Scrum Wars: The Prime Ministers and the MediaThe image of the scrum -- a beleaguered politican surrounded by jockeying reporters -- is central to our perception of Ottawa. The modern scrum began with the arrival of television, but even in Sir John A. Macdonald's day, a century earlier, reporters in the parliamentary press gallery had waited outside the prime minister's office, pen in hand, hoping for a quote for the next edition. The scrum represents the test of wills, the contest of wits, and the battle for control that have characterized the relationship between Canadian prime ministers and journalists for more than 125 years. Scrum Wars chronicles this relationship. It is an anecdotal as well as analytical account, showing how earlier prime ministers like Sir John A. Macdonald and Sir Wilfrid Laurier were able to exercise control over what was written about their administrators, while more recent leaders like John Diefenbaker, Joe Clark, John Turner, and Brian Mulroney often found themselves at the mercy of intense media scrutiny and comment. |
From inside the book
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... John Diefenbaker knew which loyal Conservative reporters and supportive Conservative newspapers he could trust. As late as 1963 Liberal prime minister Lester Pearson's office still classified the newspapers he received as “Conservative ...
... John A. Macdonald to Lester Pearson, I used each prime minister's let~ ters and papers as my primary guide; for the last chapters, from Pierre Trudeau to Brian Mulroney, I relied on the numerous books and articles dealing with this era ...
... John's—Ravenscourt School and generous grants from the Canada Council and the Manitoba Arts Council, I was able to relocate with my family to Ottawa for one year of intensive work. For this, I must thank John Messenger, the former ...
... john A. Macdonald, 1876 M artin Griffin quickly finished eating his lunch. It was nearing three o'clock and he had to hurry back to the House to prepare for what would probably be a long sitting. Griffin was an editor with the ...
... John's, Newfoundland, in 1847 into a devout Roman Catholic family. His father was a captain in the Merchant Marine. The Griffins moved to Nova Scotia in 1854, and young Martin, a capable student who demonstrated at an early age a speed ...
Contents
No League of Gentlemen 19141956 | 83 |
Illustrations | 104 |
The Unofficial Opposition 19571992 | 207 |
Notes | 365 |
Bibliography | 380 |
Index | 383 |