Presidential Advisor

The former Democratic Senator from Maine, George Mitchell, was thrown into the public eye when he agreed to chair the International Body on Decommissioning in Northern Ireland, sponsored by President Clinton. 

The President had previously selected him to act as his economic advisor on Ireland, and Mitchell organized the successful Irish Economic Conference in 1995 in Washington, which brought together Irish people and Americans of all persuasions. 

A former Senate majority leader, Mitchell surprised the political world when he decided not to run again in 1994 after spending 14 years in the Senate. 

Mitchell, whose grandparents came from Ireland, grew up in Maine. His involvement in Irish affairs looks set to continue in concert with the Clinton White House.