On June 26, 1963, U.S. President John F. Kennedy delivered one of his most iconic speeches in West Berlin, declaring solidarity with the citizens of the divided city. At the time, the Berlin Wall, erected by East Germany’s Communist government, symbolized the Cold War’s division between East and West. Standing before a large crowd, Kennedy boldly proclaimed, “Ich bin ein Berliner” (“I am a Berliner”), drawing parallels between the pride of Roman citizenship and the values of freedom in Berlin.

Kennedy’s speech underscored the United States’ commitment to defending freedom in the face of Soviet oppression. His words, “All free men, wherever they may live, are citizens of Berlin,” resonated deeply with the people of West Berlin, who warmly embraced his message.

Though an urban legend claims that Kennedy’s use of “ein Berliner” was a grammatical error implying “I am a jelly doughnut,” linguists and historians largely discount this, noting that his phrasing was understood and celebrated by Germans. The “Ich bin ein Berliner” speech remains a defining moment of Cold War rhetoric and one of the most memorable addresses in presidential history.