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Barack Obama follows in footsteps of JFK with speech in Berlin Barack Obama follows in footsteps of JFK with speech in Berlin
(35 minutes later)
It is one of the most endearing gaffes made by a world leader speaking a foreign language. "Ich bin ein Berliner," John F Kennedy intoned in a seminal speech in June 1963, apparently unaware of double entendre: some took it to mean he was declaring himself a citizen of the capital; to others it sounded as if he had just announced himself to be a jam doughnut. It is one of the most endearing gaffes made by a world leader speaking a foreign language. "Ich bin ein Berliner," John F Kennedy intoned in a seminal speech in June 1963, apparently unaware of double entendre: some took it to mean he was declaring himself a citizen of the capital; to others it sounded as if he had announced himself to be a jam doughnut.
Now, almost 50 years since that memorable intervention in support of the marooned millions of west Berlin, Barack Obama treads in his footsteps: an American president, a Europe divided, a keynote speech, only on this occasion, probably no reference to mid-morning pastries.Now, almost 50 years since that memorable intervention in support of the marooned millions of west Berlin, Barack Obama treads in his footsteps: an American president, a Europe divided, a keynote speech, only on this occasion, probably no reference to mid-morning pastries.
On Wednesday the US president is scheduled to speak before 4,000 people at the Brandenburg Gate. Eight thousand police will be on duty for the visit, drafted in from across Germany. Michelle Obama and their two daughters will undertake their own separate tour of cold war sites such as Checkpoint Charlie and the Berlin Wall memorial at Bernauer Straße. On Wednesday the US president is scheduled to speak before 4,000 people at the Brandenburg Gate. Eight thousand police will be on duty for the visit, drafted in from across Germany. Michelle Obama and their two daughters will undertake a separate tour of cold war sites such as Checkpoint Charlie and the Berlin Wall memorial at Bernauer Straße.
"JFK's legacy is very much alive, at least here in west Berlin, where older people have fond memories of the American presence in the city," said Nino Kipp, a student studying political science at the Free University of Berlin."JFK's legacy is very much alive, at least here in west Berlin, where older people have fond memories of the American presence in the city," said Nino Kipp, a student studying political science at the Free University of Berlin.
The speech Kennedy wrote before his visit to Berlin was intended to be modest and calm in an attempt to avoid any conflict with the Russians and East German authorities. But during his visit, he became emotional and rewrote the speech to make it more aggressive, said Alina Heinze, director of the Kennedys museum in Berlin. The speech Kennedy wrote before his visit was intended to be modest and calm in an attempt to avoid any conflict with the Russians and East German authorities. But during his visit, he became emotional and rewrote the speech to make it more aggressive, said Alina Heinze, director of the Kennedys museum in Berlin.
What Kennedy found in the German city were people traumatised by the separation of the city and on the frontlines of a cold war threatening to erupt between the Soviet states and the western world. What Kennedy found in Berlin were people traumatised by the separation of the city and on the frontlines of a cold war threatening to erupt between the Soviet states and the western world. "He gave the people a ray of hope," said Heinze. "He said something important about being free and that the people of Berlin were free citizens. He gave them the confidence."
"He gave the people a ray of hope," said Heinze. "He said something important about being free and that the people of Berlin were free citizens. He gave them the confidence." Obama on the other hand faces a more confident Germany and a more diffident people uncertain about American motives. His stance on drones, unfulfilled promises over Guantánamo and the National Security Agency scandal, which revealed US authorities to be monitoring the internet data of Europeans, have made Germans more sceptical. "[He said] nice words, but when you look at his deeds – some people are very disappointed," said Josef Braml, an expert in transatlantic relations at the Berlin-based thinktank the German Council on Foreign Relations.
Obama on the other hand faces a more confident Germany and a more diffident people uncertain about American motives. His stance on drones, his unfulfilled promises over Guantánamo and the latest National Security Agency scandal, which revealed US authorities to be monitoring the internet data of Europeans, have made Germans more sceptical.
"[He said] nice words, but when you look at his deeds – some people are very disappointed," said Josef Braml, an expert in transatlantic relations at the Berlin-based thinktank the German Council on Foreign Relations.
He said there were likely to be more problems ahead for the relationship. "There is now a competition between the dollar and the euro – we will be competing for export markets in Asia," added Braml.He said there were likely to be more problems ahead for the relationship. "There is now a competition between the dollar and the euro – we will be competing for export markets in Asia," added Braml.
Obama's speechwriters will seek to avoid any unwelcome double entendres, though many Germans now say that the original JFK gaffe was overblown. Obama's speechwriters will seek to avoid any unwelcome double entendres, though many Germans say the JFK gaffe was overblown. "In Berlin nobody says Berliner for jelly doughnut. We call it a pfannkuchen," Heinze said, adding that those watching would not have noticed the double meaning. "I'm not sure where the myth came from, but usually people from the US ask us about it."
"In Berlin nobody says Berliner for jelly doughnut. We call it a pfannkuchen," she said, adding that those watching would not have noticed the double meaning. "I'm not sure where the myth came from, but usually people from the US ask us about it."
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