A great magician is someone who can captivate a crowd and keep them mesmerized while doing very simple things -- who doesn't rely on elaborate tricks to dazzle a crowd, but is doing it essentially by the force of his own personality. And this, I thought, was one of Trudeau's greatest gifts. He was able to fascinate and mesmerize and hypnotize a crowd, even against their will, just by the force of his personality. He understood instinctively not to overexpose yourself. As prime minister it is very easy to go on television -- you can command television whenever you want. He didn't have that many press conferences. He understood, again instinctively, because he was not a natural performer -- he's not a Bill Clinton or someone like that -- he's an intellectual. But he understood that mystery and silence is ultimately what is alluring, rather than overselling yourself. And that was one of his great gifts.
