“I am a Berliner” (“Ich bin ein Berliner“) is one of the best-known speeches of the Cold War; it was given by US President John F. Kennedy on June 26, 1963, in West Berlin.
This speech became an enduring symbol of American support for West Germany during a critical time in history.
Twenty-two months earlier, East Germany had erected the Berlin Wall to prevent mass emigration to West Berlin.
The speech was aimed as much at the Soviet Union as it was at West Berliners.
Another phrase in the speech was also spoken in German, “Lasst sie nach Berlin kommen” (“Let them come to Berlin”), addressed at those who claimed “we can work with the Communists”, a remark at which Nikita Khrushchev scoffed only days later.
The speech is considered one of Kennedy’s finest, delivered at the height of the Cold War and the New Frontier. It was a great morale boost for West Berliners, who lived in an enclave deep inside East Germany and feared a possible East German occupation.
Speaking to an audience of 120,000 on the steps of Rathaus Schöneberg, Kennedy said,
Two thousand years ago, the proudest boast was civis romanus sum [“I am a Roman citizen”]. Today, in the world of freedom, the proudest boast is “Ich bin ein Berliner!”… 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!”
Kennedy used the phrase twice in his speech, including at the end, pronouncing the sentence with his Boston accent and reading from his note “ish bin ein Bearleener”, which he had written out using English orthography to approximate the German pronunciation
Significance of Kennedy’s “I am a Berliner”
By declaring “Ich bin ein Berliner”, Kennedy expressed his solidarity with the people of West Berlin, emphasizing that the United States stood firmly with them in the face of Soviet aggression and attempts to isolate West Berlin.
The speech also reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to NATO allies. It was delivered against the backdrop of the Cold War, a period of intense geopolitical rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union.
By openly declaring support for West Berlin, Kennedy reiterated the U.S. commitment to its NATO allies and demonstrated that America would not tolerate further Soviet expansion.
It was also a symbol of freedom and resistance. Kennedy’s speech aimed to inspire the people of West Berlin and reinforce their resilience and determination to maintain their freedom. His words resonated with the city’s inhabitants, who had endured the construction of the Berlin Wall in 1961, an oppressive symbol of the division between East and West.
By affirming that the citizens of West Berlin were not alone, Kennedy bolstered their spirits and sent a message of hope and defiance to those living under Soviet control.
The speech garnered significant international attention and played a crucial role in shaping global perceptions of the Cold War. It showcased American leadership and the moral authority of the United States in standing up for freedom and democracy.
Kennedy’s words reverberated beyond Berlin, inspiring people around the world who were living under oppressive regimes.
The original manuscript of the speech is stored with the National Archives and Records Administration.
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