Kennedy Speaking in Berlin. June 26 1963. Source: http://www.jfklibrary.org/Asset-Viewer/oEX2uqSQGEGIdTYgd_JL_Q.aspx
Ich Bin Ein Berliner
In August 1961, The Soviet Union put up a wall dividing the Soviet controlled East Berlin, and the Western controlled West Berlin. Khrushchev’s decision to do this was a relief to Kennedy. ("JFK: A presidency," 2003)He saw it as Khrushchev throwing up his hands and avoiding further conflict; he was right. This wall provided a stark contrast between Communism and Western Capitalism, a contrast that Kennedy would rail against in his famous speech in front of the city hall in Berlin. He concluded his speech with the famous line “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.". The crowd met the end of Kennedy’s speech with a several minute standing ovation. ("1963: Kennedy," 2005)