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Lougheed: Building a Dynasty and a Modern Alberta from the Ground Up

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Lougheed: Building a Dynasty and a Modern Alberta from the Ground Up LOUGHEED: BUILDING A DYNASTY AND A MODERN ALBERTA FROM THE GROUND UP Lee Richardson Charismatic and articulate, organized and well prepared, Peter Lougheed seemed destined to lead the Alberta Progressive Conservatives out of the wilderness and into the modern era. From a party that had no seats in the Legislature when he became its leader, he built a political dynasty that endures to this day. Not only did he build the modern Alberta, he was a compelling figure on the national stage. Lee Richardson, a close adviser and friend, shares this intimate profile of the Best Premier of the Last 40 Years. Aussi charismatique qu’éloquent, doué de grandes qualités d’organisation et de planification, Peter Lougheed était tout désigné pour faire passer les progressistes- conservateurs albertains de la ruralité à l’ère moderne. D’un parti qui ne détenait aucun siège à l’Assemblée législative lorsqu’il en a pris les commandes, il a constitué une dynastie politique dont l’influence reste aujourd’hui déterminante. Il a non seulement modernisé l’Alberta mais en a fait un acteur décisif de la scène nationale. Lee Richardson, qui fut toutes ces années son proche conseiller et ami, brosse un portrait intime du meilleur premier ministre provincial des 40 dernières années. he Dirty 30s were not kind to Alberta. The Great at an early age to work hard, be positive, be self-assured and Depression had ravaged farms, families and fortunes. believe in himself. At home, “excellence in any pursuit was T In Calgary, as his grandson watched with forebod- not only to be desired, it was expected. Failure was not to be ing, the estate of Senator Sir James Lougheed, a pillar of the tolerated.” Success on the playing field, at school and social- community (and instrumental in Alberta’s becoming a ly gave Peter confidence and enthusiasm for getting the province in 1905), was auctioned for taxes. The contents of most out of life and making it better. the stately Beaulieu were going for a pittance. Suddenly from the back corner, as the late senator’s entire library sold e personified an Alberta can-do spirit of independence, for $25 a young voice cried, “That’s a steal!” H of helping your neighbours, of volunteerism, of striv- It seemed so unfair to a 10-year-old Peter Lougheed, wit- ing to do better and contributing to the community. It was nessing the loss of Beaulieu and the loss of his own family’s about remembering the past with optimism for the future. home during the Depression. There was something wrong He learned the worth of teamwork, loyalty and commit- with a system that would let this occur. How did it happen, ment on the football fields of Calgary with the West End he wondered. Could it have been avoided? How could we Tornadoes in high school and later playing halfback with run things differently? the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League. He It was a pivotal moment in the life of the man who 30 would later engender that same collegiality, loyalty and years later transformed Alberta from an agrarian hinterland team spirit in his caucus team in the Alberta Legislature. into the most dynamic province in Canada and restored a A unique ability to manage his time and energy was also pride of place, a positive spirit and promise of the future. apparent from an early age. Diligently and successfully com- Like Peter Lougheed, Albertans of his generation and the bining scholastic achievement, sports and an active social one that followed took many lessons from the Great life, he was always the organizer, the visionary, the positive Depression. They learned the value of perseverance, deter- force his peers turned to for leadership. In a presage of things mination, hard work and being a good neighbour. Those to come, he established the first student council while at times also taught self-reliant Albertans loyalty, the benefit of Central High School in Calgary — and became its first stu- working together, to be grateful for their blessings, and to dent president. During law school at the University of do the best with the gifts they were given. Peter was taught Alberta (while courting his future bride, soulmate and 32 OPTIONS POLITIQUES JUIN-JUILLET 2012 Lougheed: Building a dynasty and a modern Alberta from the ground up confidante, Jeanne Rogers), he was With two partners, Lougheed power that urban Progressive elected president of the Students’ opened a private law practice in Calgary Conservatives at least, after a 50-year Union. Ivan Head, who ran against in 1962, serving entrepreneurs, engi- hiatus, determined it was time they Lougheed, was quoted in David Wood’s neers, geologists, risk-takers and builders. got back in the game. The Lougheed Legacy as saying, “It was It was still the Wild West, where deals They approached a young energetic another example of his first-rate organ- were done with a firm handshake, but lawyer with the heritage of Sir James izing talents and an early demonstra- then sent to the accountants and lawyers Lougheed, a Harvard MBA, who was tion of his ability to get votes.” to be “papered.” Ethics, integrity and photogenic and articulate, and seemed Peter’s enthusiasm and energy were reputation were still paramount but the perfect choice to do just that. contagious. Friends, teammates and, increasingly business and life in urban Without much of a base and no later, those who worked with him in Alberta was more sophisticated, faster seats in the Alberta Legislature business and his early law practice moving and cosmopolitan. (Conservatives had been shut out in were captured by his positive spirit. He There was a growing sense, particu- the last election and hadn’t elected a saw value in others and the good in larly in the cities, that growth was sti- handful of MLAs since 1935) the PCs must have seemed less of a Like Peter Lougheed, Albertans of his generation and the one perfect choice to Lougheed. that followed took many lessons from the Great Depression. The visionary “Big Four” They learned the value of perseverance, determination, hard cattle barons and business leaders who endorsed and work and being a good neighbour. Those times also taught supported Guy Weadick’s self-reliant Albertans loyalty, the benefit of working together, grand vision of putting to be grateful for their blessings, and to do the best with the Calgary on the map by creat- gifts they were given. ing The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth anted up people, and he encouraged the best of fled by a slow and inefficient $100,000 in support of the inaugural those around him. bureaucracy in Edmonton, insufficient 1912 Stampede. A half century later, It’s an Alberta spirit alive today in infrastructure, outdated or old-fash- business and community leaders, friends our western heritage and values and is ioned process systems and a feeling and long-time Conservatives supported reflected in the brand of the Calgary that we were falling behind the times. a fledging Lougheed Club with $100 Stampede. As a former volunteer, com- Alberta could do better, a thought Peter contributions to provide funds to rebuild mittee chair and board member, Peter Lougheed had held for a long time. the Progressive Conservative Party and emulated the core values of the Calgary The province was changing, with encourage Peter Lougheed to lead it. Stampede brand: western hospitality, urbanization, commercialization and the It was less than a year until the integrity, pride of place and community. golden age of television opening more vacant provincial PC leadership was to eyes to a faster-paced, modern world and be filled but if, as many close to him eter articled with the law firm of the social revolution of the 1960s. had felt since his childhood, a future in P Fenerty, McGillvray and Robertson Albertans began to embrace new ideas politics was part of his life plan, this was (now FMC) in Calgary before continuing and a more youthful, positive outlook. At the time. Lougheed considered the his education. While taking an MBA at least in the cities. Rural Alberta was not as challenges and thoughtfully developed Harvard, he worked briefly at Chase eager to accept or adapt to change. a plan to meet them. With the support Manhattan Bank in New York and had a It wasn’t just a rural-urban split that of those lifelong friends, former team- summer job at Gulf Oil in Tulsa, threatened 50 years of homogeneity in mates, university colleagues and busi- Oklahoma, a city that knew the booms the Alberta electorate. Immigration, ness associates, he contested and won and busts of an oil economy. Returning to changing social values, the role of the provincial Conservative leadership Calgary in June of 1956, he joined the women, declining church attendance, and began to develop a positive plan Mannix Company (now Loram materialism, many of the same influ- and prepare for the upcoming election. International) honing his legal and nego- ences that were changing voting patterns tiating skills and contributing to the com- in other provinces, foreshadowed a new he Lougheed team exploded onto pany’s international success. In eight era of Alberta politics. Were we nearing T the scene in 1967. From relative years under the tutelage of the venerable the end of one-party politics in Alberta? obscurity in the province, the young but demanding Frederick C. Mannix, he and charismatic Tories brought energy rose to vice-president and gained a world- n mid-1960s Alberta, it was a little and enthusiasm to the spring election ly knowledge of international business I early to tell and few, if any, even campaign.
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