When looking at the roster of Canadian leaders, it is unsurprisingly lacklustre in charisma. The political savvy and charm that seems to ooze out of some of the American counterpart politicians in obviously lacking in the prime ministers’s office. For the most part, the majority of Canadian leaders are known for their alcoholism (McDonald), their strange nuances (Mackenzie King) or their even tempered, rational governing (Pearson, St. Laurent, et al).

But there is one name that stands out for it’s charm, or swarm, as some saw it - Pierre Elliott Trudeau, of course. The 15th prime minister, and third longest serving one, had a je ne said quoi about him that makes him a polarizing, interesting and memorable Canadian politician. There are a few incidences that highlight his charisma, which he is arguably more known for, over any of his political accomplishments during his 15 year tenure.

Trudeau Mania

In the tepid landscape of Canadian politics, there have been few who can invoke emotion across the country, but Trudeau was one of them. He even had a mania named after him, as he rallied people in the late 1960s and early 1970s around his political causes. Officially, Trudeaumania lasted a total of five years, from his rise to the PM’s office and into his first years in office. It was during this time that he was dating Barbra Streisand, legalizing homosexuality, and relaxing divorce laws. This mania even led to a board game, which I would love to play if anyone is into it.

The Trudeamania inspired board game, which looks like a mix of Monopoly and Snakes and Ladders.

Just Watch Me

Chances are every Canadian student has heard on of their social studies teachers go off about the “Just Watch Me” clip from Trudeau. I had multiple, including political philosophy instructors who broke it down in university. In an impromptu interview, Trudeau tells reporters to “just watch” him in regards to how far he will take his powers to ensure “law and order”. It was regarding the October Crisis, in which a Quebec Liberation extremist group took two hostages, including a British diplomat, James Cross, and a Quebec cabinet minister, Pierre Laporte hostage. Laporte ultimately died at the hands of his captors.

The Just Watch Me clip, as my most of my teachers cited, is an illustration to the power a prime minister has and how far it can extend in moments of crisis. One said it was the ramblings of a over-confident leader.

Impromptu interview of Pierre Elliott Trudeau with Tim Ralfe of the CBC and Peter Reilly of CJON-TV on October 13, 1970. Q: I still go back to the choice that you have to make in the kind of society that you live in.

Marriage + Divorce to Margaret Sinclair

Pierre Trudeau wasn’t the first bachelor prime minster in Canada’s history. Both R.B. Benentt and William Lyon Mackenzie King weren’t married during their time as prime minister. Trudeau, however, was the first prime minister to get married, and then divorce, while in power.

Margaret Sinclair was the daughter of a Liberal MP and 28 years Trudeau’s junior when they were wed in 1971. She birthed all three of their sons - Justin, Alexandre and Michel - during his time in office. His first two children were both born on Christmas Day, two years apart, in 1971 and 1973, prompting my grandfather to proclaim, “Oh great, now he really does believe that he is God.”

Margaret was a little bored in their marriage, as she was second fiddle to the high tooting life of politics. They were separated in 1977, and divorced in 1984. He was married, had three children, and was divorced, all while he held the chair of the highest office in Canada.

While this may seems like stupid little answers to trivia questions, this is kind of a big deal. Politicians are often judged for how they handle their personal affairs - look at the States, where a politician’s personal life is fair game to ruck mud at. They have had only ONE bachelor president in their entire history. Every other president has had the guise of being “happily married” to bolstered them into that position. But Trudeau had an entire relationship, resulting in three kids, blossom and die while he was in power. Only someone with extreme charm and wit could be able to do that.

Think about it: could you imagine the scrutiny that would arise if a modern-day political dated a Hollywood star, secretly married a woman 28 years his junior, had an embattled marriage with conspiracy theories saying that Fidel Castro is actually the father of the first born child, and a humiliating divorce

Margaret Sinclair and Pierre Trudeau wed on March 4, 1971 in North Vancouver.

Without exaggeration, Trudeau is easily the most charismatic leader Canada has ever had. And now, with his eldest son at the helm, Trudeau 2.0 steering the wheel, we are seeing how much of his father’s charm was passed down, both personally and politically. While this may be a point of contention, I say the more charismatic leaders are the more polarizing leaders. Because there is a thin line with charm and swarm and the Trudeaus like to dance with it.