The Herle Burly Ron Graham: The Coutts Diaries. “The best Canadian political diary that exists"
Nov 30, 2025
Ron Graham, an award-winning journalist and author, dives into the captivating world of Jim Coutts's diaries, chronicling the tumultuous era of Pierre Trudeau's leadership. He reveals how Coutts documented the inner workings of government with candid detail, portraying both brilliance and chaos. Graham discusses the evolution of political publishing, the personal anecdotes that humanize Trudeau, and Coutts’s complex relationships with political figures like Paul Martin and Jean Chrétien. It's a fascinating look at power, politics, and the legacy of a pivotal time in Canada.
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Published Book Is An Edited Core Of 52 Volumes
- Ron Graham kept substantial material out of the published volume but put the complete 52 volumes in archives.
- The published book captures what Graham judges the "meat" while Trinity College holds the full diaries.
Diaries Include Poker Nights And Personal Detail
- Coutts recorded entire days, including mundane social life, late nights and poker losses.
- Graham says he cut most poker and social minutiae but left enough to show Coutts's personal habits.
Trudeau's Mid‑70s Government Was Deeply Disordered
- The 1974–79 Trudeau government was far more chaotic and disengaged than common accounts suggest.
- Ron Graham says Trudeau checked out of many policy areas, focusing only on constitution and energy while others flailed.