human right know none none castro say another awkward moment news conference end castro lift obama arm air form victory salute obama resist let hand hang limp rather form fist part diplomatic breakthrough 2014 cuba release 53 prisoners u.s. government consider political prisoners dissident cuban commission human right national reconciliation say 79 still behind bar among 40 hold peaceful political protest list want see commission leader elizardo sanchez say monday list also include arm anti-government militants convict hijackers army deserters spy sanchez say political deny due process castro offer cuba recipe good relations say unite state need lift 54-year-old trade embargo island hand back guantanamo bay base cuba obama respond demand guantanamo bay say optimistic elimination sanction cuba embargo go end entirely sure obama say obama efforts encourage congress rescind embargo reject republican leadership thwart obama instead use executive authority loosen restrictions trade travel obama say direct flight unite state would start year say regular tourism cuba could happen soon comment u.s. network abc clutch deal time coincide visit appear show strategy bear commercial fruit notably u.s. cruise company carnival announcement monday would sail first ship unite state cuba 50 years deal bring thousands u.s. tourists time dozen major u.s. brand stick deal talk cuba ahead meet castro obama say google would provide wi-fi broadband access island google say late efforts early stag obama spar cuba 's castro human right historic visit