Monday, June 13, 2011

Twitter Ye Not - JFK in Berlin


Twitter Ye Not - JFK in Berlin

A regular piece for a certain national newspaper about how figures in history might have twittered or tweeted or whatever, had they the chance, inclination and technology.

On June 26 1963 American President John F Kennedy visited West Berlin, where he delivered his famous 'Ich bin ein Berliner' speech. The Twitter feed of that time reveals the excitement - and confusion - his pronouncement caused.

I have shown President Kennedy at the podium (bearing the arms of Berlin) giving his infamous 'I'm a Doughnut' speech, greeted by (German Gothic ) laughter from the crowd. On the opposite side I have shown Soviet President Nikita Kruschev (who visited Berlin shortly afterwards), eating a jelly doughnut. Behind him hangs the Hammer & Sickle flag of the former USSR (CCCP), while below stands St Basil's Cathedral at the Kremlin. Between the two great Statesmen is the Brandenburg Gate, Berlin's most famous landscape.

To my American friends across the pond, please forgive my rather simplified representation of your beloved star-spangled banner - no disrespect was intended, just the size restrictions of portraying a relatively complex flag in a relatively tiny image!

Has anyone ever noticed a physical resemblance between US Presidents Kennedy, Carter and Clinton? In some way related perhaps?

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