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University of Alberta Canadian Political Memoir: The Burgeoning Years by Jennifer Kearns Bell A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in English Department of English and Film Studies ©Jennifer Kearns Bell Fall 2009 Edmonton, Alberta Permission is hereby granted to the University of Alberta Libraries to reproduce single copies of this thesis and to lend or sell such copies for private, scholarly or scientific research purposes only. Where the thesis is converted to, or otherwise made available in digital form, the University of Alberta will advise potential users of the thesis of these terms. The author reserves all other publication and other rights in association with the copyright in the thesis and, except as herein before provided, neither the thesis nor any substantial portion thereof may be printed or otherwise reproduced in any material form whatsoever without the author's prior written permission. Library and Archives Bibliotheque et 1*1 Canada Archives Canada Published Heritage Direction du Branch Patrimoine de I'edition 395 Wellington Street 395, rue Wellington OttawaONK1A0N4 OttawaONK1A0N4 Canada Canada Your We Votre rtiterence ISBN: 978-0-494-55801-0 Our file Notre reference ISBN: 978-0-494-55801-0 NOTICE: AVIS: The author has granted a non­ L'auteur a accorde une licence non exclusive exclusive license allowing Library and permettant a la Bibliotheque et Archives Archives Canada to reproduce, Canada de reproduire, publier, archiver, publish, archive, preserve, conserve, sauvegarder, conserver, transmettre au public communicate to the public by par telecommunication ou par I'Internet, preter, telecommunication or on the Internet, distribuer et vendre des theses partout dans le loan, distribute and sell theses monde, a des fins commerciales ou autres, sur worldwide, for commercial or non­ support microforme, papier, electronique et/ou commercial purposes, in microform, autres formats. paper, electronic and/or any other formats. The author retains copyright L'auteur conserve la propriete du droit d'auteur ownership and moral rights in this et des droits moraux qui protege cette these. Ni thesis. Neither the thesis nor la these ni des extraits substantiels de celle-ci substantial extracts from it may be ne doivent etre imprimes ou autrement printed or otherwise reproduced reproduits sans son autorisation. without the author's permission. In compliance with the Canadian Conformement a la loi canadienne sur la Privacy Act some supporting forms protection de la vie privee, quelques may have been removed from this formulaires secondaires ont ete enleves de thesis. cette these. While these forms may be included Bien que ces formulaires aient inclus dans in the document page count, their la pagination, il n'y aura aucun contenu removal does not represent any loss manquant. of content from the thesis. •+• Canada Examining Committee Julie Rak, Department of English and Film Studies Cecily Devereux, Department of English and Film Studies Linda Trimble, Department of Political Science Susanne Luhmann, Department of Women's Studies Linda Warley, Department of English Language and Literature, University of Waterloo Dedication This project is dedicated to My parents, John Bell and Dian Bell And to my two favourite sisters, Meredith Bell and Devon Bell Abstract This project analyzes the tradition of political memoir in Canada and the changing conditions of its cultural production throughout the last century. The genre's popularity indicates that political memoirs are active, public sites of political discussion. The genre's popularity also points to the importance of personal narrative in contemporary culture to contextualize public figures and public life. As such, political memoir serves as a cultural reflection of media- centric democratic practices in electoral politics and reflects the role of the politician as both cultural celebrity and commodity in Canada. This project examines the tradition of Prime Ministerial memoirs in Canada, specifically those of former Prime Ministers John Diefenbaker, Lester Pearson, Pierre Trudeau, Brian Mulroney, and Jean Chretien. It examines the construction and production of these former Prime Ministers as auto/biographical subjects and historical figures through the auto/biographical practice of ghostwriting, the use of multiple medias (photography, text, and film), and through the development of the subjects as commodities and cultural celebrities in the public sphere. Finally, this project asserts that women possess a different relationship to the practice and the genre of political memoir than men. Women's political memoirs often reflect women parliamentarians' continual struggle to negotiate their gendered identities in a changing, yet still masculinist political system. Women's political memoirs both reflect but also complicate feminist auto/biographical theory and practices while providing a critical analysis of legislatures as gendered spaces. Acknowledgements I am blessed to have had the support of so many people in the completion of my degree. There are too many helpful people and too many kind gestures to name here, but I carry them all with me, and am very appreciative. I am tremendously grateful for the guidance of my supervisor, Julie Rak. Julie was the most supportive, understanding and inspiring supervisor possible. Her wealth of knowledge was always thought-provoking, and her probing questions, encouragement, and enthusiasm were always energizing and affirming. I am also very appreciative for the work of my committee members, Cecily Devereux and Linda Trimble. Their constructive comments at different stages of my work were invaluable. Cecily was especially helpful at the final stages of editing my thesis. Very importantly, it was Linda's classes and her extensive work on women and Canadian politics that inspired me to take my political interests in an academic direction. Thank you also to my defence committee members, Susanne Luhmann of the Department of Women's Studies and Linda Warley of the University of Waterloo. Their comments were valuable, thought- provoking, and will certainly help me take my project in new directions in the future. Thank you to Liz Czach for chairing my defence. I want to thank the Department of English and Film Studies, and the people in it, for providing support in a variety of ways over the years. I want to especially thank the administrative staff in the Department for always offering assistance, guidance, and mostly such good cheer and kindness. Many people provided helpful advice, constructive conversations, and professional support throughout the stages of my thesis. I especially want to thank John English, Graham Duncan, Julian Martin, and Julia Dumanian for this support and friendship. I am extremely grateful to my nurse Donna Fisher for her continual care and kindness. Her energy and faith was tireless; she never questioned that there was an alternative to completing the PhD, and I am so appreciative of all that I gained as a result. Thank you also to the University of Alberta Hospital, Dr. Richard Fedorak, Dr. Sarah Bates, Bob McQueen and his team, and to the so many people who always looked out for me and without whom this would not have been possible. It is with a big smile that I thank my friends near and far, old and new, who always provided laughter, comfort and encouragement at various stages of this journey. I must especially thank my wonderful friends in Edmonton for creating an intellectually inspiring environment full of productive discussion and debate. But most of all, I thank them for their warmth and friendship - for the countless and endless nights of long talks and lots of laughter, for taking care of Angkor, and for always always being there for me. Thank you from the bottom of my heart - you all know how much you mean to me. A special thank you to Melissa Stephens for, amongst other things, undertaking the process of submitting this thesis for me! I am so thankful for my extended family: Wendy Eaman, Di and John Spearn, Barb Donaldson and Dave Roloefson, Hugh and DeDe Thompson, Robbie and Deb Nash, the Leicesters, and all of their families. Their love and generosity of spirit has been so important in supporting me throughout this process. I want to thank my grandparents, Dorothy and the late Kenneth Thompson, and Mary Grace and the late Mackenzie Bell. My grandfather Ken Thompson would have been especially proud to see the completion of this thesis and his memory certainly was an inspiration. Most importantly, I need to thank my immediate family, beginning with my two favourite sisters, Meredith and Devon Bell. They are my best friends, who make my universe complete. Their liveliness and beauty of spirit engulf me with love and their accomplishments make me so proud. Most of all, their laughter is my own. I thank them, so much, for their constant support and for never letting me be alone. And finally, my parents, John and Dian Bell. Each of them provided inspiration and support on a daily basis. They taught me to love both books and politics which ultimately is the base of this thesis. They also taught me, by example, the pleasure and necessity of good friends and laughter, as well as the necessity of hard work and perserverence, all of which ultimately got me through this thesis. They are tremendous role models. Their unconditional love, support, faith, and encouragement is beyond measure and I cannot ever thank them enough. It has given me great satisfaction to undertake this project rooted in Canadian politics and life writing. The memoirs made me wince, laugh, and cheer: after all, I am a partisan. It has been a real pleasure to have read about the political history of our country, as well as the many individuals who have contributed so greatly and proudly to its development. The memoirs are a constant reminder to me that despite the cynicism that sometimes surrounds politics and public life, we are extremely fortunate in Canada, and as Canadians.

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