UPCLOSEANDPERSONAL WITHPOTUSANDFAMILY
The striking memories that Barry Reddan retains of the visit of the then President of America to Dundalk are the normal and very pleasant way that the President, wife Hillary and daughter Chelsea inter acted with guests and his hosts. The world’s most powerful man was down to earth and also had a clear affinity with people.
The then manager of the First Active which was the headquarters for the visit recollects ‘ he was a really nice person who talked about everything - all very friendly and basic and I got a lovely card from him when he went back from the White House.’ Barry still has it as a souvenir of the occasion.
The 20th anniversary of one of the stand-out events in the town’s history falls on December 12 when the Clintons stopped off in the Market Square, where an estimated 60,000 people greeted the President.
The President addressed the throng from outside the First Active offices that was located in the former Queens Hotel at the junction of Earl Street and Crowe Street and which was the base for the Presidential party and dignitaries for the time he spent in town. The memory of branch manager Barry Reddan of the details of the event is somewhat frayed after two decades but his recollection is that the Presidential party’s stay lasted over two hours.
During that span he demonstrated his love of being among people, mingling roughly 35 minutes on the street among his audience, posing a probable nightmare for his security detail, comprising top officers of the CIA and FBI as he disregarded their worries and anxiety for his safety.
Barry was the link with the security authorities. They put meticulous security arrangements in place of which he and his staff ‘got plenty of notice’ and didn’t result in any real disruption of work in the offices.
‘It was very organised, streamlined and no hiccups. Everything was checked out from rooms, toilets to kitchen and double checked as if it was the White House. It was well coordinated. We were not put out much in the run up. We carried on work as normal. It was all done behind closed doors; very meticulous. You wouldn’t know they were there.’
The offices closed early as part of the detailed planning for the Pres- ident’s arrival. ‘We had to lock up early – about four o’ clock. It was all very tightly controlled, with no stone left unturned.’
The President was taken in the side door of the offices which was in Earl Street, and used Barry’s upstairs office to change his clothes. He went out the front door in Crowe Street.
He met with local dignitaries who were there to greet him. He talked normally with Barry. Wife Hilary and daughter Chelsea were also very pleasant and with the President mingled with the staff.
‘He had plenty of chat, talking about golf, talking about Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer. It was normal, all very friendly and basic.’
Barry recalls ‘ he had no bother with taking photographs and signing autographs.’ Outside the building several armoured cars were parked with the very tight security involving marksmen being deployed on the top of nearby buildings.
The President after giving his speech decided he was going out onto the street and delighted the crowds. When he returned to the offices he chatted for 20 minutes and had a cup of tea.
Before departing he expressed his thanks for being accommodated in the society’s offices and for the hospitality.
Overall Barry described meeting the President as a ‘very exciting, once in a life time experience for him and his staff. It’s not often you get to meet the President of America. It was a rare privilege to meet him up close and personal.’
Everything was checked out from rooms, toilets to kitchen and double checked as if it was the White House
Former First Active’s Barry Reddan reflects with Terry Conlon