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Paul Litt

The historian, author, and Carleton University professor Paul Litt discusses his new book, Elusive Destiny: The Political Vocation of John Napier Turner (UBC Press, 2011), with Joseph Planta.


Elusive Destiny: The Political Vocation of John Napier Turner by Paul Litt. (UBC Press, 2011)

Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: Elusive Destiny [1]


Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver at TheCommentary.ca.

The political career of John Turner, Canada’s 17th prime minister is chronicled in a comprehensive new book, Elusive Destiny: The Political Vocation of John Napier Turner. He was prime minister in 1984 for 79 days, after Pierre Trudeau resigned, and he was defeated in the election of that year by Brian Mulroney. Before that he was an able minister in the cabinets of Lester Pearson, as well as in Trudeau’s as his justice minister, English lieutenant, and finance minister. He left politics for the private sector in 1975, to return when Trudeau resigns in 1984. He leads the Liberal Party of Canada in 1984, and in 1988, the Free Trade election, when he made one last try, which many have considered his finest hour, when he and Mulroney had a lively exchange on patriotism, continental pressure, and political independence. The author of the book, Paul Litt, joins me now. He is a historian and a professor in both the departments of History and the School of Canadian Studies at Carleton University. The book is published by UBC Press. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, in Ottawa this morning, Paul Litt; Good morning, Professor Litt.