I was in a German class at the time of this happening. My professor was from a
Berlin suburb. As I recall, his comment was that Kennedy simply mispronounced
the word.

I don't know which was which at this late date, but...

Ich bin ein BerlEEner was one thing

and

Ich bin ein BerlIINer was another.

One meant a resident of Berlin. The other was a local slang for "jelly donut".
Again, I say that it is not perfect German, but local slang.

Jim



-
-No, it's a pastry, but from the films I've seen of the occasion, any titters
-were completely drowned out by the cheers and thunderous applause.

Jim Weir (A&P/IA, CFI, & other good alphabet soup)
VP Eng RST Pres. Cyberchapter EAA Tech. Counselor
http://www.rst-engr.com