Heinrich Lübke (October 14, 1892 - April 6, 1972) was Federal President of West Germany from 1959 to 1969. Lübke had a very humble upbringing. He was the son of a shoemaker and farmer from the Sauerland. He was chosen by Konrad Adenauer for the largely ceremonial post of president to ensure that Adenauer's political schemes were not disturbed by too strong a personality in this position (which is nominally the highest post in the German State).
Lübke was a very bad public speaker and was frequently subject to ridicule, especially near the end of his term of office when his age started to affect his memory. He frequently forgot where he was (Lübke: "When I talk to you today in...eh... in.." Voice from the crowd shouting: "Helmstedt!" Lübke: "...eh...when I talk to you today in ... Helmstedt, then it was following my own will...", etc. etc.).
According to the most famous anecdote, in 1962 he addressed a crowd in Liberia: "Ladies and Gentlemen, dear Negroes...". This quote has never been verified, however, and is most likely an urban legend (according to the weekly newspaper Die Zeit). Various other slips are well documented, though.
Tapes from Lübke's speeches were collected by the German satirical magazine Pardon and distributed on a best-selling record. Some examples
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Last updated: 06-01-2005 15:41:15
