At 6:45 p.m., John F. Kennedy’s 18-minute speech was shown in its original length on what is now Kennedy Square Photo: Ufuk Ucta
By Oliver Ohmann
Same man, same place, same sentence: “I’m a Berliner.”
US President John F. Kennedy addressed it on June 26, 1963 in front of Schöneberg Town Hall. 60 years later, his historic freedom speech could be experienced again on the spot on the big screen.
Many thousands of Berliners came to the citizens’ festival on Kennedy-Platz on Saturday. A double anniversary was celebrated: 75 years of the Airlift and 60 years of Kennedy’s speech.
Schöneberg invited to a festival in front of the town hall on Saturday and many Berliners came Photo: Ufuk Ucta
Governing Mayor Kai Wegner (50, CDU) called Berlin the city of freedom and revealed: “My father was also on the square in 1963 and heard Kennedy. He left the square with a lot of hope.” US Ambassador Amy Gutmann (73) recalled the Ukrainians’ struggle for freedom today and Kennedy’s nephew Timothy Shriver (63) thanked the Berliners for hosting the Special Olympics (read more on the pages 20/21).
The governing Kai Wegner recalled the close friendship with the Western Allies. US Ambassador Amy Gutmann (right) said: “I’m a Berliner” Photo: Ufuk Ucta
When Kennedy’s speech flickered across the screen at 7:20 p.m. (in full length, 18 minutes, with German translation) – goosebumps. The freedom bell then rang in the town hall tower in memory of the victims of the airlift.
June 26, 1963: US President John F. Kennedy († 46) during his speech in front of Schöneberg Town Hall in what was then West Berlin Photo: picture alliance/dpa
The US Air Force Jazz Band from Ramstein played, while choirs from the John F. Kennedy School in Zehlendorf sang. Colleagues from the police history collection exhibited two motorcycle treasures. BMW R50 machines that escorted the Kennedy visit in 1963 and a white uniform jacket that was in use at the time.