Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Prime Minister Liam Cosgrave of Ireland arrived at the White House for a state visit on this day 45 years ago. In honor of St. Patrick’s Day he pinned the traditional shamrocks onto President Ford’s lapel “as a symbol of the...
Pop-up View Separately

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Prime Minister Liam Cosgrave of Ireland arrived at the White House for a state visit on this day 45 years ago.  In honor of St. Patrick’s Day he pinned the traditional shamrocks onto President Ford’s lapel “as a symbol of the friendship and close ties which bind our two countries together.”

In his remarks at the arrival ceremony President Ford acknowledged his own ties to Ireland. “I welcome you not only as Prime Minister of Ireland, but as a kinsman, very distant in genealogy but very close in affinity,” he said. “My mother proudly told me one time I am partially Irish in heritage, and I can assure you I am fully Irish in spirit.”

Read the full exchange of their remarks.

Image: Prime Minister Liam Cosgrave of Ireland Pinning Shamrocks on President Gerald R. Ford’s Lapel in the South Driveway Upon His Arrival at the White House for a State Visit, 3/17/1976 (National Archives Identifier 7840005)

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

President Ford welcomed Prime Minister Liam Cosgrave of Ireland at the White House on March 17, 1976. The visit, planned for St. Patrick’s Day and intended to celebrate the American Bicentennial, included Prime Minister Cosgrave’s presentation of this Waterford Crystal vase to President Ford.

Waterford Crystal, a company founded in Ireland in 1783, crafted this exquisite piece with a profile of George Washington prominently displayed on the body. This coming together of cultures parallels both Cosgrave’s 1976 visit as well as the ongoing relationship between Ireland and the United States.

President Ford also highlighted the countries’ close relationship in his welcoming remarks. “Throughout our history – beginning with the many Irish-Americans who fought for freedom in 1776 and the 11 who signed the Declaration of Independence – men and women from your country have brought Irish courage, Irish energy, Irish strength, Irish devotion and Irish genius to the United States of America.“ he said to Prime Minister Cosgrave. "I look forward to our discussion, and I am delighted to welcome you on this magic day.”

Images: President Gerald R. Ford, First Lady Betty Ford, and Prime Minister and Mrs. Liam Cosgrave of Ireland Admiring the Bicentennial Waterford Crystal Vase the Cosgraves Presented to the Fords in the Yellow Oval Room Prior to a State Dinner Honoring Prime Minister Cosgrave, 3/17/1976 (National Archives Identifier 7840007)

Waterford Crystal vase presented to President Ford by Prime Minister Liam Cosgrave of Ireland

St. Patrick’s Day is this weekend. Fittingly, Prime Minister Liam Cosgrave of Ireland arrived at the White House on March 17, 1976. In honor of St. Patrick’s Day he pinned the traditional shamrocks onto President Ford’s lapel “as a symbol of the...
Pop-up View Separately

St. Patrick’s Day is this weekend.

Fittingly, Prime Minister Liam Cosgrave of Ireland arrived at the White House on March 17, 1976. In honor of St. Patrick’s Day he pinned the traditional shamrocks onto President Ford’s lapel “as a symbol of the friendship and close ties which bind our two countries together.”

In his remarks at the arrival ceremony President Ford acknowledged his own ties to Ireland. “I welcome you not only as Prime Minister of Ireland, but as a kinsman, very distant in genealogy but very close in affinity,” he said. “My mother proudly told me one time I am partially Irish in heritage, and I can assure you I am fully Irish in spirit.”

Read the full exchange of their remarks.

Image: Prime Minister Liam Cosgrave of Ireland Pinning Shamrocks on President Gerald R. Ford’s Lapel in the South Driveway Upon His Arrival at the White House for a State Visit, 3/17/1976 (National Archives Identifier 7840005)

Source: catalog.archives.gov

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

First Lady Betty Ford received this rustically decorated silver bowl as a state gift from Vera Cosgrave, the wife of Irish Prime Minister Liam Cosgrave. Fittingly, the Cosgraves visited the White House for a state dinner in their honor on March 17, 1976.

The bowl depicts a countryside harvest scene complete with workers in the field, a millhouse, and man on horseback riding towards a church. These details were embossed, or chased, onto the silver with slight, repeated hammering of the malleable metal. Small hallmarks on the bowl indicate that it was most likely crafted by Dublin artist John Smith in 1897.

This bowl and other state gifts given to Mrs. Ford will be on display in the upcoming exhibit “In Step With Betty Ford: A Celebration of Her Centennial,” opening on April 10, 2018, at the Ford Presidential Museum in Grand Rapids, Michigan. For more information see https://www.fordlibrarymuseum.gov/visit-museum.aspx#museum-events

Images: Silver bowl given to Betty Ford by Vera Cosgrave during a state visit to the United States on 3/17/1976

Betty Ford and Vera Cosgrave greet fashion designer Diane von Furstenburg at a state dinner honoring Prime Minister Liam Cosgrave of Ireland, 3/17/1976  (White House photograph A8847-35)

“May the roof above us never fall in, and may we friends gathered below never fall out.” – Irish Toast

It was in this spirit of friendship that President Gerald R. Ford received Prime Minister Liam Cosgrave of Ireland at the White House on March 17, 1976. The visit, planned for St. Patrick’s Day and intended to celebrate the American Bicentennial, included Prime Minister Cosgrave’s presentation of this Waterford Crystal vase to President Ford. 

Waterford Crystal, a company founded in Ireland in 1783, crafted this exquisite piece with a profile of George Washington prominently displayed on the body. This coming together of cultures parallels both Cosgrave’s 1976 visit as well as the ongoing relationship between Ireland and the United States. President Ford also highlighted the countries’ close relationship by affirming, “I welcome you not only as Prime Minister of Ireland, but as a kinsmen, very distant in genealogy but very close in affinity. My mother proudly told me one time that I am partially Irish in heritage, and I can assure you that I am fully Irish in spirit!”

Following the presentation, President Ford and First Lady Betty Ford honored Prime Minister Cosgrave and his family the same way many Americans celebrate St. Patrick’s Day: with a party! Notable attendees include prominent members of the Republican Party, Zsa Zsa Gabor, and Princess Diane von Furstenburg. The night ended with a performance from Broadway star Ben Vereen and informal dancing.

Images: Waterford Crystal vase presented to President Ford by Prime Minister Liam Cosgrave of Ireland;  President Gerald R. Ford, First Lady Betty Ford, and Prime Minister and Mrs. Liam Cosgrave of Ireland Admiring the Bicentennial Waterford Crystal Vase the Cosgraves Presented to the Fords in the Yellow Oval Room Prior to a State Dinner Honoring Prime Minister Cosgrave, 3/17/1976

Source: catalog.archives.gov

A Leading Player

After dinner triple threat Ben Vereen entertained the Fords and their guests in the East Room. The singer-dancer-actor had gotten his start at a performing arts high school in Brooklyn before achieving success on the Broadway stage.

Vereen’s performance included selections from three of the shows he was best known for: Hair, Jesus Christ Superstar, and Pippin, in which his portrayal of the Leading Player earned him a Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical.

After their guests’ arrival, President and Mrs. Ford and Prime Minister and Mrs. Cosgrave briefly mingled with the official parties in the Yellow Oval Room.

Before heading downstairs for their grand entrance the Fords and Cosgraves posed for photos with Ireland’s Bicentennial gift to the United States. The piece of Waterford crystal featured an etching of George Washington. During the official exchange of gifts, which did not occur during the state dinner, the Irish received a composite satellite photo of Ireland created by NASA.

Read the event outline for this state dinner.

The Winners Circle

As Prime Minister Cosgrave was a devoted horseman, Mrs. Ford decided to base the decorations for this state dinner around “The Winners Circle” of the Kentucky Derby.

The White House borrowed bronze sculptures of Derby winners from the Kentucky Derby Museum at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky; the Long Gallery in Houston, Texas; and the private collection of Paul Mellon. Each horse was placed on a bed of natural bark surrounded by shamrock, ferns, ivy, gerbera daisies, and moss.

The green and white plaid tablecloths were set with the Johnson china, Monroe vermeil flatware, and Kennedy crystal.

A New Generation of Foreign Relations

Two key members of the Irish delegation were following in their fathers’ footsteps in making this state visit. In 1928 Prime Minister Cosgrave’s father W.T. Cosgrave, then head of the Irish government, and Foreign Affairs Minister Garret FitzGerald’s father Desmond FitzGerald, then Minister of Defense, made a similar trip to the United States.

President Ford and Secretary of State Henry Kissinger met with Cosgrave and FitzGerald in the Oval Office to discuss bilateral relations. Conversation focused largely on trade, particularly Irish exports and quotas. President Ford provided an overview of U.S. relations with various countries, and Prime Minister Cosgrave addressed the situation in Northern Ireland.

Read the entire memorandum of conversation.