Newly released state papers have revealed that the White House actively sought to prevent a photograph being taken of then-US President Bill Clinton shaking hands with Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams during a pivotal 1995 visit to Belfast.
Diplomatic Manoeuvres Behind a Historic Visit
The annual release of documents from the National Archives in Dublin has laid bare the extensive planning between Irish and American officials for President Clinton's landmark trip to the island of Ireland in November 1995. The visit, aimed at bolstering the peace process, involved delicate negotiations over every detail.
Papers show discussions ranged from whether the First Couple should stay overnight in Northern Ireland to research on Mr Clinton's Irish ancestry. A genealogy expert concluded that claims the president's Cassidy ancestors hailed from County Fermanagh were largely "based on fantasy", though a Presbyterian Ulster origin was likely.
A key event was a reception at Queen's University Belfast's Whitla Hall on 30 November 1995. Initially, US officials wanted a tightly controlled event for 120 guests. However, the British side, represented by then Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Sir Patrick Mayhew, insisted on hosting and expanded the list to 300.
In a letter dated 28 November 1995, Irish diplomat David Donoghue wrote that the British aim was to "de-emphasise the political nature" of the occasion, creating a broader community event to make it easier for unionists to attend alongside Sinn Féin.
The Elusive Handshake and "Pod" Politics
The documents reveal meticulous planning to manage interactions. Guests were to be arranged in political "pods" – such as a UUP pod and an Alliance pod – based on electoral strength, with the president introduced to each cluster in turn, akin to a Buckingham Palace reception.
Crucially, Mr Donoghue noted that Peter Bell of the Northern Ireland Office had indicated "the Americans would prefer to avoid a handshake photograph between the president and Adams". There was also a noted "general US reluctance" for one-on-one meetings with Mr Adams, Ian Paisley, or John Alderdice, though private conversations on the margins of the event were expected.
This caution followed the men's first handshake earlier that year in March at the White House for St Patrick's Day, which occurred only after photographers had left the room. The New York Times reported that British Prime Minister John Major had pressured Mr Clinton not to warmly embrace Mr Adams at that event.
History Captured Despite Precautions
Despite the planning, a historic handshake was captured on camera. On the morning of 30 November, before the Queen's reception, President Clinton met Mr Adams on the Falls Road in Belfast. As he exited his car, he paused to shake the Sinn Féin president's hand – a moment snapped by an official White House photographer.
Reflecting later, President Clinton said the handshake felt like a "big deal" and that it seemed "the pavement was about to crack open".
The documents also shed light on the Dublin leg of the visit from 1-2 December. Plans were so uncertain that a US embassy official estimated only a "50/50" chance it would proceed. Despite the genealogist's dismissal of the Fermanagh link, the White House remained "interested in using the Cassidy connection in a low-key way", possibly by casually passing a Cassidy-named premises. President Clinton did indeed visit Cassidy's Bar in Dublin during the trip.
These archives, filed under reference 2025/115/827, provide a fascinating glimpse into the high-stakes diplomacy and calculated symbolism that underpinned a crucial moment in the Northern Ireland peace process.
