Ted Kennedy's 1997 Irish America magazine interview

Senator Kennedy: Leading the Cause of Ireland, 1997 Irish American of the Year

None as well as Senator Kennedy, who every year welcomes a parade of Irish politicians to his office. This does not only happen on St. Patrick’s Day, when the world celebrates its Irishness, but occurs regularly. Most of the leaders of Irish politics, both nationalist and unionist, in the last decades have made the senator’s office in Washington a vital port of call and there is always a welcome, regardless of what political stripe or hue the caller represents. Many called the Senator a friend, and looked to him for advice. Former Taoiseach Charles Haughey and the Senator shared a love of sailing and the sea.

One of the original Four Horsemen, Kennedy’s support for constitutional nationalism in Ireland has long been evident through his sincere friendship with the leader of the SDLP party, John Hume.

While many politicians who espoused Irish causes ran for the hills when Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams, whose party was finally absorbed in the peace process in 1992, came to the U.S., Senator Kennedy was there to greet him and give him access to the hallowed halls of Washington’s Power brokers.

He was in fact, instrumental in persuading President Bill Clinton, said to model himself after the Senator’s brother, John Kennedy, to grant a visa to the Sinn Fein leader in February of 1992. He has actively supported the administration’s role in Northern Ireland, made concrete with appointment of former Maine Senator George Mitchell as chair of the multi-party talks.

At key moments in the current Irish peace process Senator Kennedy has played a vital role in bringing American influence to bear on the both the Irish and British governments, and in convincing President Clinton to remain strongly involved. When President Clinton returned from his historic trip to Ireland in 1995 he personally thanked the Senator for all his advice and counsel.

But Kennedy is certainly not a Johnny-come-lately when it comes to Northern Ireland. “A number of years ago helped form a group called The Friends of Ireland”. I joined with Tip O’Neill, Patrick Moynihan, and Governor Hugh Carey of New York and we built up a bipartisan group in the House and the Senate that (sought) to be a positive force in the U.S. Congress for a united and free Ireland,” Kennedy told Irish America. “We stress peaceful resolution and economic development rather than support for the IRA. “

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Nster.com