he was appointed ambassador to the united states in 1991 where he developed a wide range of friendships and contacts. one of these was bill clinton, then governor of arkansas. during his time as ambassador, he helped secure a u.s. visa for sinn féin leader gerry adams. after his posting in washington d.c., he returned home in 1997 with the title of second secretary general. along with bertie ahern, gallagher wanted to establish peace with northern ireland.