Hon. Frank McGee: The superficial aspects of the Kennedy- like image of John Turner have already been worked to death. However, there are many less obvious and more profound comparisons that cast light on the personality of this young man. It is widely assumed of Turner that he be longs in the left-wing grouping of the present cabinet. This impression abounds because his contemporary image obscures his philosophical posture.

This was true of John F. Kennedy. The liberal wing of the Democratic party, the Americans for Democratic Action, wanted no part of young JFK. In a sense Turner has been more skilful than Kennedy was--he has not aroused hostility among left-wing Liberals. I judge Turner to be a pragmatic middle-of-the-roader who has carefully avoided philosophical la- belling. Typically, he has left himself lots of room to manoeuvre.

The style a Prime Minister Turner would stimulate oceans of "juice" (a Turnerism meaning favourable publicity) and what John and Geills Turner would do for stately 24 Sussex in terms of style and would be lovingly compared in excruciating detail to what Jack and Jackie did for the White House. The Canadian people, with whom JFK always enjoyed a higher popularity rating than he did in the United States, might well embark on a love affair with Turner that would match the dizzy pinnacle reached by John Diefenbaker in 1958.

Turner as prime minister in the House of Commons would probably develop into something similar to a crisp, signal-calling National Football League quarterback. And despite the winning smile, John Turner, who has a tough streak, would demand that his cabinet do lots of downfield blocking for him.

What interests me more about the characteristics of a Turner administration is the resources it would summon in confronting and solving Canada's depressingly long list of problems. There are relatively flew clues but they up add to a strong suggestion that the Ottawa establishment would be in for a bit of a Turner jolt. In one of his early speeches, he publicly identified the mandarins and tore a few strips off them. He expressed resentment that the upper echelons of the Ottawa civil service possessed a monopoly of information which was denied to backbenchers. Turner was (sitting on the backbenches) at the time. 

In 1962 Turner called in Lou Harris to help in his bid for election to the House of Commons. Harris was part of the team that put JFK in the White House. More recently, Turner again reached across the border and hired a highly specialized consultant firm to advise him in consumer affairs. Turner is too shrewd to repeat Walter Gordon’s clumsy handling of his "Whiz Kid" budget advisers.

He will insist on getting the best advice he can get from the best sources (regardless) of the geographic location of the source. He will pay little attention to that and perhaps at long last the mandarin monopoly will be broken...

An English-speaking (though bilingual) Catholic representing a Quebec riding might be the right mediator between English and French Canada.

(But) Turner's liabilities and assets both stem from his inexperience. He has not been blooded politically. And like a lot of stylish boxers, he could turn out to have a glass jaw. In summary John Turner would probably lead an administration that would be a swinger on the surface and pretty sound underneath.