Keeping Canadians Happy

Drawing showing Prime Minister Arthur Meighen to be in charge and doing a good job.  Copyright/Source

Early prime ministers, such as Sir John A. Macdonald and Sir Wilfrid Laurier, were loved and respected by most Canadians. For modern prime ministers, it is often different. Partly because of modern ways of reporting news, such as television, radio and the Internet, people remember the prime ministers' mistakes better and forgive them less. In the old days, there were only newspapers.

Photograph showing people who thought Prime Minister John Diefenbaker was not doing a good job.  Copyright/Source

During the 1968 election, Pierre Trudeau was very popular. People called this enthusiasm "Trudeaumania." Women grabbed at his clothes and kissed him. He enjoyed clowning for the cameras, sliding down banisters and doing back-flips into swimming pools.

Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, 1968.  Copyright/Source