Born in 1934, the 18th of 19 children in the small blue-collar town of Shawinigan Falls, Quebec, Jean Chrétien has risen to become the "grandfather of Canada" and a definitive force in global politics for over 50 years.
Chrétien was one of the longest-serving Prime Ministers in Canadian history and led three successive majority terms as leader of the Liberal Party from 1993 to 2003.
He famously said no to joining the US in the Iraq War (solidifying Canada’s independence on foreign policy), signed the Kyoto Protocol (committing Canada to its first-ever international environmental agreement), established the Oceans Act (helping Canada become the first country to prioritize ocean health), creating the Clarity Act (to establish terms for secession movements after leading the 'No' side to victory in the 1995 Quebec Referendum), and leading Operation Yellow Ribbon which helped 40,000 Americans in the air and traveling through Canada on September 11, 2001 and beyond.
Let's put on a suit and tie and fly up to Ottawa, Canada to sit in the office of the 91-year-old leader—who still does meetings back-to-back three days a week!—and discuss the secrets of healthy living into your 90s... Canada on the global stage... how to get along with almost anyone... humility as a virtue... lessons from 63 years of marriage... thoughts on Alberta secession... the definition of liberal... how he said no to the Iraq war... and, of course, the Right Honorable Jean Chrétien's most formative books...
Huge thank you to Bob Wright, Bruce Hartley, and Monsieur Jean Chrétien for making this happen.
A rare and special conversation with a rare and special man.
Get ready to soak in so much wisdom.
Let's flip the page to Chapter 150 now...
Chapter 149: John and Alison on fascism-fighting fiction fomenting freedom and fraternity
View full transcript here
CONNECT with Jean Chrétien
Jean Chrétien’s 3 Books
First book (16:37)
Second book (32:33)
WORDCLOUD OF THE CHAPTER
Quotes
“Oh, I'm only 91 and a half, so I have to earn my living.” — Jean Chrétien | 3 Books Podcast
“I want to die standing.” — Jean Chrétien | 3 Books Podcast
“Your job is when you have a problem to find a solution. But I say that to fill a hole, sometimes you create two more holes. So we're shoveling all the time.” — Jean Chrétien | 3 Books Podcast
“It's never easy in public life. Parliament is there. You are the so-called loyal opposition, but they are more opposition than loyal.” — Jean Chrétien | 3 Books Podcast
“We implement good ideas. We borrow good ideas and implement them. You know, in my career, a lot of people will say that I stole their ideas. But I said an idea is an idea. I would say to them, if you don't want me to steal your ideas, shut up. Don't tell me, do this and do that and complain because I've done it.” — Jean Chrétien | 3 Books Podcast
“A liberal in Canada is when the right says of you, you're a left-winger.When the left says you're a right-winger, you're a good Canadian liberal Chrétien, you know, the radical center.” — Jean Chrétien | 3 Books Podcast
“And I'm proud of our values. And we became the envy of the world.” — Jean Chrétien | 3 Books Podcast
“You know, when I was in politics, to be called a liar was the worst insult you could have. If someone will accuse you of lying, and cannot prove it in the house, he was suspended. And in the United States, they said in the first term of Trump, he lied 14,000 times.” — Jean Chrétien | 3 Books Podcast
“And perhaps we're living the end of the American empire. He is destroying what took 80 years to build since the war.” — Jean Chrétien | 3 Books Podcast
“I have weaknesses. I tried to overcome them, and I did quite well. But I know that I'm not a genius, that I'm just a human being. And when I get up in the morning, I say, Jean, you have to do your best today. And I'd like to go to bed and say, I've done my best today. And I sleep well.” — Jean Chrétien | 3 Books Podcast
“You know, when you're a president of a country or prime minister, friendship is important, but you serve the interests of the nation, not the interests of the friendship.” — Jean Chrétien | 3 Books Podcast
Show Notes
‘My Years as Prime Minister’ by Jean Chrétien
‘Straight from the Heart’ by Jean Chrétien
