50 Years Kennedy in Berlin

JFKJune 26, 2013, marks the 50th anniversary of Kennedy`s famous speech in front of the Schöneberger city hall in West Berlin. The Young Transatlantic Initiative remembered this historic day with a special event in front of the Brandenburger Gate in Berlin. This anniversary was an excellent opportunity to point out the relevance of German-American ties particularly among the younger generations on both sides of the Atlantic. John F. Kennedy continues to have a strong influence in the collective memory of Germans and Americans. Jacob Schrot said that “John F. Kennedy was a citizen of the free world — and therefore a citizen of West Berlin.” As part of our event, we interviewed many students about their emotional connection with John F. Kennedy. Many tourists and guests also shared their memory in our “JFK Memory Book.” We distributed copies of the famous “Ich bin ein Berliner” speech to about 200 citizens of Berlin. American guests expressed their gratitude for our initiative, which symbolized that ew will never forget the indispensable role of the U.S. in the protection of the free part of Berlin during the Cold War.


Please find a selection of pictures here: JFK Event
Please find the Youtube video of our event here: JFK Event