De Valera in America

Eamon de Valera is one of the most famous characters in Irish political history. He co-authored the present-day Irish constitution, and in 1926, he founded Fianna Fáil, which continues to be the largest political party in Ireland today. In 1919, he arrived at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel announcing himself the "President of Ireland." He was on a mission to convince the United States to not only recognize Ireland as an independent nation, but to fund the independence movement, which would be a clear affront to Britain. De Valera went on to give speeches in some of America's largest venues, including Madison Square Garden and Fenway Park, where he drew crowds of 60,000 people. Over the course of that year, he accumulated fame and scandal, but more importantly, he gained essential financial support for the fledgling Irish Republic. Here, award-winning journalist Dave Hannigan reveals the true story of de Valera's under-reported trip to America, exploring his questionable personal and political relationships, and the costs and benefits of his perilous crusade.