Next to preserving and encouraging Canadian unity, the most important job of a Canadian Prime Minister is managing the Canadian-American relationship. And on this date in 1981 Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau was preparing to do just that. Trudeau had his first telephone conversation with Ronald Reagan, the former Governor of California who was now President of the United States. Canadian officials, along with senior political staff in the PMO, made sure Trudeau was fully briefed before the call began. “If Mr. Reagan does not raise this subject, it would expedite matters if you did,” Trudeau was advised.

Source: CBC News January 21, 2023 17:07 UTC