Penn Rhodeen

Peacerunner is the must-read account of how ex-congressman Bruce Morrison rose from crushing defeat to become a crucial figure in the historic Irish Peace Process that ended centuries of warfare. The world celebrated the end of the fighting in Ireland, but just a handful know the full story of former congressman Bruce Morrison and how critical he was in bringing peace--and none can bring it to life better than author Penn Rhodeen. In Peacerunner, Rhodeen takes us on the journey of Morrison, who worked with Irish Americans to help elect Bill Clinton as the best hope for a new American policy on the ancient conflict. He then devised the political strategy that helped Clinton make that policy a reality. Despite having no official position, Morrison traveled tirelessly to meet with anyone--including those seen as terrorists--who could help end the fighting. In Northern Ireland, he showed that the US could be the honest broker for both sides--and blazed the trail on which Clinton and George Mitchell helped political leaders forge the 1998 Good Friday Agreement and a new beginning for a suffering land. This fast-paced and insightful narrative brimming with unforgettable characters--presidents and prime ministers, politicians of every stripe, activists and guerrilla fighters--reaches far beyond Ireland's bloody history to show that no conflict should be seen as too intractable to solve. Peacerunner isn't just for those curious about how peace came to Northern Ireland--it's a story for anyone eager to know how the world can actually get better.

This is the true story of an unknown American politician who played a critical role in ending centuries of conflict in Northern Ireland. Without the president's permission, and breaking every conventional rule about how to deal with terrorists, former congressman Bruce Morrison helped end a conflict that most observers thought would continue indefinitely.This is the inside story of how centuries of warfare finally ended, thanks to one inspired politician.Warfare, ranging from active hostilities to seething tension, was the norm between the Irish and the English since the 1100s. During the thirty years from the start of the Troubles to the 1998 Good Friday Agreement, over 3,000 Irish and British nationals were killed. Many celebrated the famous Good Friday Agreement that put an end to one of the longest-standing conflicts in the world, but just a handful knew the full story of one American and the crucial role he played in winning peace-and none knew it better than Penn Rhodeen.In a narrative that grips the listener from the beginning, Rhodeen recounts Bruce Morrison's heroic peacemaking efforts in lively prose and rigorous detail. A natural storyteller, Rhodeen offers listeners the chance to step into modern political history for an up-close look at Morrison's remarkable journey. Follow Morrison as he persuades Clinton to create a positive political climate in America and makes the connections necessary in Ireland and Britain to help win the IRA ceasefire and enact a solid, lasting peace.With an introduction by President Bill Clinton and cameos from Tony Blair, George Mitchell, Gerry Adams, Jean Kennedy Smith, John Major, and other larger-than-life figures, Rhodeen dramatizes events that have somehow receded into the past without getting their due. Peacerunner is the story of how one man changed world history and the modern political landscape.Bruce Morrison's story is one of unlikely optimism in the face of seemingly hopeless conflict. Peacerunner has the power to inspire readers from all walks of life and spark new dialogue about how best to lend aid in countries afflicted by unending war.