In commemoration of the April 10 Good Friday Agreement, Bill Clinton wrote an essay published today in the Irish Times, recounting his efforts to facilitate peace in Northern Ireland.
The section that mentions Hillary is excerpted below (it’s subscription only, but the truly committed can read more here).
A reader notes that the former president doesn’t make a huge effort to trumpet his wife’s contributions to the peace process, which was something of a controversy earlier in the campaign (before the Bosnia debacle become much more of one).
Of the article’s three mentions of Hillary, the reader writes, "two are merely as his traveling companion and the other is about her (uncontroversial) role in bringing women together:"
I am especially proud of Hillary’s efforts to encourage and support women’s groups to increase their political and economic impact through the Vital Voices initiative. She worked closely with community leaders like Inez McCormack, May Blood, Avila Kilmurray and many others who made a critical contribution to the process. As prosperity grew, the peace process moved forward, despite repeated obstacles. In November 1995, John Major and the new taoiseach John Bruton announced a creative way to address the stalled process and the prickly issue of arms decommissioning. Their "twin tracks" initiative offered a diplomatic framework for separate negotiations on arms decommissioning and political issues. The agreement was reached moments before Hillary and I and our delegation touched down in the United Kingdom to begin an historic visit to Britain, Ireland and Northern Ireland. John Major said at the time that my imminent arrival "concentrated the mind". I was the first sitting American president to visit Northern Ireland. I was deeply moved by my encounters with the people, hearing their stories, hardships and hopes, and feeling their intense support for the peace process and for America’s role in it. In Derry, 25,000 people filled the Guildhall Square to greet us; 50,000 joined us to light the Christmas tree in Belfast. In my remarks, I quoted the writing of a 14-year old girl: "Both sides have been hurt. Both sides must forgive." Her wise observations captured the hunger of ordinary citizens for peace. That night, Hillary and I stayed at the Europa Hotel, which had been bombed many times during the Troubles. Now it was safe enough for an American president and his family. The next morning, we visited Dublin, where 100,000 people gathered in College Green, and I asked them, as I had asked the people of Northern Ireland the day before, to set an example that would inspire the world.
