The announcement that the United States and Cuba are to reopen embassies in each other's capitals tops an auspicious two weeks for President Barack Obama at home and abroad. Along with supreme court decisions giving legal certainty to his healthcare reform and marriage equality, the Cuban issue can be set aside congressional agreement to allow fast track legislative status to his proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal. And Mr Obama's deeply moving and memorable eulogy to the black preacher murdered with eight of his congregation in Charlestown forcefully reminded Americans of why they voted for him and allowed them to think with good reason that they have not been disappointed in their choice.
The highly polarised opposition to Mr Obama's presidency from the Republicans was reinforced by their gains in last year's congressional elections, making sure he would face a hard time with his legislative programme. Since he has not been happy or effective as a compromising negotiator on Capitol Hill many concluded he must resign himself to lame duck status. That was a mistaken judgment. The new, upbeat note of confidence and commitment was signalled before the final outcome of negotiations with Iran on its nuclear programme are completed. That, if pulled off, would be a genuinely major foreign policy achievement, more important than the symbolic Cuban one but together with it opening the way towards reconciliation with two of the US's principal international adversaries. The Trans-Pacific Partnership, likewise, would underwrite the "pivot to Asia" Mr Obama has made a cornerstone of his foreign policy after withdrawing from Iraq and Afghanistan.
The balance between domestic and foreign policy actions is critical in defining presidential legacies. Because of the US's world role they are closely linked and involve similar political skills and foresight to carry off. Mr Obama has been able to reach an agreement on the Pacific trade deal with Republican leaders who favour it even though it is opposed by significant groups of Democratic activists and congressional representatives. And although he does not determine what the Supreme Court decides, he can legitimately claim political credit for ensuring that healthcare reform and marriage equality now have legal certainty and can only be opposed politically by the Republicans in next year's elections.
Mr Obama knows he will have difficulty delivering on immigration reform and greater income equality for middle class voters, two more key projects of his presidency. But that has not prevented him flagging them as worthy objectives - not least to voters who might support them more than Hillary Clinton in her powerful bid to succeed him. Mr Obama is proving to be a strong and persevering finisher.