November 22, 1963. Willy Brandt and People of West Berlin Mourn the Death of JFK

Fifty years ago today I was sitting in my grade school class outside of Chicago when word came over the loudspeaker that President Kennedy had been shot.  We were all sent home early, in a state of shock.  Every American alive then remembers that day vividly as if it were yesterday.  And so does every German.  JFK was an inspiration to my generation of Americans and to the young people of Europe – including the young mayor of West Berlin, who also represented "the spirit of JFK."

For a look back on that day in Berline and the terrible days that followed:

Wie West-Berlin um John F. Kennedy trauerte