Vern Pike was the first American Army officer to serve at Checkpoint Charlie, the dividing point between east and west Berlin, the night the Berlin Wall was erected in 1961.

Pike has collected memories of his service in that Cold War hotspot in a new book. He discussed key themes from the book during a presentation today for the John Locke Foundation’s Shaftesbury Society. In the video clip below, Pike answers a question about his involvement in clandestine operations.

Powers was the famous pilot of a U-2 plane downed over Communist territory.

2:05 p.m. update: Click play below to watch the full 39:53 event.

You’ll find other John Locke Foundation video presentations here.