John Fitzpatrick: A man of the people

Irish American of the Year: John Fitzpatrick

 

A year and a half ago we had Dr. Ian Paisley, on his first official visit to New York.  Ian Jr., who I had gotten to know, calls me and says, “I’m going to put Dad with you.” I said, “Oh, great, sure, will he be comfortable?” He said, “Absolutely, but there’s only one thing I need from you.” I said, “Don’t worry, it’ll be flying” [the Union Jack]. It would’ve been flying anyway, that’s what we do when any head of state stays here.

 

So I go out as the cars pull up. I open the door and Ian Paisley gets out and puts his hat on and I swear, he looks at me seriously and says, “My son says you’re okay, and he’s right.” He walks in the door and it’s Christmas week, everybody from Ireland’s in and there are six women from Derry coming out with shopping bags going to get in a car to the airport. And he stops and talks with them and they’re saying, “Dr. Paisley!” It was very funny. He sat down in the front room in the restaurant – that’s his table, the one with the windows. There was no hiding! Some smart person came up to him one day and said, “What are you doing in an Irish hotel?” and he said, “We are Irish!”

 

 

 

You also held fundraisers for Hillary Clinton at the hotel.  Are you still in touch?

 

Absolutely. People asked me at the time, “Why are you supporting Hillary?” I said “Look, guys, it goes back to what they did for Ireland.” We wouldn’t have peace in Northern Ireland without the Clintons’ help. It was their love for Ireland that kind of got me going [for her campaign]. This was when she was running for senator. We had no idea she was going to run for president. Of course I wanted her to be president. But in hindsight, I think we’ve got the best of both worlds. We’ve got a great president and we’ve got the best Secretary of State – one who understands Ireland. She really knows what’s going on; it’s second nature to her.

 

 

 

Would you say that there is something in your Irish heritage that has helped your career?

 

I think there is something about being Irish…we are a very warm people, and we are genuine. In Ireland if they say something to you, they mean it. The other thing is, and I say this to our employees: we’re all part of a team. I want everyone to be relaxed here. Yes, you do have bosses, but it’s a family business with family values. My father made that clear from day one. He knew everybody who worked for him. And my mother knew everybody too and the employees were part of the family.

 

 

 

You received the Ellis Island Medal  of Honor, what did that mean to you and how do you see the current policy on immigration?

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