As the next day, Nov. 9, dawned, there was no inkling of the monumental event that would take place within hours. The NBC correspondents on the scene continued working on a variety of stories. Looking for a same-day news angle, Tom and a crew journeyed into East Berlin to cover an early-evening press conference given by the government’s propaganda minister. Not much news was expected, but the hope was that perhaps the session would provide a sound bite or two for that night’s program.

The press conference began and the minister droned on about potential reforms. Then, near the end, an Italian journalist asked about the right of East Germans to travel. The startling answer: East Germans would henceforth be free to travel into West Berlin and West Germany.

The reporters present weren’t sure that they had heard right. East Germans were free to leave the country? When? “Immediately,” the official told the stunned audience.

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East German border guards, apparently worried that rioting might erupt among the big crowds at the crossing points, opened the gates between East and West. Tens of thousands of East Berliners surged through the crossings.