John F. Kennedy at Freie Universität Berlin

Witnesses to History

They were there when John F. Kennedy visited Berlin’s Dahlem district. They braved long lines for a ticket to hear the U.S. President speak. Here, they tell about their experiences of the visit, what impressed them, and what parts of it are still etched in memory today.

Jurist und Zeitzeuge Weitz: "Kennedy machte uns Mut"

A Passion for Justice

Dietrich Weitz, 75, saw John F. Kennedy speak in front of Schöneberg’s City Hall and in Dahlem.

Barbara Saß-Viehweger, 69, studierte an der Freien Universität Rechtswissenschaften und arbeitet noch heute als Anwältin und Notarin.

A Child of the Airlift

Law student Barbara Sass-Viehweger, now 69, stood amid a close-packed crowd on the green in front of the Henry Ford Building.

Arnulf Mrose studierte und promovierte an der Freien Universität.

A New Arrival in West Berlin

Arnulf Mrose, 72, had fled East Berlin shortly before Kennedy’s speech. That meant he was able to listen to Kennedy’s speech on June 26, 1963.

Der eine, Heinz Fortak (li.) war schon Professor als Kennedy in Dahlem sprach; der andere, Winfried Fluck, war gerade Student an der Freien Universität

The Professor and the Student

Heinz Fortak, 86, was one of the youngest professors at Freie Universität when Kennedy visited.

Peter Arndt, 72, half damals mit, das imposante Bühnengerüst für Kennedys Rede vor dem Henry-Ford-Bau zu errichten.

Helping with Setup

Peter Arndt, 72, was one of the crew that built the stage where Kennedy gave his speech. It gave him a chance to get closer to Kennedy than would be possible today.

Eva Quistorp, Jahrgang 1945, war während des Kennedy-Besuchs auf Klassenfahrt in Berlin. Die Begegnung mit Kennedy in Dahlem hatte bei ihr eine Langzeitwirkung.

Co-founder of Green Party

Eva Quistorp, born in 1945, was on a class trip to Berlin during President Kennedy's visit to the city.