Final answer:
John F. Kennedy's statement "Ich bin ein Berliner" was interpreted by his German audience as an expression of unity, translating to "I am one of you," and signified U.S. support for West Berlin amid Cold War tensions.
Step-by-step explanation:
When John F. Kennedy said "Ich bin ein Berliner" during his speech in the German city of Berlin, his German audience interpreted his statement as "I am one of you." This phrase was meant to express solidarity with the people of West Berlin during a time of great tension and uncertainty amid the Cold War. Contrary to the urban myth, the citizens of Berlin did not interpret the statement as "I am a jelly doughnut"; they understood the context and sentiment of Kennedy's statement clearly, recognizing it as a gesture of political and emotional support.
The background to Kennedy's visit was the erection of the Berlin Wall in 1961 by East Germany, in response to the mass defection of its citizens to the more prosperous West Berlin. President Kennedy's 1963 declaration underscored the United States' commitment to West Berlin and to the broader principles of freedom, despite the provocations and veiled threats from the Soviet Union's leader, Nikita Khrushchev.