Kilkenny student Adrian O’Higgins has had a hectic schedule since beginning his internship for former-Republican presidential candidate and long-serving US Senator, John McCain.
The University of Limerick undergraduate was selected, amid fierce competition, for one of 31 places on the prestigious Washington-Ireland Programme.
Adrian holds the position of University of Limerick Law Society president, and is chairperson of Ógra Fianna Fáil Kilkenny.
The programme, celebrating its 15th anniversary this year, offers summer internships to some of the most promising students in Ireland and Northern Ireland.
Speaking to the Kilkenny Advertiser this week Adrian said: “Since we arrived we've had a pretty busy but very exciting schedule. Our first week was packed full of visits to historical sights and meetings with some of America's most influential people.
“I was honoured to meet Senator McCain on my first day of work. It was great to meet somebody who has played such a prominent and influential role in US politics. His service in the armed forces and in Congress is inspirational.
“One of the first visits that we made was to the US Supreme Court where we had the honour of having a private session with Chief Justice John Roberts. He outlined the role of the Supreme Court in the US Government's system and then participated in a Q&A session with us.
“We visited Arlington Cemetary, Capitol Hill, the National Press Association and the many presidential monuments around the city during the first week. We also had a special lunch with retired Congressman Jim Walsh (former head of the Friends of Ireland Caucus on the Hill ), the Irish Ambassador to the US Michael Collins, Professor of Irish history Tim Meagher, and director of the Northern Irish Bureau, Norman Houston, who all discussed issues relating to the Irish-US relationship, how it developed, and where they believe it will develop in the future.”
Adrian also explained about a number of classes that were organised for the leadership programme including a speech writing session with some of DC's most influential speech writers such as President Clinton's communications director Don Baer, Kevin Sullivan (former senior advisor and speechwriter to the US secretary of Education Richard Riley ), Jim Grossfield (former communications director for House Democratic Whip David Bonier ) and David Frank (speech writer to US Secretary of State Warren Christopher ).
Another class included the chief of staff of Hillary Clinton's senate office Tamera Luzzatto and experienced lobbiest John Feehery (CEO of the Feehery Group ) explaining how Washington works.
“It’s a very interesting time to be over here as President Obama is trying to push so much of his reform agenda through Congress. At the moment the big issues are the new financial regulations, Judge Sotomayor's nomination to the Supreme Court, and of course the new health care proposals.
“I began work in Senator McCain's Office last Tuesday and was immediately thrown into the deep end! President Obama's new health proposals are presently trying to make their way through Congress and being discussed by the senate committee on health, a committee Senator McCain is on. I have been sitting in on much of this committee talking notes and researching various aspects of the legislation put before Congress on this matter, then presenting them to the senator's legislative assistants.
“It's been a fascinating two weeks so far and is only going to get better. I will be paying a visit to the White House next Saturday. In the meantime there will be further leadership training and work in the Senate offices.
