Editing Seán T. O'Kelly (section)

===Visit to the United States===

O'Kelly was the first President of Ireland to visit the United States of America, when from 16 to 31 March 1959, he was the guest of [[US President|President]] [[Dwight Eisenhower]]. He was invited to address both houses of [[Congress of the United States|Congress]].<ref name="address" /> This was important to Ireland as it showed that the republic and its head of state were recognised by the United States. Historian [[J. J. Lee (historian)|J. J. Lee]] has stated that the visit signified an end to a period of distrust between Ireland and the United States, following [[World War II]].<ref>J.J.Lee, "Ireland 1912–1985: Politics and Society (Cambridge 1989),</ref> Both Ireland and America had been neutral countries when the war began, but the US joined the conflict in 1941. But Ireland continued to remain neutral, which annoyed American politicians during the war, and afterwards. The invitation to President O'Kelly to address Congress meant that Ireland had been forgiven by the larger power.<ref>{{YouTube|id=af9v_CBATCw#t=51m00s|title=''Uachtaráin – Séan T. Ó Ceallaigh'' (51m 00s)}} Television documentary by [[TG4]], 2007.</ref>