Essay: The fall of the Wall

President John F. Kennedy came to the rescue on June 26th 1963 at Rudolph Wilde Square in Berlin. It was his historic speech there that later opened the gates of co-operation and eventually to the reunion of the Germans. The square was crowded with saluting, hooting, cheering Berliners from the West. The sight was spectacular and approximately two million people turned in to greet him which took Kennedy by surprise. It was at the brink of the Cold War did he come forward and proclaimed ““There are many people in the world who really don’t understand, or say they don’t, what is the great issue between the free world and the communist world. Let them come to Berlin.” In yet another commendable and an amazingly over whelming gesture he said that he could relate with the Berliners and was with them in their struggle for freedom announcing “Ich bin ein Berliner.” (“I am a Berliner”). He aspired to see the families of both ends of Berlin united. (Harrison)

This was followed by yet another landmark speech by President Ronald Reagan at the Brandenburg Gate in West Berlin on June 12th 1987. He spoke to the West Berlin  but was well aware of the fact that he will be heard on the other side of the wall too. He aimed at addressing the then Russian President Mikhail Gorbachev as well in the process. He said that of all their mistakes there still is one sign that the Soviets could make flawless and one that would dramatically expedite the entire freedom and peace process. Addressing him directly he spoke

“General Secretary Gorbachev, if you seek peace, if you seek prosperity for the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, if you seek liberalization: Come here to this gate! Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate! Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall! (History of Berlin Wall- Facts)