I must say, as the recipient of this outpouring of good will for the United States, I am most grateful to you all.

I come to this island which has been identified with that effort for a thousand years, which was the first country in the 20th century to lead what is the most powerful tide of the 20th century--the desire for national independence, the…

So Ireland is still old Ireland, but it has found a new mission in the 1960's, and that is to lead the free world to join with other countries of the free world to do in the sixties what Ireland did in the early part of this century.

In Ireland I think you see something of what is so great about the United States.

I am glad to take part in this ceremony this morning for John Barry.

And I am proud to come here for another reason, because it makes me even prouder of my own country.

I want to express my pleasure at being back from whence I came.

It is no coincidence that John Barry and a good many of his successors played such a leading part in the American struggle, not only for independence, but for its maintenance.

When my great grandfather left here to become a cooper in East Boston, he carried nothing with him except two things: a strong religious faith and a strong desire for liberty.

So I am proud to be here.

There is an impression in Washington that there are no Kennedys left in Ireland, that they are all in Washington, so I wonder if there are any Kennedys in this audience.

I am glad to say that all of his great grandchildren have valued that inheritance.

Well, it is our home also in the winter, and I hope you will come and see us.

I know of no town, no city, that has been besieged for 18 years that still lives with the vitality and the force, and the hope and the determination of the city of West Berlin.

In short, these dogmatic police states are an anachronism.

In 18 years of peace and good faith, this generation of Germans has earned the right to be free, including the right to unite their families and their nation in lasting peace, with good will to all people.

You understand it and I understand it, and I am proud to be with you.

I leave and the United States stays.

For 18 years this has been done, and it will be done in the future.

I am honored to become an instant graduate of this distinguished university.

The scholar, the teacher, the intellectual, have a higher duty than any of the others, for society has trained you to think as well as do.

The Negro citizens of my own country have strengthened their demand for equality and opportunity.

All free men, wherever they may live, are citizens of Berlin, and, therefore, as a free man, I take pride in the words 'Ich bin ein Berliner.'

And the American people and the American Government are going to respond.

Your presence here, your lives, in fact, commit the United States of America.