An iconic photograph of US President Bill Clinton warmly shaking hands with Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams during a 1995 visit to Belfast almost never happened, according to newly released state papers. Documents from Ireland's National Archives reveal that White House officials had explicitly sought to avoid the historic image, wishing to carefully manage the President's interactions.
Behind the Scenes of a Historic Visit
The annual release of archived papers details the extensive coordination between Irish and American officials for President Clinton and First Lady Hillary Clinton's visit to the island of Ireland in late November 1995. The trip included a major reception at Whitla Hall, Queen's University Belfast, on 30 November 1995.
Just two days before the event, a UK government official, Peter Bell of the Northern Ireland Office, informed an Irish counterpart that "the Americans would prefer to avoid a handshake photograph between the president and Adams". This preference was part of a broader "general US reluctance" to arrange one-on-one meetings with Mr Adams, as well as with other figures like Ian Paisley and John Alderdice.
The Handshake That Almost Wasn't
Despite the official stance, history unfolded differently. On the morning of 30 November, before the evening reception, President Clinton met Gerry Adams on the Falls Road in Belfast. As he exited his car, Clinton paused to shake Adams's hand—a moment captured by an official White House photographer.
This was not their first meeting; they had shaken hands earlier that year in March at a St Patrick's Day event at the White House, but only after photographers had left the room. The Belfast handshake, however, was public and potent. President Clinton would later call it a "big deal" and said it felt as if "the pavement was about to crack open".
The image, beamed around the world, was a monumental gesture in the context of the Northern Ireland peace process, coming just three years before the signing of the Good Friday Agreement in 1998.
Diplomatic Manoeuvring and Ancestral Myths
The documents also shed light on other diplomatic tensions. A letter from Irish official David Donoghue noted that while the Americans initially wanted a smaller Belfast reception for 120 guests, the British side "insisted" it be hosted by the then Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Sir Patrick Mayhew. The guest list was expanded to 300 to create a broader 'community' event, making it easier for unionists to attend alongside Sinn Féin representatives.
In a lighter revelation, the papers include a genealogist's report commissioned to investigate President Clinton's claimed Irish ancestry. Expert Sean Murphy concluded that suggestions the President's Cassidy ancestors hailed from County Fermanagh were "based largely on fantasy". Despite this, the White House remained "still interested in using the Cassidy connection in a low-key way", which resulted in a visit to Cassidy's Bar in Dublin during the trip.
The declassified correspondence provides a fascinating glimpse into the high-stakes diplomacy and meticulous planning that underpinned a pivotal moment in the journey towards peace in Northern Ireland, highlighting how a single, unscripted handshake can defy official strategy and become a symbol of progress.
