And as one of more than 40 million IrishAmericans. I take great pride in the critically important role that the United States and. in particular. President Clinton is playing in this process. It was the Presidents courageous move. in February 1994. to grant a visa to Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams that set the wheels of peace in motion. That step. controversial at the time. was a critical factor in leading to the IRAs unilateral announcement of a ceasefire. 6 months later. For the first time in 25 years. the threat of violence in Northern Ireland was but a distant and unrealized fear.