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Page THE HERALD OUTLOOK Saturday January 13 Book review PM Lester Pearson just in right place at right time By JACK McLEOD The mythology surrounding Lester Mike Pearson sug gests he was an Improbable prime minister Internationally he was the bestknown Canadian Domestically his record was at best mixed The orthodox view has been that early in his career he was in the right place at the right time more lucky than shrewd a diplomat with a gift for genial com promise but a softie too nice a guy for the rough and tumble of politics too guileless to be a match for the tempestuous John Diefen- baker In his own smooth autobiography Pearson gave fur ther substance to this myth The inner man usually remains elusive and the mainsprings of Mike are more elusive than most but a new biography throws sharp light on the myths In John Englishs Shadow of Heaven The Life of Lester Pearson Volume One 18971948 Lester and Orpen Dennys pages we have a sympathetic and incisive account of both the public and the private man Its a brilliant and satisfying book one of the best biographies of recent years and it has Governor Generals Award written all over it Pearson comes through as deter mined and toughminded Prof English shows him as a self- deprecating and charming man whose affable exterior cloaked a backbone of steel We learn how much Mikes character was forged in his fathers parsonage in Vic toria College and in the Methodist church Ambition propelled him and he hated to lose After service in the First World War a postgraduate scholarship to Oxford expanded his horizons but he shone neither as a soldier nor as a scholar The implication is that Pes nn returned from war time service still a teetotaler and a virgin he like never saw ac tion and was afflicted by neurasthenia or nervous col lapse Brief flings with legal studies and in business ended in failure and although he taught history at the University of Toron to for three years his post there would have been as athletic direc tor and football coach had he stayed Pearson was not lured away from academia but astutely sought and won a job with External Affairs PASSED OVER Diplomatic postings in London Geneva Ottawa and Washington demonstrated his capacity for hard work congeniality and com promise He won the admiration of two prime ministers RB Bennett and Mackenzie King but was pass ed over in for the job of Under- Secretary of External and seems to have played a less important role in the foundation of the United Nations than is generally suppos ed However when Mike entered the cabinet in King pro- DATE BOOK Today Is the 13th day of 1990 and the 24th day of winter TODAYS HISTORY On this day in 1966 Robert C Weaver the first black ever nominated to the US cabinet was named secretary of the new De partment ot Housing and Urban Development TODAYS BIRTHDAYS Salmon P Chase 18081873 US jurist Sophie Tucker singer Robert Stack 1919- actor Qwen Verdon 1926- actress Charles Nelson Rellly actor Brandon Tartlkoft 1949- TV executive Jay writer TODAYS QUOTE Ive been rich and Ive been poor rich is better So phie Tucker TODAYS MOON Between lull moon Jan 11 and last quarter Jan TODAYS BARBS BY PHIL PASTORET We had an uncle who was far- ahead of the electronic age He was quartspowered and got woundup all the time At the points where highways join other highways why dont they change the signs to read Crunch instead of Merge o FINE FURNITURE CUSTOM DESIGNED FURNITURE ReUpholstery 8531 359 38 Mill St E ACTON DENTURE THERAPY CLINIC TH Denture Therapist 72 Mill St Georgetown 8778974 East Dr Bramalea Corner Rd Easl Dr 7912314 YOURE INVITED TO GEORGETOWN DISTRICT HIGH SCHOOLS GRADE 8 PARENTS STUDENTS INFORMATION NIGHT Wed January 17 1990 630 PM Mrs P Hillhouse Board Chairperson Mrs B Singleton Principal that Pearson would some day become prime minister The author is a fine crisp stylist Impeccable scholarship never in terferes with the flow of the story and the author moves nimbly from political narrative to vivid background perspectives and back to psychological insights English is scrupulous in weighing Pear sons own account of events in his memoirs against the historical evidence and reaching balanced conclusions The laughable charges in FBI files that Mike was a fellowtraveller or Soviet agent are met head on the full tale 1 of Herbert Normans suicide is I promised for a later volume Perhaps most fascinating is the skilful analysis of Pearsons j character Now it is easier to s how the smiling Liberal leader with the engaging lisp could sur vive scandals in his government exasperate his advisors and cabinet and abandon betray decent colleagues such as Guy and Walter Gordon Pear- l son could dodge and but he was no stranger to vanity or ruthlessness Its Englishs i ment that Mike responded to I events and persons in a manner I normally emotional and intuitive rather than intellectual but seldom without a sure instinct for i applause and selfpreservation I When the next volume is publish- ed there will long lineups of eager buyers with me alongside them Jack a history pro- i feasor at the University of Toronto is coeditor with Cynthia Smith of Sir John A An Anecdotal Life RONNIE HAWKINS LIVE ON STAGE By Popular Demand Sun Jan 8730437 Rompin Ronnie Returns to The Hills Dont Miss Him Tickets Doors Open 700 pm Showtime 830 pm LIMITED TICKETS AVAILABLE COMING FEBRUARY I 2 Direct From Los Vegas The Playgirls of Rock Roll First Appearance In Canada MONEY MANAGEMENT EDITION 1990 If you offer a financial product or service you shouldnt miss this opportunity to include yourself in our special Financial Supplement Money Management This special edition is delivered to over homes covering all of Halton Hills and is filled with insight ful financial planning information so crucial at this time of year If you require more information or would like to see a professionally prepared layout please contact our display advertising department Publication Date WEDNESDAY FEB 7th Deadline For Booking TUESDAY JAN 30th i Contact Dan Taylor 8772201 f SUPPLEMENT TO the HERALD