On June 26, 1963, the West Berlin population received U.S. President John F. Kennedy with extraordinary enthusiasm. Along the motorcade route through the city, thousands of spectators crowded the sidewalks, many climbing ladders or other elevated positions to obtain a better view. The visit took place under the shadow of the Cold War and West Berlin’s situation, which had been aggravated by the construction of the Wall in 1961; Kennedy’s presence was regarded by the population as a visible sign of American solidarity.