Berlin 1961

In this 1965 Overseas Press Club Luncheon, Hallie Burnett, novelist, and publisher, describes her experience in Berlin in August 1961. On assignment for Reader’s Digest, Burnett was charged with reporting on the conditions of the East German refugees, who were “coming over at that time at about 2,000 a night.” Amidst a quiet week, she describes the night of August 13 when the foundations for the Berlin wall were laid. She describes standing among Berliners at the Brandenburg Gate, who were so shocked they had not yet found their voices to protest.

Hallie Burnett, novelist, and publisher, describes her experience in Berlin in August 1961 while on assignment for Reader’s Digest.

(excerpt; read the entire transcript here)

The WNYC Overseas Press Club Luncheon talk comes to us courtesy of the NYC Municipal Archives.