Daring Diplomacy: Clinton's Secret Search for Peace in Ireland [Hardcover]

Conor O'Clery (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1997

Based on interviews with President Clinton and the other principals involved, a journalist offers an insider's view of America's secret negotiations with the IRA about peace in Northern Ireland, over the objections of Britain. 20,000 first printing. Tour. IP. "

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

The inside story of how U.S. President Bill Clinton became involved in the Irish peace process, Daring Diplomacy recounts the secret negotiations that infuriated the British government but ultimately led to a cease-fire in Northern Ireland. Conor O'Clery was the Washington bureau chief for the Irish Times throughout the early years of the Clinton Administration, and his insight into the situation in Ireland was matched by his access to the key players. Daring Diplomacy benefits not only from O'Clery's presence at many key events, but from his diligent reporting and his ability to reconstruct some of the behind-the-scenes negotiations. The picture that emerges is of an American government willing to try innovative means to find peace and combatants seeking to overcome distrust and renounce violence.

From Booklist

Irish Times correspondent O'Clery had the good fortune to be assigned to Washington, D.C., from 1991 to 1996: a period when "the troubles" in Northern Ireland--and the potential for peace there--drew the attention of U.S. policy makers in a way and to a degree seldom matched in the history of U.S.-U.K.-Eire relations. Few American reporters saw how "newsworthy" these developments were or informed readers of the genuine accomplishments of the Clinton administration in taking chances to improve the prospects for peace. Equally important, few within the U.S. media had the relationships O'Clery maintained in the U.S. Irish-American community, which permit him to trace the significant involvement of activists outside government in encouraging outside-the-box diplomatic strategies. Most likely to circulate in Irish-American communities and where books by participants in this drama (Clinton, John Major, Gerry Adams of Sinn Fein, Senators Kennedy and Dodd, former Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell) have had appeal. Mary Carroll

Product Details

• Hardcover: 271 pages
• Publisher: Natl Book Network (March 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1570981302
• ISBN-13: 978-1570981302
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.4 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,643,621 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect title, September 2, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Daring Diplomacy: Clinton's Secret Search for Peace in Ireland (Hardcover)

Daring Diplomacy was the perfect title for this wonderfully written book. Throughout the course of this book, Conor O'Clery traces the involvement of the Clinton administration in attaining a peaceful settlement to the conflict in Northern Ireland. What is most refreshing about this book is its wholehearted attempt to be honest and balanced--an honor not bestowed on many books written on the conflict in Northern Ireland. From Clinton's commitment during the 1992 presidential election campaign until immediately following the end of the IRA's ceasefire, this book chronicles the efforts of the Clinton Administration to involve all parties in discussions regarding the future status of Northern Ireland. The U.S., at times seeming to threaten the "special relationship" between itself and Britain contributed much to the current political situation in Northern Ireland--one in which we now have Loyalist and Republican ceasefires and a forum for talks on political representation. Daring Diplomacy gives f

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thoroughly engaging!, March 18, 2007

By 

Michael Shaw "history dizzy" (Des Moines, Iowa) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Daring Diplomacy: Clinton's Secret Search for Peace in Ireland (Hardcover)

Conor O'Clery knows how to tell a story. Often politics and foreign policy get bogged down in minutae or are blunted by excessive academic language; this is definitely not the case here. The feel when reading Daring Diplomacy is one of being spirited along in back rooms and pubs to see how deals get done and meet those involved. The telling is personal, insightful, and deftly aware of the entangled connections in Irish policy.
If you are reading this as a student, I heartily recommend it. You will find the backstory gives a well-rounded look into some of the reasons why peace in N. Ireland has been so elusive (namely the British government). If you are just reading it for personal reasons, I think you will be quite happy with your choice. A good companion book after this one is George Mitchell's "Making Peace."

5.0 out of 5 stars Should be read by our leaders, March 5, 2008

By 

Mochyn - See all my reviews

This review is from: Daring Diplomacy: Clinton's Secret Search for Peace in Ireland (Hardcover)

Mr. O'Clery puts a lot of background information into something most Americans know little about. There is always a lot going on in the background in any diplomatic activity. This is something that Mr. Clinton and Mr. Gore missed out on where they should have publicized it more. Mr. Bush, Cheney and McCain - the "you don't talk to your adversaries who are always evil - clique need to read this especially in light of the success of ending the violence in Ireland.