Everybody liked Mike Pearson, Canada's greatest diplomat. He won the Nobel Peace Prize for his 1956 work at the United Nations organizing a peacekeeping force during the Suez crisis. He seemed to be the natural heir to St. Laurent as Liberal leader and prime minister. But Pearson was always uncomfortable with the rough and tumble world of politics and was never much of a campaigner. As prime minister he never had a majority government. He did get through quite a bit of legislation greatly expanding social welfare policies, and capping the welfare state with universal health insurance. It helped Pearson that he governed during the booming, optimistic years of the 1960s. But perhaps his program was too optimistic, eventually proving a bit of a burden on the country. There were problems in other areas as well, ranging from debate about American actions in Vietnam, through minor scandals bedevilling the government, and a growing crisis in Québec. Some thought Lester Pearsoon was too nice a man to be prime minister. Yes, everybody did like Mike. But if he had been a tougher politician, maybe he would have done a better job.
Commentary by: Michael Bliss
Film resources: CBC
Graphics in order of appearance: Pearson with Churchill NA PA-117590; Pearson with Kennedy NA C-90482; Pearson with Queen Elizabeth Canapress Photo Service; Pearson, 1945 UN/DPI Photo; Expo '67 Archives nationales du Québec; Vietnam Protest Reproduced with permission - The Toronto Star Syndicate; Pearson, 1967 Canada Wide
