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Sound recording
White House Audio Collection
JFKWHA-201-001
Sound recording of President John F. Kennedy’s address at the Free University of Berlin in Berlin, Germany. In his speech the President thanks the school for the Honorary Citizen award bestowed upon him, describes his hopes for the reunification of Germany, and discusses the future of Berlin in the context of the ideals of truth, justice, and liberty.
Sound recording
White House Audio Collection
JFKWHA-200-002
Sound recording of President John F. Kennedy’s remarks at the United States Headquarters in West Berlin, Germany. In his speech the President commends the United States military forces for their efforts concerning German-Soviet relations and the division of the city of Berlin.
Sound recording
White House Audio Collection
JFKWHA-200-001
Sound recording of President John F. Kennedy’s remarks upon signing the Golden Book at the Rathaus Schöneberg on Rudolph Wilde Platz in Berlin, Germany. In his speech the President discusses his hopes for the reunification of Germany, and emphasizes the philosophical differences between capitalism and communism, noting, "Freedom is indivisible, and when one man is enslaved, all are not free." In his remarks President Kennedy famously proclaims, "Ich bin ein Berliner." The recording has been noticeably edited.
Sound recording
White House Audio Collection
JFKWHA-198-008
Sound recording of President John F. Kennedy’s toast to Willy Brandt, Mayor of West Berlin, during a luncheon in the Brandenburg Room of the Rathaus Schöneberg in Berlin, Germany.
Sound recording
White House Audio Collection
JFKWHA-198-006
Sound recording of President John F. Kennedy’s remarks upon arrival at Tegel Airport in Berlin, Germany. In his speech the President discusses the support of West Berlin by France, Great Britain, and the United States, and also how the morale and spirit of the people of West Berlin have inspired the world.
Sound recording
White House Audio Collection
JFKWHA-197
Sound recording of the President’s News Conference of June 24, 1963 (News Conference 57) from the Foreign Ministry in Bonn, Germany. Some questions asked by the press are in German and interpreted by a translator. The President begins the press conference by thanking the German people for their generous welcome, and the German press corps for their invitation to host the press conference. During the press conference President Kennedy answers questions from the press on a variety of topics including the relationship between the United States and Germany, the role Germany plays in European development, discussions in Moscow concerning nuclear weapons testing, economic cooperation between Europe and the U.S., Berlin, and U.S. troops in Western Europe.
Sound recording
White House Audio Collection
JFKWHA-093
Sound recording of the President’s News Conference of May 9, 1962 (News Conference (32). The President begins the press conference with a statement defending the pending legislation to withhold taxes on dividends and interests against misleading information distributed by the banks and savings and loan associations. Following this statement the President answers questions from the press on a variety of topics including negotiations with the Soviets over access control to Berlin, cease-fire violations in Laos, whether Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson would be dropped from the democratic ticket in the 1964 Presidential election, and if recent proposals concerning Berlin constituted a recognition of the East German Government by the United States.
Sound recording
White House Audio Collection
JFKWHA-041
Sound recording of the President’s News Conference of June 28, 1961 (News Conference 13). President Kennedy begins the press conference with a statement concerning the death of journalist Ed Koterba, followed by lengthy statements concerning the situation in Berlin and the Soviets’ refusal to negotiate on a nuclear test ban at Geneva. He then responds to Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev’s statement that the Soviet Union would out produce the United States by 1970. Following the announcements the President answers questions from the press on a variety of topics including the situation in Berlin, the rate of economic growth in the United States, and foreign policymaking for Latin America.
Sound recording
White House Audio Collection
JFKWHA-063-003
Sound recording of President John F. Kennedy’s recorded Christmas message to the people of West Berlin. In his speech President Kennedy discusses the international pursuit of peace.
Sound recording
White House Audio Collection
JFKWHA-052
Sound recording of the President’s News Conference of October 11, 1961 (News Conference 17). President Kennedy begins the press conference by announcing that General Maxwell D. Taylor will be undertaking a trip to Saigon to meet officials regarding the recent attacks on the people of South Vietnam. He then discusses his appointment of a panel to study the problem of mental retardation and recommend a program of action. Following the announcements the President answers questions from the press on a variety of topics including the situation in Berlin and the construction of the Berlin wall.
Sound recording
White House Audio Collection
JFKWHA-048
Sound recording of the President’s News Conference of August 30, 1961 (News Conference 16). President Kennedy begins the press conference by congratulating officials and residents of Atlanta, Georgia for the orderly manner in which four high schools were desegregated. He announces that the Foreign Ministers of France, the United Kingdom, the United States, and West Germany (Federal Republic) would be meeting on September 14, 1961 to consult about the situation in Berlin and the appointment of General Lucius Clay as his personal representative in Berlin. The President then reads the text of his message to the conference of unaligned states scheduled to convene in Belgrade on September 1, 1961. Following the announcements the President answeres questions from the press on a variety of topics including the situation in Berlin, United States-Soviet relations, and steel prices.
Sound recording
White House Audio Collection
JFKWHA-047-006
Sound recording of President John F. Kennedy’s remarks in the White House Fish Room upon the return of Vice President Lyndon Johnson from Germany. In his remarks President Kennedy discusses Vice President Johnson’s report on the division of the city of Berlin.
Sound recording
White House Audio Collection
JFKWHA-045
Sound recording of President John F. Kennedy’s address to the American public regarding the impending possibility of war between the United States and the Soviet Union over the crisis in Berlin, Germany. In his speech the President discusses the Soviet Union’s attempts to cut off American access to West Berlin, thus making it impossible to secure freedom from communism for the people of Berlin. President Kennedy also discusses the imminent threat of nuclear war and his plan to increase funding and manpower for the military, provide appropriate communications for air raid warnings, and ensure that all Americans have access to fall-out shelters in the event of a nuclear holocaust. The recording contains some distortion.
Sound recording
White House Audio Collection
JFKWHA-043
Sound recording of the President’s News Conference of July 19, 1961 (News Conference 14). President Kennedy begins the press conference by reading a statement concerning the situation in Germany following Communist threats to close the border to East Berlin. He then makes several brief announcements concerning the Untied States economy; and announces that he would not be attending the Inter-American Economic and Social Council in Montevideo, Uruguay, but would send a delegation led by Secretary of the Treasury Douglas Dillon in his place. Following these statements the President answers questions from the press on a variety of topics including federal aid to education, defense expenditures and funds, the Freedom Riders movement, and Undersecretary of State Chester Bowles.