In 1963, West
Berlin and East were separated by the Berlin Wall. President Kennedy had the
most overwhelming reception of his career at Berlin City Hall on 26 June, when
he delivered one of his most inspired and inspiring talks:
“Two
thousand years ago the proudest boast was Civis
Romanus Sum. Today in the world of freedom, the proudest boast is Ich bin ein Berliner.There are
many people in the world who really don´t understand, or say they don´t, what
is the great issue between the free world and the communist world. Let them
come to Berlin… Freedom has many difficulties and democracy is not perfect, but
we have never had to put a wall up to keep our people in… We…look forward to
that day when this city will be joined as one-and this country, and this great
continent of Europe- in a peaceful and hopeful globe. When that day finally
comes, as it will, the people of West Berlin can take sober satisfaction in the
fact that they were in the front lines for almost two decades.
All free
men, wherever they may live, are citizens of Berlin, and, therefore, as a free
man, I take pride in the words Ich bin ein Berliner".
This photo was taken in East Berlin (near the Wall) in 1981. Photos were not permitted.
After the
Berlin wall was dismantled (1989), we can find a piece of it in the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in Boston or in Portland, Maine.
John F. Kennedy Library and Museum in Boston (MA) in 2000.
A piece of the Berlin Wall in Portland, Maine in 2000.
Nowadays
you can buy in Berlin many souvenirs on the political issues of the 60´s.
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