F. Scott Fitzgerald: The Great Gatsby 1925 §1 West Berlin: May 1963 Christina Hélène von Raeder Burkhardt had too many names, so was known simply as Nell. She was attending the first of her twice weekly meetings with the mayor to agree an itinerary for the impending visit of President Kennedy. “McGeorge Bundy gives me a headache.” “You don’t get on with Bundy, Nell?” “I get on very well with Bundy—one of the best—” “Or the brightest . . .” “Whichever . . . I get on well with him, but it does seem to me that his job is simply to say ‘no.’ Whatever I suggest he says cannot or should not be done.” “Such as?” “I suggested a visit to Bernauer Straße . . . where the wall began, as it were . . . and where it claimed its first victims.” “Not a bad idea.” “Bundy won’t let the president do it—instead we get JFK’s sister. She’ll visit Bernauer Straße.” “We agreed to that?” “Of course—it’s better than nothing.” “Nell . . . what is it you want?”
