In the News: Obama, JFK, and Reagan in Berlin
Today’s speech by Senator Barack Obama in Berlin, Germany, has garnered massive media attention, in part because it recalls iconic speeches by John F. Kennedy and Ronald Reagan. (Both Kennedy and Reagan, it should be noted, were sitting presidents when they delivered their addresses.) According to the German News Agency DPA, approximately 200,000 people attended the speech. Obama’s address offers a great opportunity to study the similarities and differences among the three politicians, their speeches, and their respective historical eras.
News coverage of Obama’s address:
From the New York Times: “Obama Speaks to Germany on European Ties”
From CNN.com: “Obama Uses Berlin Symbolism to Reunite Old Allies”
From BBC.com: “Obama Seeks Stronger Europe Ties”
Speech transcripts:
Obama in Berlin: http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/07/24/obama.words/index.html
JFK in Berlin: http://www.jfklibrary.org/Historical+Resources/Archives/Reference+Desk/Speeches/JFK/003POF03BerlinWall06261963.htm
Reagan in Berlin: http://www.reaganlibrary.com/reagan/speeches/wall.asp
