washington president barack obama tuesday nominate career diplomat jeffrey delaurentis first u.s. ambassador cuba five decades set fierce confirmation battle republicans congress oppose obama open communist-ruled island appointment delaurentis top american official u.s. embassy havana since relations restore last year mark obama late move go far normalize tie former cold war foes leave office january nomination must approve republican-controlled senate see long shoot especially presidential election year give expect strong resistance cuban-american senators include marco rubio florida ted cruz texas rubio blister statement deride nomination last-ditch legacy project obama say go nowhere individual senator power one often invoke put hold ambassadorial nomination delay full senate vote veil appeal lawmakers obama praise delaurentis leadership normalization process hurt represent ambassador havana say statement ambassador make easy advocate interest deepen understand even know continue differences cuban government obama say delaurentis widely tip post president hold name even cuba appoint ambassador washington shortly embassies reopen countries capitals july last year would first u.s. envoy since philip bonsal appointee president dwight eisenhower leave post vacant late 1960. obama travel havana march first visit u.s. president 88 years trip make possible breakthrough agreement cuban president raul castro december 2014 cast aside decades hostility begin soon cuba 1959 revolution since open obama repeatedly use executive power relax trade travel restrictions push cuba accelerate cautious market-style reform allow great political economic freedom even u.s. embargo cuba remain place major irritant relations congress lift embargo republican leadership expect allow move anytime soon delaurentis u.s. chief mission cuba since august 2014 third post havana also hold diplomatic post state department washington u.s. mission unite nations bogota obama name u.s. ambassador cuba set confirmation fight