On the historically controversial topic of United States-Cuban relations, a poll released Tuesday revealed that 60 percent of the American public say that they approve of President Barack Obama's recent decision to restore diplomatic ties with the island nation.

Since the late 1950s, relations between the United States and Cuba deteriorated markedly, putting an end to diplomatic ties and putting in place an embargo between the two countries. Half a century later, on Dec. 17, 2014, Obama and President of Cuba Raul Castro announced plans to begin working together to normalize relations between the two nations.

Under the joint agreement, the presidential pair unveiled plans to lift U.S. travel restrictions, lower the number of restrictions on monetary transfers between family members who have long since been hassled for trying to send money to their kin abroad, give U.S. banks access to the financial system in Cuba and establish a U.S. embassy in Havana for the first time since the early 1960s.

According to Tuesday's survey, carried out by NBC News in collaboration with the Wall Street Journal, six in 10 Americans give their approval on the decision to "provide diplomatic recognition" of Cuba. In terms of the specific numbers, 60 percent of respondents overall say they approve the decision, 30 percent vocally disapprove and 10 percent say they are unsure of their opinion on the topic.

According to a report from NBC News, the results of this survey demonstrate a monumental change in public opinion on U.S. relations with Cuba over the past several decades.

In August of 1978, NBC News and the Associated Press collaborated on a similar poll in which they asked American voters about the possibility of diplomatic recognition of Cuba. At that point in history, 54 percent of those polled said they would disapprove of such a decision, while a scant 31 percent reported that they would support such a bold political maneuver.

Now, in 2015, the high approval ratings garnered by the decision to re-establish ties with Havana span regional, age and racial demographics but are reportedly strongest among the President's base.

To get a bit more specific, here's a look at the numbers: Of those polled, approval rates on the decision are highest among the young, with 66 percent of 18-34 year olds giving the go-ahead. Additionally, 65 percent of African-Americans and Latino voters alike approve the decision. Lastly, respondents living in the northeast were 68 percent in favor and those in the west -- at 66 percent -- voiced their support for re-establishing Cuban ties as well.

More interesting is the data compiled from the responses of groups that aren't typically "friendly" to the President and the majority of his decisions. As controversial as the move to restore ties with Cuba is, even some of Obama's biggest critics are on board this time around.

Included in these traditionally anti-Obama groups that are currently pro-Cuba are the elderly (65 years and older) with 53 percent in favor, white voters, with 58 percent in favor, people living in the South, with 51 percent in favor, and finally even 41 percent of Republicans are reportedly on the bandwagon.

This poll was conducted by NBC News and the Wall Street Journal between Jan. 14, 2015 and Jan. 17, 2015. Participants included a sample set of 800 American voters over the age of 18. The margin of error reported in the numbers is plus or minus 3.46 percentage points.

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