Global Courant 2023-04-29 02:11:40
The well-known Albanian-American lawyer Bardhyl Tirana, whose family settled in the United States after the outbreak of World War II and who in 1976 served as co-chairman of the inauguration ceremony of former American president Jimmy Carter, died at the age 85 years old in Nyack, New York.
He was the son of the well-known Albanian economist Rifat Tirana and the American artist Rosamon English Walling, who moved the family from Switzerland, where the lawyer Tirana was born, to the American capital, Washington.
He attended Princeton and Columbia Universities on scholarships and never forgot the generosity shown to him and the transformative power of access to education.
Bardhyl Tirana began his legal career in the Department of Justice during the administration of former President John F. Kennedy and with his first wife, Gail, worked on Robert F. Kennedy’s New York senatorial campaign in 1964.
While a private attorney, he arranged transportation for the primary campaign of candidate Robert Kennedy and the presidential campaigns for Senator George McGovern and Governor Jimmy Carter.
He was one of the co-chairs of Mr. Carter’s inauguration, creating a “public festival,” as Mr. Carter desired. As Director of Civil Defense at the Department of Defense under Mr. Carter, one of his recommendations helped create the Federal Emergency Management Agency, FEMA.
Had his own law office in Washington for many years and was well known in the profession.
He was involved in issues related to Albania and Kosovo and contributed to a number of organizations of the Albanian-American community, including the National Albanian American Council (NAAC), for which he regularly offered his legal services free of charge.
He died last week with his wife, Anne Bell Tirana, to whom he was married for 37 years, by his side.
Below is an interview that Mr. Tirana gave to the Albanian service of Voice of America on July 27, 2004.
Bardhyl Tirana: One of the main topics of this election year in the United States is expected to be internal security and the war in Iraq
Albanian-American lawyer Bardhyl Tirana, today runs his law office in Washington. Mr. Tirana has participated in three assemblies of the democratic party, in 1968, 1972 and 1976. We invited Mr. Tirana to give us his thoughts on the current assembly of the democratic party.
Voice of America: Mr. Tirana, the Democratic National Assembly that started yesterday is expected to take place according to a pre-determined scenario and nothing new is expected, no opinions different from those of the party are expected. It is expected to point out the merits of the party and deepen the criticism of President Bush’s administration. In such circumstances, when assemblies are already defined in advance, what is their role?
Bardhyl Tirana: The Assembly will try to determine the democratic program, what the government of Senator Kerry and Senator Edwards will do, what will be their priorities, if they are elected as president and vice president.
VOA: You were present at several Democratic Party conventions, in 1968 in Chicago, in 1972 and in 1976. In ’68 the Democratic Party was divided, and disagreements within it at the time cost the House of Representatives. White. How much have party conventions changed since then?
Bardhyl Tirana: They have changed radically. In 1968 1968 Bobby Kennedy was assassinated. He would have won the Democratic Party nomination and was almost certain to be elected president. But after his murder, there were only 2 months until the Party Assembly. No one knew who the candidate of this party would be. There was a slight chance that Humphry would be named vice president. But no one knew. It was a mystery. Until then, the party’s candidate for president was determined exactly in the assembly. While today everyone knows who will be the candidate before the assembly.
Voice of America: On the first day of the Democratic Convention in Boston, yesterday the main speech was delivered by former President Clinton. 4 years ago, the Democratic candidate at the time, Al Gore, during his election campaign, tried to distance himself from then President Bill Clinton. Now Senator Kerry is expected to use the name of President Clinton and the president himself more for his electoral campaign. What role does President Clinton have in the Democratic Party today and how can he help Senator Kerry in this campaign?
Bardhyl Tirana: President Clinton is one of the best communicators that can be found with the public. When he speaks on television or in meetings, people, with the exception of a minority, understand and find themselves in what he says. He was very successful during the 8 years he ruled the country. President Clinton’s role today is to remind the residents, the voters, that if they choose the Democratic candidate, the good times, the happy times, will return again, instead of the difficulties brought by President Bush and under President Cheney.
VOA: One of the main topics of this election year in the United States is expected to be internal security and the war in Iraq. Usually in times of war, the president who is in power has more advantages to win. Do you think this year will continue like this?
Bardhyl Tirana: I don’t believe it will be like this, for the simple reason that the war was unnecessary, or at least it was unnecessary to start and cause us so many problems. President Bush and Vice President Cheney did not tell and misinformed the American people and most people know it. Therefore, the advantage that the president has in times of war will not be exploited by President Bush.
VOA: And one last question. Do you continue to keep in touch with the Democratic Party today? Do you play any part in it anymore?
Bardhyl Tirana: No, I no longer have any role. People have said that politics is a young man’s game. At the moment, no, I don’t have any role anymore.
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