January 21–28, 1999
hit and run
Irish Eyes On Clinton
By now everyone knows that African Americans have stood by President Clinton throughout his year-long ordeal. What's gone largely unnoticed, however, is that significant numbers of Irish Americans have done the same.
They've just been much less vocal about it.
Some local Irish-American leaders and activists gathered at the Irish Center in Mount Airy Tuesday night to watch what could be Clinton's final State of the Union address. The mood was somber.
Clinton has been a hero to many in the Irish-American community since defying the British government and granting a visa to Sinn Fein leader and reputed former Irish Republican Army commander Gerry Adams in 1994. Later, Clinton not only dispatched former Sen. George Mitchell to mediate peace talks in Northern Ireland, but remained intimately involved right up until the signing of the Good Friday agreement. In visits to Philadelphia last year, Mitchell and Adams said none of it would have been possible without Clinton's behind-the-scenes cajoling. (Adams even got a little testy when pressed for his opinion on Clinton's dilemma by a reporter during an appearance at the Plough and the Stars restaurant in Old City in October.)
And today, with the formation of the new Northern Ireland government delayed by renewed bickering over the IRA's refusal to turn over its weapons, Irish Americans fear that if Clinton is removed from office, the shaky agreement could fall apart.
"We need this president to stay in power," says Tom Conaghan, president of the Federation of Irish-American Societies of the Delaware Valley. "He's been a brilliant president, the economy's good… and no other president has ever tried to do anything for Northern Ireland.
"The British government has always treated Northern Ireland as an internal issue," and previous presidents were happy to leave it at that, Conaghan adds. "Ronald Reagan was an embarrassment to Irish Americans."
Former Federation President Jack Worrell says he was "absolutely flabbergasted" by the understanding of the situation in Northern Ireland displayed by Clinton aides with whom he has met. "And they're briefing Clinton," says Worrell. "So he knows the actors, he knows the details on the ground… And that's a big, big change from previous administrations."
Still, neither Worrell nor Conaghan were aware of organized efforts within the Irish-American community to save the president. Aside from the sustained standing ovation Clinton received at a White House ceremony for Irish-American leaders the day the Starr report was released, there has been little action.
Tuesday night at the Irish Center there was some talk of showing up with banners at Clinton's planned appearance in Norristown on Wednesday. But mostly there was almost palpable disappointment, and dim hope that the first president with the courage to take on the issue closest to their hearts won't be drummed out of office for personal indiscretions.
Noted Conaghan, "We're hoping the Senate will have more sense than the House."
