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Restaurateur Billy Lawless Says Introducing Obama Was 'Remarkable'

By Tanveer Ali | November 26, 2014 3:19pm
 Billy Lawless and President Barack Obama, who spoke at the Copernicus Center Tuesday.
Billy Lawless and President Barack Obama, who spoke at the Copernicus Center Tuesday.
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Billy Lawless

CHICAGO — On Monday, restaurateur Billy Lawless received a call letting him know he would be introducing President Barack Obama ahead of his speech on immigration Tuesday.

"I was pretty uptight," Lawless said Wednesday afternoon. "I think the whole occasion was pretty remarkable."

Since immigrating to Chicago in 1998 from his native Ireland, Lawless has made a name for himself on Chicago's restaurant scene. He's been also an active voice on immigrants' rights.

"We really wanted to see if we could succeed in the United States and live the American Dream," Lawless said in his introduction.

Based on Obama's speech, Lawless has been a success. Obama quoted Lawless from a speech he gave long before Tuesday: “I had a thing for the United States. I always wanted to see if I could hack it with you guys.”

 Billy Lawless and President Barack Obama, who spoke at the Copernicus Center Tuesday.
Billy Lawless and President Barack Obama, who spoke at the Copernicus Center Tuesday.
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Twitter (left); Getty Images/John Gress

The president noted in his speech that Lawless came "to Chicago, opens up an Irish pub — because there was a shortage of Irish pubs in Chicago. Then he opened another restaurant, then another, and then another."

Lawless and his son — also named Billy — run The Gage, Acanto and The Dawson. They plan to open a new restaurant in the Loop's Block 37 soon.

Obama said the Lawless family employs 260 people.

He also noted that Lawless and his wife Anne became citizens in July and voted in November.

"I certainly did. I was a little child with a lollipop," Lawless said. "I was just hoping there were more ballots for me to vote with."

Lawless said there were "more qualified people" who could speak about immigration than he could, but was honored to have the opportunity to show that American immigration issues affect people of all races and origins.

"I congratulate the president. I think he did the right thing," Lawless said. "We have to get a bill passed."

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