George Bush Presidential Library and Museum
Memorandum of Telephone Conversation
SUBJECT: Telephone Call to Chancellor Helmut Kohl of Germany
PARTICIPANTS:
The President
Helmut Kohl, Chancellor
Notetaker: Robert Hutchings, NSC Staff
Interpreter: Gisela Marcuse
DATE, TIME AND PLACE: October 3, 1990, 9:56 – 9:59 a.m., The Oval Office
THE PRESIDENT: Helmut! I am sitting in a meeting with members of our Congress and am calling at the end of this historic day to wish you well.
CHANCELLOR KOHL: Things are going very, very well. I am in Berlin. There were one million people here last night at the very spot where the Wall used to stand — and where President Reagan called on Mr. Gorbachev to open this gate. Words can’t describe the feeling. The weather is very nice and warm, fortunately. There were large crowds of young people. Eighty percent were under thirty. It was fantastic.
A short time ago there was enormous applause when our President said that our gratitude was owed especially to our Allied friends and above all our American friends. I share that view. When the parliamentary declaration is made, it will say that all American Presidents from Harry Truman all the way up to our friend George Bush made this possible. I would like to thank you again for all your support for us.
THE PRESIDENT: It was covered widely on American television. America is proud to have stood with you through these negotiations, and we identify with the hopes of the German people. I have to run to another meeting, but I wanted you to know what pride we have in standing by the German people.
CHANCELLOR KOHL: Thank you very much.
THE PRESIDENT: Good-bye, my friend.
CHANCELLOR KOHL: Tell your Congressmen good wishes and thanks.
— End of Conversation —