1.
GV.PAN. Exterior of the East Prussia Hall
0.11

2.
SV. Dr Max Becker arrives
0.13

3.
SV. Pressmen
0.15

4.
SV.PAN. Professor Carlo Schmid arrives
0.19

5.
SV. Willy Brandt arrives
0.22

6.
CU. Insignia on car
0.24

7.
SV. Dr Heinrich Luebke arrives
0.30

8.
SV.PAN. Dr Adenauer arrives
0.41

9.
GV. Interior of hall
0.43

10.
CU. Professor Carlo Schmid
0.46

11.
LV. Gerstenmaier arrives at platform & speaks
0.50

12.
CU. Ditto
0.52

13.
GV. Interior
0.55

14.
Rear V. Dr Adenauer votes
0.58

15.
LV. Other Minister voting
1.01

16.
SV. Willy Brandt votes
1.05

17.
SV. Von Brentano votes
1.10

18.
SV.PAN. Dr Luebke votes
1.20

19.
GV. Voting continues
1.23



Initials KJ MR/KJ



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: VISNEWS filmed West Berlin July 1 as leading West German politicians arrived at the East Prussia Hall in the city's exhibition grounds and cast their votes in the Presidential Election.

Prominent members of the Federal Assembly, the electoral college, seen arriving and voting are: Free Democratic candidate Dr Max Backer, Social Democratic candidate Professor Carlo Schmid, Christian Democratic candidate Inc Heinrich Luebke, West Berlin's Mayor Willy Brandt, Chancellor Dr Konrad Adenauer and Foreign Minister Dr Heinrich von Brentano. The session was opened by President of the Bundestag Dr Gerstenmaier.

During the ballots West Berlin police kept watch on roads and railways from East Berlin to make sure no Communist demonstrators created disturbances in the city. Despite vociferous protests to the Western Powers by East Germany against the holding of the election in Berlin - underlined by an announcement of "measures to be taken on July 1" - all remained quiet.

Results issued later in the day brought a pleasant surprise for the Christian Democrats. After one inconclusive ballot their candidate Dr Luebke eventually received 526 of the 1,038 votes - six more than the necessary absolute majority of 520 votes. Social Democrat Dr Carlo Schmid received 386, Free Democrat Dr Backer 99, with 22 abstentions.

The ruling West German party had had its doubts about the outcome of the election since its only coalition partners, the German Party, announced June 27 they would abstain because recent party bickerings had damaged the dignity of the country's highest office.