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The Coutts Diaries: Power, Politics, and Pierre Trudeau 1973-1981
"The best Canadian political diary that exists" – John English, author, The Life of Pierre Elliott Trudeau.
Jim Coutts, principal secretary to Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau from 1975 to 1981, was one of the most powerful men in Canada during those tumultuous years. Equally admired and attacked, respected and reviled, he was, in the words of one contemporary journalist, "a political phenomenon such as Canada has never known Machiavelli masquerading as a cherub." The man who "exercised more backroom power than anyone else in modern Canadian political history," Coutts not only knew everyone and saw everything at the centre of the action, he wrote it all down. Now, for the first time, his secret diaries have been edited into a single volume that offers an astonishing, behind-the-scenes look into public events and private lives during some of the most dramatic years in Canadian history. Candid, insightful, unprecedented, compelling,The Coutts Diaries is a landmark work, destined to be the most talked-about political book of the year and a timeless classic for generations to come.
Jim Coutts, principal secretary to Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau from 1975 to 1981, was one of the most powerful men in Canada during those tumultuous years. Equally admired and attacked, respected and reviled, he was, in the words of one contemporary journalist, "a political phenomenon such as Canada has never known Machiavelli masquerading as a cherub." The man who "exercised more backroom power than anyone else in modern Canadian political history," Coutts not only knew everyone and saw everything at the centre of the action, he wrote it all down. Now, for the first time, his secret diaries have been edited into a single volume that offers an astonishing, behind-the-scenes look into public events and private lives during some of the most dramatic years in Canadian history. Candid, insightful, unprecedented, compelling,The Coutts Diaries is a landmark work, destined to be the most talked-about political book of the year and a timeless classic for generations to come.
540 pages, Hardcover
Published September 2, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
October 5, 2025
For an student of Canadian history interested in the events of the 1970s-80s ,and for any citizen interested in how governments work and politics is conducted, The Coutts Diaries are essential reading.Jim Coutts, an engaging and wily Albertan, became an advisor to both Lester Pearson and Pierre Trudeau thereby becoming a key figure in the evolution of the Prime Ministers Office( PMO).Coutts, somewhat amazingly given the long hours and stress of his posistion, was diligent in writing a diary so readers today now have a ring- side seat on how the Trudeau government grappled with economic turbulence, the election of the Parti Quebecois and dealing with President Ronald Reagan.
Ron Graham has done a superb job of editing the Diaries, providing context at the start of each chapter and explanatory notes on the individuals mentioned. Diaries are a critical historical source: they provide insights on the emotions of the moment and the atmosphere of the times. Canadians benefit from having the Diaries of Prime Minister Mackenzie King which encompass the 1920s-1940s, and Ambassador Allen Gotlieb's Diaries on his years in Washington as Canada negotiated a free trade pact in the 1980s.The Coutts Diaries now join this pantheon by providing invaluable insights into the character of Pierre Trudeau and how his government tried to cope with the challenges of the 1970s.
Ron Graham has done a superb job of editing the Diaries, providing context at the start of each chapter and explanatory notes on the individuals mentioned. Diaries are a critical historical source: they provide insights on the emotions of the moment and the atmosphere of the times. Canadians benefit from having the Diaries of Prime Minister Mackenzie King which encompass the 1920s-1940s, and Ambassador Allen Gotlieb's Diaries on his years in Washington as Canada negotiated a free trade pact in the 1980s.The Coutts Diaries now join this pantheon by providing invaluable insights into the character of Pierre Trudeau and how his government tried to cope with the challenges of the 1970s.
November 4, 2025
Now this is the good stuff. A candid day to day look at the exercise of power in the late 70s/early 80s Trudeau governments.
I would say that, for me, what emerges about the big guy is not flattering. Pierre Trudeau comes across in these diaries as vain (bordering on insufferable), indecisive (bordering on paralyzed), and bereft of vision (apart from on social questions) for the country he kept asking voters to let him run.
Coutts himself comes across (and I grant that this is the impression I have from one source only and is perhaps unfair) as endlessly distracted, a shallow and partisan thinker, and endowed with an implausibly busy social life for someone with his job.
In a sense, it's quite freeing - no one, including the prime minister we most associate with intellectual iciness, steel and vision - has ever quite known what to do with this country when they end up running it.
There are lots of great nuggets in here and I think it's worth the time of anyone with an interest in Canadian politics and public administration.
I would say that, for me, what emerges about the big guy is not flattering. Pierre Trudeau comes across in these diaries as vain (bordering on insufferable), indecisive (bordering on paralyzed), and bereft of vision (apart from on social questions) for the country he kept asking voters to let him run.
Coutts himself comes across (and I grant that this is the impression I have from one source only and is perhaps unfair) as endlessly distracted, a shallow and partisan thinker, and endowed with an implausibly busy social life for someone with his job.
In a sense, it's quite freeing - no one, including the prime minister we most associate with intellectual iciness, steel and vision - has ever quite known what to do with this country when they end up running it.
There are lots of great nuggets in here and I think it's worth the time of anyone with an interest in Canadian politics and public administration.
October 5, 2025
If you're a political junkie, and have an interest in Pierre Trudeau's years in power, these diaries are a fascinating read. They provide a frank and revealing behind-the-scenes look at the people and issues of the time. They can even be a bit poignant at times-Coutts, despite being a powerful man, never found love and seems to have been a bit lonely. One of the more interesting revelations-at least for me-was that Paul Martin, a good friend of Coutts's, had leadership aspirations as early as the 1970s. These diaries will be a great source for historians and students of the period and it's great that they were published.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews