Celtic and US Presidential Elections

The Celts are in Champions League action tonight – but the eyes of the world will be on America as it chooses its next President…

Politics and Celtic are never far apart, and there are various club connections with US Presidents – not all that Bhoys’ fans might want.

Joe Biden’s Secret Service codename is Celtic 

The current American President, Joe Biden, has an obvious link. His Secret Service codename is Celtic, although it’s to do with the Celts as a tribe rather than football. In fact though, the pronunciation of Keltic does fit with what Brother Walfrid actually wanted as the Bhoys’ name.

Celtic visited the White House in July 2024

In addition, there was recently a Celtic visit to the White House. This summer, the club took part in a three-game US tour, facing DC United, Chelsea and Man City. During this time, Celtic players and officials had a tour of the US President’s residence.

Celtic at Turnberry Hotel

One of the candidates in today’s election, Donald Trump, is a controversial figure (to say the least). He has Scottish links through his mother, and owns the Turnberry Hotel in Ayrshire. In the past – before Trump owned it – this hotel was used by Celtic for different purposes, including as a pre-match getaway and even for prize-giving events.

Celtic Supporters’ Clubs that are named after an American President

There’s even some Celtic Supporters’ Clubs that are named after an American President. John F Kennedy was of course noted for his Irish links, and was also America’s first Catholic President. In Scotland, two CSCs use his name in their title: the John F Kennedy Perth CSC and Giffnock JFK CSC.

In fact, John F Kennedy once visited Glasgow, acting as a representative for his father Joseph, who was US Ambassador to Britain. Patrick Dollan, a well-known Celtic fan, greeted JFK to the city. Dollan was the first Glasgow Lord Provost to hail from an Irish Catholic background.

New York CSC and Henry Kissinger

Another controversial US President link for Celtic concerns Henry Kissinger. Kissinger was Secretary of State to President Richard Nixon. He was regularly the target of protests concerning US policies in places like south-east Asia. Perhaps surprisingly given most Celtic fans political views, he was also once given honorary membership of the New York CSC.

Celtic playing on Presidential Election Day 

Celtic have different links with dates of the US elections. The Bhoys were founded on 6 November 1887; on the first anniversary of this event (6 November 1888), Benjamin Harrison was elected US President, beating the incumbent President Grover Cleveland.

Tonight isn’t Celtic’s first time playing on the day of a Presidential election, it will be the fourth time that this has happened.

The first came in 1988. Champions Celtic went to Germany and drew 0-0 with Werder Bremen, playing in the European Cup. On 8 November 1988, Republican George Bush (Senior) was elected, beating Democrat Michael Dukakis.

Four years later, Celtic again played as George Bush this time lost the election. On 3 November 1992, Bush lost to Bill Clinton, who would be re-elected in 1996. On the day of the 1992 election, Celtic lost 2-1 at home to Borussia Dortmund, exiting the UEFA Cup.

12 years after this, Celtic played as another Bush won a presidential election. On 2 November 2004, George Bush (Junior) was re-elected, beating John Kerry in the race. That night, Celtic won 1-0 in a Champions League tie, overcoming 9-man Shakhtar Donetsk in Glasgow.

Every Celtic fan obviously wants to win tonight. But given the state of the modern world, it would be more important for this election to somehow bring change and improvement.

More important, but unfortunately, not more likely…

Matthew Marr

Follow Matthew on Twitter @hailhailhistory

Celtic in the Thirties (Volumes One & Two) by Matt Corr published today

The very best of luck to Matt Corr whose double volume history of Celtic in the 1930s is published today on Celtic Star Books.

Telling the Celtic story is always worthwhile and Matt has become an esteemed Celtic story-teller in recent years since his first book Invincible which was published in 2020 before co-writing the best seller Walfrid and The Bould Bhoys with Liam Kelly and the late David Potter.

Since then he’s written the official Harry Hood biography (Harry Hood, Twice as Good) and Majic, Stan and the King of Japan which tells the story of Gordon Strachan’s first season at Celtic.

Now though Matt takes his Celtic work to another level with Celtic in the Thirties, Volume One & Two, which has taken three years to research and write and features every player who played for Celtic in that incredibly dramatic decade for the club and indeed the world.

You can order your signed copies from Celtic Star Books and these will be posted alongside all the pre-ordered copies tomorrow. Please note that postage is only charged on the first book.