It is a cardinal rule on “Art’s History” that we pause to mark the birthdays of the 22 remarkable men, and one woman, who have served our nation as Prime Minister. And today it is Joe Clark’s turn. The 16th Prime Minister was born on this day in 1939, and I know that partisans of all stripes will join me in sending along our best wishes to Mr. Clark.
One of the few modern-era Prime Ministers to have earned the unofficial – and much coveted – designation as a “House of Commons man” (another being John N. Turner), Clark's love for Parliament was recognized and respected on all sides of the House. As teenager, after winning a Rotary Club contest in his hometown of High River, Alberta, the future PM traveled to Ottawa and sat in the public gallery for the first time. Mr. Clark witnessed, in real time, parts of the infamous Pipeline Debate and the experience never left him. Little did he know that many years later, he himself would occupy one of those coveted Commons’ seats.
Joe Clark served with distinction and honour as MP, Leader of the Opposition, Prime Minister, Secretary of State for External Affairs, Minister of Constitutional Affairs and later came back to lead his beloved PC party once again.
On a personal note, Mr. Clark has assisted and encouraged my political history work in far too many ways to mention. As a result, it is a personal honour to extend birthday wishes to him via “Art’s History.”
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Joe Clark in victory, 1979/caption
Birthday Alert from Art’s History: There's another couple of birthdays I want to note today. First, I'm sending out birthday greetings to my own MP and friend, Mark Gerretsen. I also wish to salute the memory of the late great journalist and historian, Bruce Hutchison, on his birthday. Mr. Hutchison’s book, Mr. Prime Minister 1867–1964, was one of the first books I ever read about our Prime Ministers – its was in my late father’s home library. Even today, I often refer back to it and I am proud to note that my father’s copy has a place of pride in my own home library.
Arthur Milnes is an accomplished public historian and award-winning journalist. He was research assistant on The Rt. Hon. Brian Mulroney’s best-selling Memoirs and also served as a speechwriter to then-Prime Minister Stephen Harper and as a Fellow of the Queen’s Centre for the Study of Democracy under the leadership of Tom Axworthy. A resident of Kingston, Ontario, Milnes serves as the in-house historian at the 175 year-old Frontenac Club Hotel.
Joe Clark in victory, 1979/caption
Birthday Alert from Art’s History: There's another couple of birthdays I want to note today. First, I'm sending out birthday greetings to my own MP and friend, Mark Gerretsen. I also wish to salute the memory of the late great journalist and historian, Bruce Hutchison, on his birthday. Mr. Hutchison’s book, Mr. Prime Minister 1867–1964, was one of the first books I ever read about our Prime Ministers – its was in my late father’s home library. Even today, I often refer back to it and I am proud to note that my father’s copy has a place of pride in my own home library.
Arthur Milnes is an accomplished public historian and award-winning journalist. He was research assistant on The Rt. Hon. Brian Mulroney’s best-selling Memoirs and also served as a speechwriter to then-Prime Minister Stephen Harper and as a Fellow of the Queen’s Centre for the Study of Democracy under the leadership of Tom Axworthy. A resident of Kingston, Ontario, Milnes serves as the in-house historian at the 175 year-old Frontenac Club Hotel.Arthur Milnes is an accomplished public historian and award-winning journalist. He was research assistant on The Rt. Hon. Brian Mulroney’s best-selling Memoirs and also served as a speechwriter to then-Prime Minister Stephen Harper and as a Fellow of the Queen’s Centre for the Study of Democracy under the leadership of Tom Axworthy. A resident of Kingston, Ontario, Milnes serves as the in-house historian at the 175 year-old Frontenac Club Hotel.