I amproud to come to this cityas theguestof yourdistinguished Mayor, who has symbolizedthroughoutthe world the fighting spiritof West Berlin.And Iamproud to visit the FederalRepublic with your distinguished Chancellor who forsomanyyearshas committed Germanyto democracyandfreedom andprogress,andtocome hereinthecompany ofmy fellowAmerican, General Clay,who has been in this city duringitsgreat momentsof crisis and will comeagainif ever needed.

Two thousand yearsago, twothousandyearsago, theproudestboast was "civisRomanussum." Today, inthe worldof freedom, theproudest boast is "Ich bin ein Berliner."

(Iappreciatemy interpreter translatingmyGerman.)

There are manypeoplein theworldwhoreallydon't understand,orsaythey don't,what isthe greatissuebetween thefreeworldand the Communistworld.

Letthem come toBerlin.

There are some who saythat communism is the wave of thefuture.

Letthemcome toBerlin.

And there are somewhosay, inEurope and elsewhere, we canworkwith the Communists.

Letthem cometo Berlin.

And thereare even a few who say thatitistrue that communismisan evilsystem,but it permitsus tomake economicprogress.

Lass'sie nach Berlin kommen.Letthem cometoBerlin.



Freedomhas many difficultiesand democracy isnotperfect. But wehave neverhad toputawall upto keep our people in-- to prevent them from leaving us.Iwantto sayon behalf of mycountrymenwho live manymiles awayon theothersideofthe Atlantic, who are fardistantfromyou, thatthey take the greatest pride,that they have been ableto share withyou, even from a distance, the storyof thelast 18years.Iknow ofnotown, no city, that hasbeen besiegedfor18years that stillliveswith the vitalityand the force, and the hope, andthedetermination ofthe city ofWest Berlin.

Whilethewallis themost obvious and vivid demonstrationof the failures of the Communist system--for allthe world to see --wetake no satisfaction in it;for itis,asyour Mayor hassaid, an offensenotonly against historybut an offense against humanity,separating families, dividing husbands and wives andbrothersandsisters, anddividing a people whowishto bejoinedtogether.

Whatistrue of thiscity is true of Germany: real, lastingpeacein Europe cannever be assured aslongas oneGermanoutoffour is deniedtheelementaryrightoffreemen,andthatistomakeafreechoice.In18yearsofpeaceandgoodfaith,thisgenerationofGermanshasearnedtherighttobefree,includingtherighttounitetheirfamiliesandtheirnationinlastingpeace,withgoodwilltoallpeople.

Youliveinadefendedislandoffreedom,butyourlifeispartofthemain.Soletmeaskyou,asIclose,toliftyoureyesbeyondthedangersoftoday,tothehopesoftomorrow,beyondthefreedommerelyofthiscityofBerlin,oryourcountryofGermany,totheadvanceoffreedomeverywhere,beyondthewalltothedayofpeacewithjustice,beyondyourselvesandourselvestoallmankind.

Freedomisindivisible,andwhenonemanisenslaved,allarenotfree.Whenallarefree,thenwecanlookforwardtothatdaywhenthiscitywillbejoinedasoneandthiscountryandthisgreatContinentofEuropeinapeacefulandhopefulglobe.Whenthatdayfinallycomes,asitwill,thepeopleofWestBerlincantakesobersatisfactioninthefactthattheywereinthefrontlinesforalmosttwodecades.

Allfreemen,wherevertheymaylive,arecitizensofBerlin.

And,therefore,asafreeman,Itakeprideinthewords"IchbineinBerliner."

