During U.S. President John F. Kennedy’s visit to Germany in June 1963, dense crowds lined the streets in many places and received him with great enthusiasm. The visit took place against the backdrop of the Cold War and the construction of the Wall in 1961, and was regarded as a clear signal of American solidarity with the Federal Republic of Germany and West Berlin. The enthusiastic reception by the population underscored the emotional and political significance of the visit for German-American relations.