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Oral history
John F. Kennedy Oral History Collection
JFKOH-MJH-01
In this interview Hillenbrand discusses President John F. Kennedy [JFK] entering office amid the Berlin crisis; working as the Director of the Office of German Affairs with JFK; the Berlin Task Force and the Ambassadorial Group; JFK's attitude towards the German problem and German reactions to the Kennedy Administration; the State Department and Germany; the 1961 Vienna talks with Nikita S. Khrushchev; the erection of the Berlin Wall and the crisis it generated; the Kennedy Administration's reaction and response to the Berlin Wall; talks with Russia over Berlin and the Wall; the press "leaks crisis" on the Germany problem; JFK's working style and approach to problems, according to Hillenbrand; the impact of the Cuban Missile Crisis on the Berlin talks; JFK's German policy and relationship with German leaders; and what JFK accomplished related to Germany, among other issues.
Photograph folder
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-1963-06-26-F
ST26, KN37
Photograph folder
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-1963-06-26-D
ST26, KN37
Photograph folder
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-1963-06-26-C
ST26, KN37
Photograph folder
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-1963-06-26-B
ST26, KN37
Photograph folder
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-1963-06-26-A
KN37
Moving image
United States Government Agencies Collection
USG-02-B-1
Motion picture covering President John F. Kennedy's visit to Berlin, Germany. President Kennedy arrives at Tegel Airport in Berlin and delivers remarks in a welcome ceremony presided over by Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany Konrad Adenauer and Mayor of West Berlin Willy Brandt. President Kennedy visits the site of the Brandenburg Gate, looks over the Berlin Wall, and then visits Checkpoint Charlie. President Kennedy delivers an address upon signing the Golden Book at the Rathaus Schöneberg on Rudolph Wilde Platz. In his speech President Kennedy 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." Afterward President Kennedy attends a ceremony at Berlin Free University and addresses the crowd, and finally delivers farewell remarks and departs Berlin.Produced by: Sgt Bill Bailey, Special Events Department of AFTV (United States Armed Forces Radio and Television Service).
Edited by: Sgt James Connelly.
Narrated by: A1C Al Baker.
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. National Security Files
JFKNSF-097-011
This folder contains Department of State telegrams regarding the United States, Soviet Union, and Berlin. Topics include Berlin contingency planning, TTD (temporary travel document) policy and discussions on civilian traffic between East and West Germany, the shooting of a refugee at the Berlin Wall and the refusal of East German guards to permit entry to a British ambulance; and a plebiscite proposal for West Berlin. Of note is a draft of a memorandum of conversation between West Germany Mayor Willy Brandt and President John F. Kennedy discussing Berlin.
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. National Security Files
JFKNSF-097-010
This folder contains Department of State telegrams regarding the United States, Soviet Union, and Berlin. Topics include the possible withdrawal of a U.S. garrison in Berlin; TTD (temporary travel document) policy discussions; incidents in the Berlin air corridor between the Soviet Union and Allied aircraft; an upcoming trip to Washington, D.C. by Mayor of West Berlin Willy Brandt; and the right of asylum for East German refugees. Of note is a background paper by the Department of State and U.S. Information Agency (USIA) titled, “Berlin in Brief.”
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-ST-C230-3-63
President John F. Kennedy (center left foreground, back to camera) visits the Berlin Wall near Checkpoint Charlie in West Berlin, West Germany (Federal Republic). Also pictured: Chancellor of West Germany, Konrad Adenauer; Mayor of West Berlin, Willy Brandt; Eunice Kennedy Shriver; U.S. Chief of Protocol, Angier Biddle Duke; U.S. Secretary of State, Dean Rusk; Jay W. Gildner, of the United States Information Agency (USIA); White House Secret Service agent, Gerald A. “Jerry” Behn.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-ST-C230-18-63
President John F. Kennedy (right, standing at microphones) delivers remarks at Free University of Berlin in West Berlin, West Germany (Federal Republic). Those seated on stage at left include: Chancellor of West Germany, Konrad Adenauer; Mayor of West Berlin, Willy Brandt; Speaker of the Berlin House of Representatives, Otto Bach; Free University Rector, Ernst Heinitz; French Commandant in Berlin, Major General Edouard Toulouse; Director of Radio in the American Sector (RIAS) in Berlin and translator for President Kennedy, Robert Lochner. [Scratches at bottom of image are original to the negative.]
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-ST-C230-38-63
President John F. Kennedy views East Berlin, East Germany (Democratic Republic), from an elevated platform at Checkpoint Charlie along the Berlin Wall in West Berlin, West Germany (Federal Republic). Also pictured: Chancellor of West Germany, Konrad Adenauer; Mayor of West Berlin, Willy Brandt; West German Ambassador to the United States, Karl Heinrich Knappstein; Minister for All-German Affairs, Dr. Rainer Barzel; Commanding General of the Berlin Brigade, Major General Frederick O. Hartel; Military Aide to President Kennedy, General Chester V. Clifton; Director of Radio in the American Sector (RIAS) in Berlin and translator for the President, Robert Lochner; U.S. Secretary of State, Dean Rusk; U.S. Commandant in Berlin, Major General James H. Polk; White House Secret Service agent, Gerald A. “Jerry” Behn. [Vertical blemish near center of image is original to the negative.]
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-ST-C230-23-63
President John F. Kennedy views East Berlin, East Germany (Democratic Republic), from an elevated platform at Checkpoint Charlie along the Berlin Wall in West Berlin, West Germany (Federal Republic). Standing with the President: Mayor of West Berlin, Willy Brandt; Commanding General of the Berlin Brigade, Major General Frederick O. Hartel; U.S. Commandant in Berlin, Major General James H. Polk.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-ST-C230-2-63
President John F. Kennedy (center left foreground, back to camera) visits the Berlin Wall near Checkpoint Charlie in West Berlin, West Germany (Federal Republic). Also pictured: Chancellor of West Germany, Konrad Adenauer; Mayor of West Berlin, Willy Brandt; U.S. Chief of Protocol, Angier Biddle Duke; U.S. Secretary of State, Dean Rusk; Jay W. Gildner, of the United States Information Agency (USIA); White House Secret Service agents, James J. Rowley, Gerald A. “Jerry” Behn, and Roy Kellerman.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-ST-C230-1-63
President John F. Kennedy (center) visits Checkpoint Charlie along the Berlin Wall in West Berlin, West Germany (Federal Republic). Also pictured: Chancellor of West Germany, Konrad Adenauer; Mayor of West Berlin, Willy Brandt; Commanding General of the Berlin Brigade, Major General Frederick O. Hartel; U.S. Chief of Protocol, Angier Biddle Duke; Military Aide to President Kennedy, General Chester V. Clifton; Director of Radio in the American Sector (RIAS) in Berlin and translator for the President, Robert Lochner; White House Secret Service agents, James J. Rowley, Sam Sulliman, Paul A. Burns, Jerry Blaine, Gerald A. “Jerry” Behn, Floyd Boring, and Roy Kellerman.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-ST-C230-29-63
President John F. Kennedy views the Brandenburg Gate (hung with red banners) in East Berlin, East Germany (Democratic Republic), from an elevated platform at the Berlin Wall in West Berlin, West Germany (Federal Republic). Also pictured: Mayor of West Berlin, Willy Brandt; White House Secret Service agents, Floyd Boring, Gerald A. “Jerry” Behn, and Jerry Blaine.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-KN-C29292
President John F. Kennedy (center) receives an honorary citizenship award at Free University of Berlin in West Berlin, West Germany (Federal Republic) from University Rector, Ernst Heinitz. Standing right of President Kennedy (backs to camera): Chancellor of West Germany, Konrad Adenauer; Mayor of West Berlin, Willy Brandt. Also pictured: Federal Minister of Economic Cooperation and Development of Germany, Walter Scheel; Minister for All-German Affairs, Dr. Rainer Barzel; West German Ambassador to the United States, Karl Heinrich Knappstein; Chairman of the Committee to Strengthen the Security of the Free World, General Lucius D. Clay; Speaker of the Berlin House of Representatives, Otto Bach; Jay W. Gildner, of the United States Information Agency (USIA); White House Secret Service agent, Floyd Boring. [Horizontal streaks are original to the negative.]
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-KN-C29253
President John F. Kennedy (at lectern in foreground, back to camera) delivers remarks before a crowd gathered at Rudolph Wilde Platz in West Berlin, West Germany (Federal Republic). President Kennedy delivered his speech from a platform erected on the steps of West Berlin’s city hall, Rathaus Schöneberg. Chancellor of West Germany, Konrad Adenauer, and interpreter for the German Foreign Ministry, Heinz Weber, stand right of the President; Mayor of West Berlin, Willy Brandt, stands left of the President. Also pictured: U.S. Secretary of State, Dean Rusk; Minister of Foreign Affairs of Germany, Gerhard Schröder; Federal Minister of Economic Cooperation and Development of Germany, Walter Scheel; Air Force Aide to the President, Brigadier General Godfrey T. McHugh; White House Secret Service agent, Gerald A. “Jerry” Behn.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-KN-C29248
President John F. Kennedy (at lectern in foreground, back to camera) delivers remarks before a crowd gathered at Rudolph Wilde Platz in West Berlin, West Germany (Federal Republic). President Kennedy delivered his speech from a platform erected on the steps of West Berlin’s city hall, Rathaus Schöneberg. Chancellor of West Germany, Konrad Adenauer, and interpreter for the German Foreign Ministry, Heinz Weber, stand right of the President; Mayor of West Berlin, Willy Brandt, stands left of the President. Also pictured: the President’s sister-in-law, Princess Lee Radziwill of Poland; Special Assistant to the President for National Security, McGeorge Bundy; U.S. Chief of Protocol, Angier Biddle Duke; West German Ambassador to the United States, Karl Heinrich Knappstein; French Commandant in Berlin, Major General Edouard Toulouse; U.S. Secretary of State, Dean Rusk; Federal Minister of Economic Cooperation and Development of Germany, Walter Scheel.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-KN-C29211
President John F. Kennedy (hidden) views East Berlin, East Germany (Democratic Republic), from an elevated platform at Checkpoint Charlie along the Berlin Wall in West Berlin, West Germany (Federal Republic). Also pictured: Chancellor of West Germany, Konrad Adenauer; Mayor of West Berlin, Willy Brandt; U.S. Ambassador to West Germany, George C. McGhee; Director of Radio in the American Sector (RIAS) in Berlin and translator for President Kennedy, Robert Lochner; Military Aide to the President, General Chester V. Clifton; U.S. Secretary of State, Dean Rusk; Minister for All-German Affairs, Dr. Rainer Barzel; Minister of Foreign Affairs of Germany, Gerhard Schröder; White House Secret Service agents, Roy Kellerman, Floyd Boring, and Gerald A. “Jerry” Behn. [Horizontal streak at bottom of image is original to the negative.]
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-KN-C29206
President John F. Kennedy (center left foreground, back to camera) visits the Berlin Wall near Checkpoint Charlie in West Berlin, West Germany (Federal Republic). Also pictured: Chancellor of West Germany, Konrad Adenauer; Mayor of West Berlin, Willy Brandt; Eunice Kennedy Shriver; U.S. Chief of Protocol, Angier Biddle Duke; U.S. Ambassador to West Germany, George C. McGhee; U.S. Secretary of State, Dean Rusk; White House Secret Service agent, Gerald A. “Jerry” Behn.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-KN-C29208
President John F. Kennedy views the Brandenburg Gate (hung with red banners) in East Berlin, East Germany (Democratic Republic), from an elevated platform at the Berlin Wall in West Berlin, West Germany (Federal Republic). Also pictured: Chancellor of West Germany, Konrad Adenauer; Mayor of West Berlin, Willy Brandt; U.S. Chief of Protocol, Angier Biddle Duke; Military Aide to President Kennedy, General Chester V. Clifton; British Commandant in Berlin, Major General David Peel Yates; President John F. Kennedy’s sister-in-law, Princess Lee Radziwill of Poland. Reporters and photographers observe from below platform at right. Yellow sign in background reads, “In the agreements of Yalta and Potsdam U.S. Presidents Roosevelt and Truman undertook: to uproot German militarism and Nazism; to arrest war criminals and bring them to judgment; to prevent rebirth of German militarism; to ban all militarist and Nazi propaganda; to ensure that Germany never again menaces her neighbours or world peace. These pledges have been fulfilled in the Democratic Republic. When will these pledges be fulfilled in West Germany and West Berlin, President Kennedy?” [Blue streaking on image is original to the negative.]
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-KN-C29207
President John F. Kennedy (mostly hidden) views the Brandenburg Gate (hung with red banners) in East Berlin, East Germany (Democratic Republic), from an elevated platform at the Berlin Wall in West Berlin, West Germany (Federal Republic). Also pictured: Chancellor of West Germany, Konrad Adenauer (mostly hidden); Mayor of West Berlin, Willy Brandt; Military Aide to President Kennedy, General Chester V. Clifton; White House Secret Service agents, Gerald A. “Jerry” Behn and Jerry Blaine. Reporters and photographers observe from below platform at right. Yellow sign in background reads, “In the agreements of Yalta and Potsdam U.S. Presidents Roosevelt and Truman undertook: to uproot German militarism and Nazism; to arrest war criminals and bring them to judgment; to prevent rebirth of German militarism; to ban all militarist and Nazi propaganda; to ensure that Germany never again menaces her neighbours or world peace. These pledges have been fulfilled in the Democratic Republic. When will these pledges be fulfilled in West Germany and West Berlin, President Kennedy?” [Discoloration in image is original to the negative.]
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-KN-C29224
President John F. Kennedy (center left, back to camera) inspects honor guard troops during his arrival ceremony at Tegel Airport in West Berlin, West Germany (Federal Republic); French Commandant in Berlin, Major General Edouard Toulouse walks left of President Kennedy. Those standing at right include: Chancellor of West Germany, Konrad Adenauer; Mayor of West Berlin, Willy Brandt; Naval Aide to the President, Captain Tazewell T. Shepard, Jr.; Air Force Aide to the President, Brigadier General Godfrey T. McHugh; Military Aide to the President, General Chester V. Clifton.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-KN-C29223
President John F. Kennedy (at microphones) delivers remarks during his arrival ceremony at Tegel Airport in West Berlin, West Germany (Federal Republic); Mayor of West Berlin, Willy Brandt (mostly obscured), and Director of Radio in the American Sector (RIAS) in Berlin and translator for President Kennedy, Robert Lochner, stand right of the President. Also pictured: Chancellor of West Germany, Konrad Adenauer; Chairman of the Committee to Strengthen the Security of the Free World, General Lucius D. Clay; U.S. Commandant in Berlin, Major General James H. Polk; British Commandant in Berlin, Major General David Peel Yates; President of the Berlin House of Representatives, Otto Bach; Minister of Foreign Affairs of Germany, Gerhard Schröder; Special Counsel to President Kennedy, Theodore C. Sorensen; French Commandant in Berlin, Major General Edouard Toulouse; U.S. Chief of Protocol, Angier Biddle Duke; Military Aide to President Kennedy, General Chester V. Clifton; Air Force Aide to the President, Brigadier General Godfrey T. McHugh; Naval Aide to the President, Captain Tazewell T. Shepard, Jr.