Just Watch Me: Remembering Pierre Trudeau

Janet Money is a writer and policy analyst for the Canadian Cystic
Fibrosis Foundation in Toronto.

Larry Zolf’s writing must be an acquired taste. His fine line between seriousness and humour is often completely imperceptible.

Zolf claims in his introduction that most of Just Watch Me is serious. But he might only be kidding. This series of essays about Pierre Trudeau and his government cannot be taken entirely seriously. But it isn’t very funny, either.

Along the way, Zolf comes up with some insightful analyses of the ex-Prime Minister and his policies. He suggests, in “The Politics of My Way,” that Trudeau wanted to stay on as Liberal leader in 1984 but was forced out by the polls. Trudeau’s relationship with English Canada is discussed in ~More Elliott than Trudeau”: in an often cryptic analysis, Zolf explains that while Trudeau didn’t understand English Canada, he was no Brit-basher. Zolf also explores sexual politics (defining charisma as “the ultimate orgiastic celebration of sexual politics”), multiculturalism, Trudeau as socialist, and the issue of succession to Trudeau.

Most of the book, which is liberally illustrated with photos, was written before John Turner was chosen Liberal leader; it was finished up before the September 1984 election. Zolf goes so far as to suggest that Brian Mulroney might be the most suitable successor to Trudeau.

Zolf’s analyses are off-the-cuff, sometimes off-the-wall, unsubstantiated but occasionally brilliant. Unfortunately, he explains them in an out-of-date sarcastic language that lacks the wit its author claims to possess.