It is with very deep regret that I rise to move the adjournment of the Dáil as a mark of respect and of sympathy with the American people on the tragic death of their President, John Fitzgerald Kennedy.
We had the privilege, during the year, of welcoming the late President Kennedy to Ireland. The scenes of jubilation which marked that historic occasion, and which are still vivid in all our minds, testified to the extraordinary feelings of our people for him. Here in this Chamber we were privileged to hear him address a joint meeting of the Houses of the Oireachtas. The battle-flag of Meagher's Irish Brigade, which he presented to the people of Ireland on that historic day, hangs in an honoured place in Leinster House. We shall think of him, and of the honour which he showed us by his presence amongst us, on every occasion that we look on it.
President Kennedy was a world statesman who, even in the three short years in which he held his high office, exerted a profound influence on the course of world history. The hopes of men and women of all the free nations had become centred in him. The loss which mankind has suffered through his untimely death is still incalculable: few men in high political office ever possessed greater potentiality for the future of the world. When we, and the rest of the world, recover from the shock of what today appears to be an unrelieved tragedy for mankind, we will surely realise that, although President John Fitzgerald Kennedy is dead, his spirit will remain to animate and inspire those who cherish his ideals and who are prepared to work as he did for their attainment. For such was the extraordinary nature of this great and good man that no one can dare prophesy that his influence on the course of human affairs will be less in the future than in the past.
While we mourn a world statesman and a great democratic leader, we remember also the man as we knew him—his relaxed and confident personality, his broad humanity and cheerful disposition, his clear mind and gift of striking expression, and all the ingredients of his very likeable personality. It was these human qualities which so endeared him to all the Irish people during his visit amongst us. We were proud of his Irish origins, and of the honour which he brought to our race. With pride shall we ever record his heroism in battle, his courage in the face of injury and illness, his complete dedication to the ideal of liberty for all men and all races, his confidence and resolution in carrying out the awful and burdensome duties of his great office, his religious faith, his family life, his high standards of personal behaviour. We each of us have a deep sense of personal loss, and in every Irish church and home the prayers of our people are being offered for his eternal salvation, as they would be for a close and dear relative.
Our hearts go out to his stricken widow and family. To them we offer our most profound sympathy. We hope that somehow they will find in time the fortitude to bear their heavy cross.
To the Government and the people of the United States we tender our deep regret for the tragedy that has befallen them, and our assurance that, in common with all the peoples of the earth, we share their sense of great loss. We have lowered our flags in honour of their dead leader, and, with the men and women of his own nation, we Irish pay our respectful tribute to his memory.
I ask you, Sir, on behalf of all members of Dáil Éireann, to convey these sentiments of ours to the Government of the United States and to the widow of the late President John Kennedy.
I move:
That Dáil Éireann extend to the people of the United States of America its deep sympathy on the tragic death of President Kennedy, and, as a tribute of respect to his memory, that the House do now adjourn.
