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Article: O'Neill Was a Key Figure on North: Papers Show Influence With Reagan
- Article from:
- Irish Voice
- Article date:
- July 11, 2000
- Author:
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O'Dowd, Niall
Irish Voice
07-11-2000
O'Neill Was a Key Figure on North: Papers Show Influence With Reagan
BY NIALL O'DOWD
NEWLY released files from the Reagan White House papers show that the Irish
American President was persuaded by a personal appeal by then House Speaker
Thomas "Tip" O'Neill to intervene in the Northern Ireland issue.
The Boston Globe, which surveyed the files under the Freedom of Information
Act, revealed that following O'Neill's impassioned appeal Reagan made a
personal approach to British Prime Minster Margaret Thatcher, his closest
friend among world leaders.
Then Irish Ambassador to the U.S. Sean Donlon told the Globe that the
Reagan intervention was the beginning of the U.S. ...