decars1-4, Exercise 3: A striking remark at the opening

Model answer (check the method):

Treatment: as unverified until a source is found. A remark said to have been made at a famous event is easy to invent, to improve in retelling or to attach to the wrong person. It should not be quoted as fact, only reported as "attributed" with the reservation stated.

Evidence that would allow citing it:
1. A contemporary newspaper report of the opening speech, giving the words.
2. The text or draft of the speech in an archive, such as the city archive of Cologne or the papers of the person concerned.
3. A reliable biography or study that cites the source of the remark.
4. Several independent accounts that agree on the wording.

If none is found: write that the remark is "often attributed to" the person, state that no source was found, and avoid using it to support an argument.