On January 14, 1963, French President Charles de Gaulle caught everyone by surprise with a press conference in which he vetoed British entry into the Common Market and flatly ruled out French participation in a NATO multilateral force. Not knowing that de Gaulle and West German Chancellor Konrad Adenauer were just days away from springing another surprise–the Franco-German Treaty of 1963 (also known as the Élysée Treaty), former Secretary of State Dean Acheson telegrammed Adenauer directly, appealing to him to try to persuade de Gaulle to backtrack on the veto.
JFK in West Berlin / Leaving on Air Force One
JFK leaves West Berlin on Air Force One after his triumphant visit to the embattled city on the front lines of the Cold War.
JFK in West Berlin / Konrad Adenauer & Willy Brandt
Silent film footage of JFK touring West Berlin with West German Chancellor Konrad Adenauer and West Berlin Mayor Willy Brandt.
JFK Hosts West German Chancellor Konrad Adenauer at the White House 1962
West German Chancellor Konrad Adenauer arrived at the White House for a two-day state visit on November 14, 1962.