Research Catalog

Title

My Stories, My Times / Jean Chrétien ; translated by Sheila Fischman and Donald Winkler.

Author

Chrétien, Jean, 1934-

Publication

• Toronto : Random House Canada, [2018]
• ©2018

Items in the Library & Off-site

Details

Additional Authors

• Fischman, Sheila
• Winkler, Donald

Description

xix, 259 pages, 32 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations (some color); 22 cm

Summary

"One of the most popular Canadian Prime Ministers in recent history, elected to government for three consecutive majority terms, Jean Chrétien has some stories to tell. Recounted with warmth, insight and his distinctive sense of humour, these brief and candid essays feature many behind-the-scenes stories from a long, distinguished and colourful career. October 2018 marks twenty-five years since Jean Chrétien took the helm as Prime Minister. In this collection of short essays, he has picked up his pen to reminisce about his long years in the public eye, and the many luminaries he met and worked with. Readers will learn why his commonsense judgment continues to influence our lives to this day, in ways both profound and subtle: from forging long-lasting relationships with foreign countries to making it easy to identify our national airline when we travel. He recalls a memorable trip with the royal family to the Northwest Territories in 1970, and how Ross Perot tried to influence his views on free trade in 1992. Of course, many familiar names figure into these stories, including George W. Bush, Boris Yeltsin, Tony Blair, Jacques Chirac, Pierre Trudeau, and Bill and Hillary Clinton. There are reflections on the many different posts over Chrétien's career, including becoming Canada's first-ever francophone finance minister. He pays tribute to old friends and colleagues, where the values of honour and dedication to public service transcend political views. He reserves his greatest admiration for his wife of more than sixty years, Aline, whom he calls his Rock of Gibraltar. These stories offer his unique perspective: we are at the Prime Minister's side on 9/11 when he is asked to give authorization to shoot down a passenger airliner that has not responded to identification requests. We learn how he attempted to correct the record as explained in his grandson's history book on the so-called "Night of the Long Knives." (Despite having special access to an eyewitness to history, his grandson got a failing grade on his paper.) There are even glimpses of the young Jean, as a teen canvassing with his father, and as a young man who dared complain personally to Premier Maurice Duplessis about the food at his seminary. Survival in politics requires stamina, creativity and toughness, as well as the ability to share a laugh now and again: qualities that the self-described "little guy from Shawinigan" never lost. In these days of "alternative facts" and politics-by-Tweet, these stories are a necessary antidote, told by a leader who always held fast to his vision of what Canada was and what it could be."--

Uniform Title

Mes histoires. English

Alternative Title

Mes histoires.

Subject

• Chrétien, Jean, 1934- > Anecdotes
• Chrétien, Jean, 1934-
• 1963-2006
• Prime ministers > Canada > Anecdotes
• Politics and government
• Prime ministers
• Canada > Politics and government > 1945-1980
• Canada > Politics and government > 1980-
• Canada

Genre/Form

• Anecdotes.
• Autobiographies.

Note

• Translation of: Mes histoires.

Language (note)

• Text in English.

Contents

Foreward by Joe Clark -- Preface -- An unsung hero -- Because butter is butter -- The four pillars of finance -- Tony Blair and the war in Iraq -- My rock of Gibraltar -- NATO: From summit to summit -- Do your duty! -- Newfoundland: A great diplomatic victory -- The Guibord affair -- The Order of Merit, and singing for the Royal family -- "The monarchist from Quebec" -- In defense of free trade -- "Alternative facts" of history -- Democracy: The worst form of government, except for all the others -- The Russians who made me smile -- An impromptu swim in Northern Siberia -- Trump and the Russians -- A forgotten story from 9/11 -- Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern development -- National parks: A proud legacy -- "Do you eat beef, Chancellor?" -- From trans-Canada airlines to Air Canada -- My friend Yvon -- Speed, the police, and Acadians -- General de Gaulle -- Religion and politics: An age-old debate -- Why I'm a francophone federalist -- In the footsteps of my grandfather François Chrétien -- Life after politics -- An inspiring trip to Europe -- July 23, 1967: The day it all changed -- The longest summer of my life -- A long-lasting legend -- My mentor, Mitchell Sharp -- A memorable vacation in Mexico -- Pierre Elliott Trudeau and me -- An unforgettable day with the Clintons -- Aiming at the wrong target -- On the need for art in life -- Allan J. MacEachen, a political giant -- Humour as a political weapon -- Memories from major international conferences -- Our official languages and me -- The judiciary: Long live the Canadian system! -- Canada, the envy of the world -- Potpourri -- Lord Conrad Black -- Some little-known important decisions -- Political foes and friends -- Conclusion -- Appendix- A toast by Monsieur Jacques Chirac -- Acknowledgements -- Photo credits.

Call Number

JFD 19-1471

ISBN

• 9780735277342
• 0735277346

OCLC

1044275257

Author

Chrétien, Jean, 1934- author.

Title

My Stories, My Times / Jean Chrétien ; translated by Sheila Fischman and Donald Winkler.

Publisher

Toronto : Random House Canada, [2018]

Copyright Date

©2018

Type of Content

text

Type of Medium

unmediated

Type of Carrier

volume

Language

Text in English.

Chronological Term

1963-2006

Added Author

Fischman, Sheila, translator.

Winkler, Donald, translator.

Other Form:

Chrétien, Jean, 1934- Mes histoires. English. My stories, my times./. Toronto : Randon House Canada, 2018 (CaOONL)2018903534X

Research Call Number

JFD 19-1471