>> the berlin wall fell 25 years ago on november 9, 1980 nine. now, american history tv, we revisit that historic day with archival c-span video, featuring president george h.w. bush from the oval office, reaction from senate leaders bob dole and george mitchell on capitol hill, and the east german ambassador, from the national press club in washington. we will also hear the speeches that president kennedy and reagan delivered in berlin in 1963 and 1987, respectively, that galvanized her lenders and the free world. first we go to the white house where president george h.w. bush held an informal oval office press conference on november 9, 1989. as events unfolded in berlin, he was criticized for not appearing

to share in the jubilation. they are his closest aides and historians ascribe they resident determined not to provoke a backlash by soviet hardliners. >> what we wanted -- take a brief statement here. the latest news coming out of germany. i welcome the decision by the east german leadership to open its borders to those wishing to emigrate or travel. if it is implemented fully and it conforms with helsinki -- if they are signed, and the gdr goes forward and the old building will have very little relevance.

it clearly is a good development in terms of human rights. i must say that after discussing this year with the secretary of state of the national security advisor i am very pleased with this development. >> [indiscernible] >> we had such a close relationship with the federal public that if we were to answer -- i am certain we would give it serious consideration. i don't know what it is, because i think with truly open borders it is hard to predict how many will be trying to leave. it is a dynamic development. we just have to wait and see.

what our relationship -- we would want to give maximum help if it was needed. so far germany has done a magnificent job in handling those who have preceded the new exodus. >> [indiscernible] >> i haven't talked to him since this development because he just went off to poland. last week i made very clear to him that we thought we were handling it with a great sense of dignity. i don't remember that conversation -- i am sure he knows that. >> [indiscernible] >> no, he didn't do that at all. he demonstrates a quiet confidence that the federal

public can cope. i say they have done a good job and here's a new development in this rapidly changing part of the world that we can salute. it is a germanic happening for east germany. >> is this the end of the iron curtain, sir? >> i don't think any single event is the end of what you might call the iron curtain. but clearly the same long way from the harsh days of the harshest iron curtain. >> [indiscernible] >> i think you have to say what you mean by warsaw pact. it seems to me that it is certainly a loosening up in

terms of travel, it concurs with the helsinki final act, and it is a very good development. our objective is europe, whole and free. gorbachev talks about a common home. is it a step towards that? probably so. >> [indiscernible] >> there is no indication of that. >> what is the danger here of the state getting out of control? [indiscernible] is there a danger here that things are developing too quickly?

>> this kind of development can -- i don't want to say this thing makes things move too quickly. we are encouraged by our strong support for the helsinki final act. i will not pontificate that anything goes too fast. but we are handling it, we are not trying to give anybody a hard time. we are saluting those who can move forward with democracy. we are encouraging the concepts of europe, whole and free. i don't like to go into a lot of hypotheses about too much change or to rapid change or what i would do, what our team would do if something went wrong.

i think it is being handled by the west very well. certainly, you salute the people in east germany whose aspirations for freedom seem to be a little further down the road now. >> [indiscernible] >> no. no, i don't think anyone can resist it. that is one of the great things about diametric change in central america. it is moving in our direction. >> did you imagine anything like this happening? >> we have imagined it, but i can't say that i foresaw this development at this stage. i didn't foresee it, but imagining it?

yes. we are talking about this kind of freedom, this kind of staying with and living by the helsinki final act which gives the people rights. >> [indiscernible] >> i am just not to emotional guy. i am very pleased. i think the united states, which is not related to this development today, is being handled in a proper fashion. there will be some that will suggest more flamboyant courses of action for this country, and we are, i think, staying in

close touch. trying to help as development takes place. the fact that i am not bubbling over, i feel very good. >> [indiscernible] >> what i would like to think is that the political change in the gdr would catch up very fast with this liberation. you may remember that before i went to poland, i was asked by a polish journalists, if i were a

pole, what would my advice be? i said i would stay there and participate in this dramatic change. you want to feel the surge of freedom, feel the move toward democracy, and to be a part of it. germans love their country, and at some point, i think a lot of germans who have felt unable to move are going to say we can move but wouldn't it be better to participate in the reforms that are taking place in our own country? i think it is too early to predict these openings. everybody is going to -- >> [indiscernible]

>> yeah. >> [indiscernible] >> he has already expressed his interest in a common, european home. when you see citizens wanting to flee when it has been in oppressive society, that is the message that mr. gorbachev -- he sees it not only in eastern europe that the soviet union. i have said that we would be discussing a rapid change inside eastern europe and we have been talking about that today just before you came in. we have been talking about the

gorbachev meeting, and one of the things we have determined we will discuss is this change. >> [indiscernible] >> i don't see that they are related. >> [indiscernible] >> i don't know. i think it is way too early to speak. i have spoken out on the question of german reunification. i have heard what they have had to say about it. i don't know whether the development of today speeds up today or not. >> [indiscernible] >> we will be discussing those subjects, i'm sure, and i know they are interested. >> thank you. >> i'd like to talk to him soon.

i talked to him quite recently. >> [indiscernible] >> not yet, no. >> [indiscernible] >> personally, i don't know. i talked to him very recently. >> thank you. quick c-span veterans say coverage begins tuesday morning during washington journal with an interview with vernon jones. then the annual uso gala featuring general martin dempsey. then were live at 11:00 from arlington national cemetery with the traditional lease -- wreath laying ceremony at the tomb of the unknown soldier. the discussion on mental health issues and selections from this

year's white house medal of honor series. >> the berlin mall has separated ,ast and west since august 13 1960 one. as the wall came down on november 9, 1989, senate minority leader bob dole, republican from kansas, and george mitchell, democrat for maine, took to voice their thoughts. >> according to the news reports the east german government has just announced the opening of its borders to all citizens, including the right to free practice of the berlin wall. it appears that the berlin wall all it represents is crumbling. the people of east germany sought to take their own destiny into their own hands. by the hundreds of thousands they have taken to the streets, asking only two things --