On June 26, 1963, President John F. Kennedy visited West Berlin, reassuring residents that the US had not forgotten them, in a speech that included the memorable line, “Ich bin ein Berliner!” (True, the correct way to say "I am a citizen of Berlin" is "Ich bin Berline." Machs nicht. Everyone knew what he meant and the crowd went wild.)
Twenty-six years later, at a ceremony commemorating the 750th anniversary of the founding of the City of Berlin, President Ronald Reagan challenged Soviet Premier Mikhail Gorbachev, within earshot of guards posted at the gate and along the wall:
“If you seek peace, if you seek prosperity for the Soviet Union and eastern Europe, if you seek liberalization, come here to this gate. Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate. Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!”
reporter, writer, wife, mother, stepmother, grandmother, photographer, singer, knitter, swimmer -- not all at the same time songbird@birdsonawireblog.com
