As part of U.S. President John F. Kennedy’s visit to Germany (June 23–26, 1963), Chancellor Konrad Adenauer appeared publicly as a speaker. Adenauer, as host and close ally of Kennedy, was a central figure of the visit, which took place against the backdrop of the Cold War and the construction of the Berlin Wall in 1961. The visit was intended to reaffirm the transatlantic partnership and U.S. security guarantees for the Federal Republic.