24 years ago President John F Kennedy visited Berlin speaking to the people of this city and the world at the city hall well since then two other presidents have come each in his turn to Berlin and today I myself make my second visit to your city we come to Berlin we American Presidents because it is our duty to speak in this place of freedom but I must confess we're drawn here by other things as well by the feeling of history in this city more than 500 years older than our own Nation by the beauty of the grald and The Tear guarden most of all by your courage and determination perhaps the composer Paul link understood something about American Presidents you see like so many presidents before me I come here today because wherever I go whatever I do IAB knockan Coffer in Berlin which means I still have a suitcase in Berlin our gathering today is being broadcast throughout Western Europe and North America indeed the entire world is hearing this broadcast and I understand that it is being listened to in East Germany as well perhaps even now it is being heard behind the Iron Curtain president Von vacer has said the German question is open as long as the Brandenburg gate is closed today I say as long as this gate is closed as long long as this scar of a wall is permitted to stand it is not the German question alone that remains open but the question of Freedom For All Mankind yet I do not come here to lament for I find in Berlin a message of Hope even in the shadow of this wall a message of Triumph in this season of spring in 1945 the people of Berlin emerged from their air raid shelters to find Devastation thousands of miles away the people of the United States reached out to help and in 1947 Secretary of State George Marshall announced the creation of what would become known as the Marshall Plan speaking precisely 40 years ago this month he said our policy is directed not against any country or doctrine but against hunger poverty desperation and Chaos in the Reich stag a few moments ago I saw a display commemorating this 40th anniversary of the Marshall Plan which helped to rebuild this city and this continent of Europe were also reminded of the resolve of Western Europe and the NATO alliance to resist Soviet expansion berliners can look back on a city scarred by War but also proud of its rebirth from Devastation from Hunger from despair Berlin has risen again and today the city's been reunited in a great sense of purpose in fact I think that all all Western Europe shares Berlin's commitment to democracy and freedom as I was saying to the students here earlier today we must not stop we must continue to work for the day when all of Germany will be United again standing before the Brandenburg gate every man is a Berliner forced to look at this disfiguring scar that has divided Berlin for almost 26 years and today I ask all of those responsible for this Injustice come to this gate Mr gorbachov Open this gate Mr gorbachov tear down this wall I understand the fear of War and the strain that exists but I believe the solution to this dilemma as John Kennedy put it is to keep moving forward the wall cannot withstand the inexorable force of progress it cannot withstand Freedom General Secretary gorbachov 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 gorbachov Open this gate Mr gorbachov tear down this wall