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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... going to spend the rest of eternity in my desk drawer. I am most grateful for his support as well as for that of his entire staff, particularly his assistant Nadine Stoikoff, marketing and promotions manager Jeanne MacDonald, and ...
... going. In fact, it was mayhem. Recalled journalist E.B. Biggar: “While the points of order were being argued members hammered at desks, blew on tin trumpets, imitated the crowing of cocks, sent up toy balloons, threw sand crackers. A ...
... going to be revealed which the Grits said would ruin him.” Macdonald laughed and assured him the rumours were unfounded. On Patteson's return trip by train to Toronto the next day, he got hold of a Globe in Cobourg to learn about ...
... going so far as to label Macdonald's National Policy with its protective plank a “foolish experiment.” During Farrer's earlier term with the Mail in 1878, he had aggressively supported protectionism. Now, nearly a decade later, he began ...
... going on in Washington. Enter fortyyear-old Edward Farrer. In 1890 the editor of the Mail had been wooed to the Globe by Liberal finance expert Richard Cartwright, who was impressed with Farrer's criticism of protection and his articles ...
Contents
No League of Gentlemen 19141956 | 83 |
Illustrations | 104 |
The Unofficial Opposition 19571992 | 207 |
Notes | 365 |
Bibliography | 380 |
Index | 383 |