“[Pierre Trudeau] has certain animal leadership properties —
as a zoologist, I’m tremendously impressed with Trudeau. He has an intellectual
virility which is exceedingly important . . . His anatomy, his gestures, his
facial expressions are animal qualities that set him apart and bring him to the
top of the heap.” - Desmond Morris
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| Trudeau-mania kicks in |
A handsome millionaire, bachelor, law professor. Pierre
Trudeau was a godsend to Canada’s version of the Swingin’ 60s. He even had a sports
car.
The electorate tend not to trust intellectual candidates,
but somehow Trudeau, empowered by the cultural zeitgeist, slalomed through the
sluice gates.
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| Pierre with Barbara Streisand |
It was the first time any Canadian politician had inspired mania. Jolted by the success of Expo
67, the conservative people of this northern country voted him in as their 15th
prime minister. He was Canada’s John F. Kennedy.
His shining moment came on October 13, 1970 (during the October Crisis) when a
reporter asked how far he would go to shut down a terrorist group. “Just watch me,” he
replied, and Canadians sat up in their seats. The arrogance. The confidence. Who
was this guy?... And they certainly watched him.
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| Canada's JFK |
They watched him date glamorous celebrities. They watched
his marriage to a beautiful, younger woman... then watched her party with the Rolling Stones.
Trudeau was a wonderful anomaly - to paraphrase one of his
adversaries – representing ‘not what we are, but who we could become.’
In the end, who wouldn’t mind that said about them.