On Aug 15, 2026, at 9:35 AM, Chas Freeman--
The Literary & Historical SocietyTHE COLLEGE DEBATING UNION
172nd SessionRay,As Fellowships Convenor of the 172nd Session of the Literary and Historical Society at University College Dublin, I am writing to offer you the James Joyce Award and an Honorary Fellowship of the Society. This is the highest honour any student body in Ireland can bestow, at Ireland's largest university, reserved for individuals who have made a profound and lasting contribution to a field of human endeavour.Founded in 1855 by Cardinal John Henry Newman alongside the university itself, the Literary and Historical Society, affectionately known as the L&H, has long stood as a forum for intellectual debate, artistic exploration, and cultural engagement. Among our most notable former members is none other than James Joyce, whose legacy continues to shape both modern literature and the identity of our Society.The James Joyce Award has garnered widespread recognition, with past conferral ceremonies covered by major media outlets such as the BBC, MSNBC, and The Huffington Post. Previous recipients include all former Irish Presidents and Taoisigh, Stephen Fry, Sir Alex Fegusan, Martin Freeman, Michael Lewis, Brenda Fricker, Seamus Heaney, Alan Rickman, Saluman Rushdie, Nancy Pelosi, Will Ferrell, Roddy Doyle, and Archbishop Desmond Tutu, to name but a few. Given your extraordinary career as one of the most consequential of all time, it is only fitting that you be counted among them.We want to congratulate you on an extraordinary career that has established you as a distinctive and influential voice in American public life. From your decades of service as a CIA intelligence analyst to your subsequent work as a political commentator, writer, and activist, you have dedicated your career to the pursuit of truth, accountability, and a more informed public discourse.
Throughout your professional life, you have sought to examine the decisions of governments and institutions with independence and intellectual courage. Your experience within the intelligence community gave you a unique perspective on the relationship between information, political power, and public policy, while your work following your retirement from government service has reflected a continuing commitment to scrutinising those in positions of authority.
What has always distinguished your public work is your willingness to challenge conventional assumptions and to ask difficult questions, particularly when matters of war, intelligence, foreign policy, and national security are concerned. Through your writing, lectures, interviews, and activism, you have encouraged audiences to examine evidence critically and to recognise the importance of dissent within a democratic society.
Your career also represents an important example of the continuing responsibility of individuals who have served within powerful institutions to participate in public debate. You have demonstrated that public service does not necessarily end when an official position does, and that the experience gained within government can carry a continuing responsibility to contribute to discussions about the direction of society and the use of political power.
What resonates especially with students and young people is your insistence that democratic citizenship requires curiosity, independence of thought, and a willingness to question authority. Whatever one's political perspective, the principle that governments and institutions should be subject to scrutiny is fundamental to a healthy democracy. Your career has encouraged audiences to engage with difficult questions rather than accepting easy answers.
Like James Joyce, you have engaged deeply with questions of power, identity, institutions, and the individual's relationship with the societies in which they live. Joyce used literature to examine the political and cultural forces surrounding Ireland and its people, while your work has sought to interrogate the institutions and decisions shaping the modern world. Both demonstrate the importance of independent voices willing to look beyond established narratives.
Congratulations, Ray. Through your decades of public service, writing, activism, and commitment to political accountability, you have contributed to the wider conversation about democracy, government, and the responsibilities of those who exercise power. We would be honoured to welcome you to our society and to celebrate your contribution to public discourse, democratic accountability, and the enduring importance of independent thought.
The conferral of the James Joyce Award is an opportunity for you to engage directly with the students of UCD. Typically, the event consists of an address from the recipient followed by an audience Q&A. Naturally, the Society will cover all travel expenses, and we would be happy to arrange a call to discuss further details or possible dates.Thank you for your time and consideration. We very much hope to welcome you to University College Dublin in the near future.Is mise le meas,
Liam Aubin
Fellowships Convenor, 172nd Session
Literary and Historical Society
University College Dublin
Established 1855P.S. - It would be greatly appreciated if this email could be forwarded and presented to Mr. McGovern Thank you for all of your help.
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