Joe Clark

Joe Clark - Former Prime Minister of Canada, Timeline and Life

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Joe Clark's Personal Details

Joe Clark is a Canadian politician, journalist, writer and businessman who served as the 16th Prime Minister of Canada between 1979 and 1980

InformationDetail
BirthdayJune 5, 1939
NationalityCanadian
FamousLeaders, Political Leaders, Prime Ministers, Media Personalities, Former Prime Minister of Canada
SpousesMaureen McTeer
Known asCharles Joseph Clark, Charles Joseph
ChildrensCatherine Clark
Universities
  • University of British Columbia
  • University of Alberta
Birth PlaceHigh River, Canada
Political IdeologyProgressive Conservative Party of Canada
ReligionCatholicism
GenderMale
Net Worth$52 Million as of jan 2017
Sun SignGemini
Born inHigh River, Canada
Famous asFormer Prime Minister of Canada

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Joe Clark's photo

Who is Joe Clark?

Joe Clark is a Canadian politician, journalist, writer and businessman who served as the 16th Prime Minister of Canada between 1979 and 1980. He is known for becoming the youngest Prime Minister in Canada's history, and is also known for his short tenure in this role. Leading a minority government formed by the Progressive Conservative Party, he refused to form a coalition with the smaller parties and was defeated on a motion of non-confidence vote. Despite his party's loss in the 1980 election, he retained his leadership position till 1983, when he decided that a two-third majority in the party was not enough and pushed for a leadership convention. His party won the 1984 election, following which he served as the Secretary of State for External Affairs in Prime Minister Brian Mulroney's cabinet. He initially retired from politics in 1993, and despite his failure as the Prime Minister, was voted the single most trusted political personality in Canada at the time of his retirement. He was reinstated as the Progressive Conservative Party leader in 1998, and returned to the Parliament as a member of the House of Commons in 2000. He served in that position till the party's dissolution in 2004.

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Childhood & Early Life

Charles Joseph 'Joe' Clark was born on June 5, 1939, in High River, Alberta, to local newspaper publisher, Charles A. Clark, and his wife Grace Roselyn, a school teacher. His parents first met while studying at the University of Alberta, and subsequently married in 1937.

After completing school, he attended the University of Alberta, from where he completed his bachelor's degree in history in 1960 and his master's degree in political science in 1963. From 1965 to 1967, he served as a political science teacher at the university.

During his school years, he became interested in journalism while working for the local newspapers 'High River Times' and the 'Calgary Albertan'. After entering university, he worked for the student newspaper, 'The Gateway', and later became its editor-in-chief. He also worked at the 'Edmonton Journal' and 'The Canadian Press' for one summer each and even considered a career in journalism.

He sought to earn a law degree at the Dalhousie Law School and at University of British Columbia Faculty of Law in Vancouver, but both times his active participation in politics hampered his studies. He served as the president of the Progressive Conservative Youth wing for two terms and then became a fulltime party worker.

Career

An admirer of Prime Minister John Diefenbaker, Joe Clark was interested in politics from an early age and actively participated in political debates during his time as the national president for the Young PCs (Progressive Conservatives) group. However, his attempt at running as a candidate for the Progressive Conservatives in the 1967 provincial election resulted in a failure.

He was elected to Parliament as the MP for Rocky Mountain in the Canadian federal election of 1972 and won the party leadership in 1976 following the resignation of the then party leader Robert Stanfield. Clark, who was only 36 at the time, became the youngest-ever leader of a major federal party in the history of Canadian politics, an achievement he still holds.

Initially mocked by the media for his frail figure and clumsiness, he reshaped his party by enlisting the help of experienced staffer members and went on to earn the respect of the common people. During the 1979 elections, when the Liberal government was unpopular after failing to rein in budget deficit, high inflation, and unemployment, he snatched the opportunity and managed to win 136 seats to topple his opponent.

Ending the 16-year-long Liberal rule in Canada, he formed a minority government, becoming Canada's youngest prime minister on June 4, 1979, one day before his 40th birthday. However, his own government fell on a motion of non-confidence vote following a new proposed budget that was rejected by the House of Commons.

His party was confident of winning the 1980 reelections after the opposition leader, Pierre Trudeau, expressed his wish to step down. However, Trudeau cancelled his resignation eventually and once again assumed leadership of his party, which swayed voters to his side due to their disappointment with the PC government that failed to keep election promises.

Following the loss in the 1980 election, he started to lose ground in the party and his position as the leader was challenged as 33.5% of the delegates supported a leadership review at the party's 1981 convention. Witnessing a similar trend in the 1983 party convention, he declared that two-thirds majority was not enough and called for a leadership convention in which challenger Brian Mulroney won the leadership of the party.

In the 1984 election, Mulroney won by a huge margin, following which Clark served in his cabinet as the Secretary of State for External Affairs. He served as the President of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada for two years from April 1991 and around the same time became the Minister responsible for Constitutional Affairs, drafting the attempted Charlottetown Accord.

The failure of the Charlottetown Accord nearly annihilated the party in 1993, following which he retired from politics and established his own consulting firm, Joe Clark and Associates, Ltd. He subsequently became a Regents' Lecturer in the Canadian Studies Program at the University of California, Berkeley, and published the book 'A Nation Too Good to Lose: Renewing the Purpose of Canada' in 1994.

He eventually came back from retirement in 1998 to retake the party leadership following a teleconference vote by PC members. He used his past experience to rebuild the party, which became the fourth-largest party in the House of Commons in May 2003.

Following the Progressive Conservative-Canadian Alliance merger in December 2003, he did not join the new Conservative Party of Canada, and remained a PC MP for the rest of the session. He has since then endorsed individual Liberal and Conservative candidates, and continues to exercise his experience in foreign affairs.

Major Works

A bold social liberalist, Joe Clark stood for the decriminalization of marijuana in Canada and for a guaranteed minimum wage for everyone during his tenure as the PM. As the Secretary of State for External Affairs, he is known for his role in the appointment of Stephen Lewis as Canada's ambassador to the UN and his strong stand against apartheid in South Africa.

Awards & Achievements

In 1994, Joe Clark received the second highest honor of merit in the country when he was named a Companion of the Order of Canada. He is also a member of the Alberta Order of Excellence.

In 2004, he received the 'Award for Excellence in the Cause of Parliamentary Democracy' by Canada's Churchill Society.

Personal Life & Legacy

In 1973, Joe Clark married law student and political organizer, Maureen McTeer, who later became a well-known author and lawyer. The two first met after he hired her to work in his parliamentary office. They have a daughter named Catherine who worked in the public relations and broadcasting sector.

Trivia

Joe Clark's wife Maureen McTeer earned limelight for keeping her maiden name even after marriage, which was not the norm at the time. However, many later female politicians have since then followed in her footsteps.

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Joe Clark's awards

YearNameAward

Other

0Companion of the Order of Canada

Joe Clark biography timelines

  • // 5th Jun 1939
    Charles Joseph 'Joe' Clark was born on June 5, 1939, in High River, Alberta, to local newspaper publisher, Charles A. Clark, and his wife Grace Roselyn, a school teacher. His parents first met while studying at the University of Alberta, and subsequently married in 1937.
  • // 1963
    After completing school, he attended the University of Alberta, from where he completed his bachelor's degree in history in 1960 and his master's degree in political science in 1963. From 1965 to 1967, he served as a political science teacher at the university.
  • // 1972
    He was elected to Parliament as the MP for Rocky Mountain in the Canadian federal election of 1972 and won the party leadership in 1976 following the resignation of the then party leader Robert Stanfield. Clark, who was only 36 at the time, became the youngest-ever leader of a major federal party in the history of Canadian politics, an achievement he still holds.
  • // 1973
    In 1973, Joe Clark married law student and political organizer, Maureen McTeer, who later became a well-known author and lawyer. The two first met after he hired her to work in his parliamentary office. They have a daughter named Catherine who worked in the public relations and broadcasting sector.
  • // 1979
    Ending the 16-year-long Liberal rule in Canada, he formed a minority government, becoming Canada's youngest prime minister on June 4, 1979, one day before his 40th birthday. However, his own government fell on a motion of non-confidence vote following a new proposed budget that was rejected by the House of Commons.
  • // 1980
    Following the loss in the 1980 election, he started to lose ground in the party and his position as the leader was challenged as 33.5% of the delegates supported a leadership review at the party's 1981 convention. Witnessing a similar trend in the 1983 party convention, he declared that two-thirds majority was not enough and called for a leadership convention in which challenger Brian Mulroney won the leadership of the party.
  • // 1984
    In the 1984 election, Mulroney won by a huge margin, following which Clark served in his cabinet as the Secretary of State for External Affairs. He served as the President of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada for two years from April 1991 and around the same time became the Minister responsible for Constitutional Affairs, drafting the attempted Charlottetown Accord.
  • // 1993
    The failure of the Charlottetown Accord nearly annihilated the party in 1993, following which he retired from politics and established his own consulting firm, Joe Clark and Associates, Ltd. He subsequently became a Regents' Lecturer in the Canadian Studies Program at the University of California, Berkeley, and published the book 'A Nation Too Good to Lose: Renewing the Purpose of Canada' in 1994.
  • // 1994
    In 1994, Joe Clark received the second highest honor of merit in the country when he was named a Companion of the Order of Canada. He is also a member of the Alberta Order of Excellence.
  • // 1998
    He eventually came back from retirement in 1998 to retake the party leadership following a teleconference vote by PC members. He used his past experience to rebuild the party, which became the fourth-largest party in the House of Commons in May 2003.
  • // 2003
    Following the Progressive Conservative-Canadian Alliance merger in December 2003, he did not join the new Conservative Party of Canada, and remained a PC MP for the rest of the session. He has since then endorsed individual Liberal and Conservative candidates, and continues to exercise his experience in foreign affairs.
  • // 2004
    In 2004, he received the 'Award for Excellence in the Cause of Parliamentary Democracy' by Canada's Churchill Society.

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Joe Clark's FAQ

  • What is Joe Clark birthday?

    Joe Clark was born at 1939-06-05

  • Where is Joe Clark's birth place?

    Joe Clark was born in High River, Canada

  • What is Joe Clark nationalities?

    Joe Clark's nationalities is Canadian

  • Who is Joe Clark spouses?

    Joe Clark's spouses is Maureen McTeer

  • Who is Joe Clark childrens?

    Joe Clark's childrens is Catherine Clark

  • What was Joe Clark universities?

    Joe Clark studied at University of British Columbia, University of Alberta

  • What is Joe Clark's political ideology?

    Joe Clark's political ideology is Progressive Conservative Party of Canada

  • What is Joe Clark's religion?

    Joe Clark's religion is Catholicism

  • What is Joe Clark's sun sign?

    Joe Clark is Gemini

  • How famous is Joe Clark?

    Joe Clark is famouse as Former Prime Minister of Canada