Word: mitchelll
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Dates: during 2000-2009
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Mitchell, however, did not always seem destined to become a diplomatic mediator. In fact, at the time of his retirement from the Senate in 1995, he was rumored to be on the brink of becoming the new commissioner of Major League Baseball.
Instead, President Bill Clinton appointed Mitchell as his economic envoy to Northern Ireland, a cover for American involvement in peace talks desired by Irish republicans, but feared by both unionists and the British government.
But soon Mitchell was able to maneuver himself into the chairmanship of the all-party negotiations, winning praise from all sides for his courageous and impartial leadership of the talks.
After 22 months of arduous negotiation, Mitchell was able to force through the Good Friday Agreement, granting bipartisan home rule to Northern Ireland, and pointing the way towards paramilitary weapons decommissioning.
Even former British Prime Minister John Major, initially skeptical about the merits of American interference in the process, was won over by Mitchell.