The Ben Mulroney Show - Remembering Brian Mulroney on the one-year anniversary of his passing

Episode Date: February 28, 2025

Remembering Brian Mulroney on the one-year anniversary of his passing Guest: Mark Mulroney Guest: Nicolas Mulroney If you enjoyed the podcast, tell a friend! For more of the Ben Mulroney Show, subscribe to the podcast! https://globalnews.ca/national/program/the-ben-mulroney-show Follow Ben on Twitter/X at https://x.com/BenMulroney Enjoy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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If you have any questions or concerns about your gambling or someone close to you, please contact Connix Ontario at 1-866-531-2600 to speak to an advisor free of charge. BetMGM operates pursuant to an operating agreement with iGaming Ontario. Welcome back to the show and exactly one year ago today, I was at the airport with my siblings. We were on our way down to Florida because our father had fallen and he hit his head. He hit his head. And we actually had a conversation while we were getting some food before we got on the plane. We said, we're going to tell our mom that it's time to bring dad home because he shouldn't be in Florida. He should be back in Montreal. And that's where our heads were at.

And turns out that God had other plans. And, you know, dad had put up a fierce fight for quite some time. He had battled so many issues, health and otherwise. He battled me, he battled politicians, he battled his way through a lot. And it was time to stop fighting. And so tomorrow marks the first anniversary of his passing. And I could sit here and wax poetic poetic or I could bring in a couple of people who know exactly what I'm talking about. Two better people I do not know and the fact that I'm related to them makes me one of the luckiest people on the planet, my brothers Mark and Nicholas

Mulroney. Gentlemen, welcome to the show. Thanks Ben. Thank you. Thanks Ben. So, where's your head at today? Because I know that not a day goes by that somebody doesn't say something that either reminds us of dad or, or just tells us a story of him. So Mark, where's your head at today? Yeah, I actually I'm in a bit of a celebration mode. I miss dad with every day, but I would say, every day you walk through, and I work in finance,

so I'm downtown and I'm in the underground and I'm roaming around and every day somebody stops me to tell me something that did or a moment that marked them where they were with somebody who has a story about them. And I'm blessed to have been born to this family. And Ben, the only correction I'm gonna make is you don't know any better people except maybe Caroline. Congratulations to her on her victory.

Absolutely, she's the best of us all. And Nick, you as the youngest had the shortest amount of time with him. You had a great, wonderful life with him, but the shortest amount of time, there's gotta be something, and I know it feels special for me, but even more special for you,

that your memories of him are added to by perfect strangers coming up to you, telling you stories about him. And we didn't have much time together, but he made it really sweet. Yeah. That's it. Yeah. He's okay.

Can we can we just talk about how he would absolutely love if you were around today this past year would have been catnip for for his political instinct. He would have loved the American election. He would have loved what's going on the Liberal Party. He would he would have he would have opinions on prorogation and the liberal leadership race. Pierre Poliev, the Trump tariffs, all of it. We would have been on the phone with him all the time.

Yeah, not a day goes by, Ben, where I'm not driving back after work and I'm not listening to the radio or when I'm not totally busy listening to you. And there's not a day that goes by where I don't think about the things that he would have to add to this. I would think that the liberals would have loved to have been able to lean on him once again

on all of these tariffs and possible USMCA renegotiations. I think people always forget, they always think that the parties are different, but dad was the first person to give money to Pierpaulia when he kicked off his political career. I think when you kind of just delve into it every bit of this right and and and i think just to be clear to your viewers or to your listeners excuse me you know they uh when you think about everything going on dad was just he just loved politics like some people love fantasy football and he knew more stuff about American politics than most American politicians.

And so he would have just loved it, not because it's good, bad, or anything else, just because it is what it has been. Nick, is he a voice in your head like he is in mine? Every day. There's no chance, actually no chance that his iPhone battery would have lasted the entire day with the current state of politics. Back in the day, he had us state of politics. Yeah. Yeah. Back in the day, he had us to control his phone lines.

Yeah. One minute, please. Yes, Mr. Mulroney. One minute, please. Yes. There's no chance that he would have been able to handle all the traffic. Yeah. My phone would have had to deal with.

But yes, he is a voice in my head every single day. In fact, when we are together, I often think what he would say to you, Ben. Yeah. And when I'm driving to work, the words that you utter, he must be hanging on. But yeah, he's a constant voice in my head. Everybody has leaders. And to me, he was everything. I often say I don't speak for him,

but there's certain scenarios where he was so, it wasn't predictable, it was reliable in his positions that I'm pretty sure I know what he would say in certain situations. You know, Mark, what do you think, what do you think his position would be on all these attacks on a great Canadian like Wayne Gretzky? Well, you know, Ben, he loved to call people

when they were at their lowest. I think a lot of people through the funeral, we heard about this moment, and he would have called Wayne Gretzky within 15 seconds of hearing all of this. And he would have basically picked him back up and told them, reminded him of what he's done for Canada over the years, our greatest export and always fiercely proud to be Canadian. And he would have picked him back up and told him this too shall pass and you know we would have we'll get through this right we'll get through this nonsense that where people are trying to conflate certain situations. Wayne Gretzky is great for many

reasons you don't have to like his politics you just have to respect him for what he's done for our country and he would have told him that and we would have moved on. Nick, go Mark, yeah, Nick. And what's what's really interesting is here we sit in a world where we talk about a man that we lost, but he was an asset to to the Canadians. Uh, in this moment where Trump in this case, 1.0, they were looking around the world and seeing who knew Trump well enough to go knock on his door. And Brian Mulroney was one of those people. And here we have Trump 2.0.

And unfortunately, Brian Mulroney is not sitting in his den in Palm Beach anymore. But we have this incredible legendary figure in Wayne Gretzky and he knows the Trumps very well and yet instead of thinking about it as a possible diplomatic ally in the future, especially since we face this existential crisis that the government has listed, we've decided to tar and feather. One of our greatest successes, one of our greatest exports, and I think that you're exactly right, Mark.

He would have given him a call and laughed throughout pretty much the entire conversation and talked about how great he was. You know, I hear these stories that you guys are telling me, these opinions you have. He is alive and well in all of us, but that doesn't make it so that we don't miss him. Mark, what do you miss most about that?

You know, I probably miss something that like maybe people don't even know about. He was a huge sports fan. Yeah, he loved to talk sports. He knew because he read every newspaper every single morning around the globe, or he listened to short waves. He knew the standings of all sorts of teams. I mean, I don't think anyone knows. Obviously, people can assume Habs and Expos when the Expos were actually around and relevant.

But I don't think people know that he actually cared about Notre Dame football more than he cared about most other sports, or that he cared about the New York Giants. And he loved to know what was going on or tell me what was going on. And we love to talk about those things. I think when people say, when do you miss your dad the most? Oh, it must be his birthday, it must be today. I miss him on a Tuesday afternoon when I'm driving home

and I think there's something interesting to say and I reach for the phone and he's not there. But that's more just because, just like you miss an amazing friend who, when it comes to parents, he only ever had our back. He only ever wanted for our well-being and for our best interests. And so that's probably what I miss most is having that type of person by my side. Nick, what about you? You were the baby. You were his youngest. You were the only one of us born after he became prime minister. He had a special

relationship with him. What do you miss the most? Just echoing what Mark said, you know, as a Boston college Eagle, he would call me up and talk about, hey, did you see the Notre Dame game? And oftentimes would be, yeah, I actually did. Yeah, they had, you know, they had an epic, epic winter, epic fail, whatever it might be, but he was always, he loved that school. And one of the things he actually got to visit it

before he passed away and he talked about how special it was. So he also, the other thing about dad is he loved the underdog. Anytime you asked him about the Super Bowl, he knew what's playing, he knew the coaches, and he knew the owners, but he always cheered for the underdog. And so he loved the Buffalo Bills in those Super Bowls,

but it was always really interesting. He loved the Tom Brady story. So he always loved the underdog story. And I think that in the back of his head, he always saw himself as an underdog coming from Big Momo. That's why he loved those Irish kids in South Bend. There was something about it, but I really miss the steady presence that he had in my life. I miss, I miss how he always knew when I was doing something I shouldn't be doing and he would call me, but he wouldn't

call me to scream at me. He'd call me because he was a labor negotiator. He would bury the lead. He lulled me into a false sense of security, making me think that we were going to have a conversation about X, Y, or Zed. And just when I think he's going to hang up the phone, that's when he drops the hammer. And God do I miss that. I miss that. All right. I knew that when you were wearing something on TV that he was going to call you. Hey, when we continue, I'm going to put my brothers to the test and quiz them

on political quotes. Did Brian Mulroney say it? That's next on the Ben Mulroney show. You serve all the Canadian people a deep apology for having indulged in that kind of practice Say it that's next on the Ben Mulroney show. wrong for Canada and I am not going to ask Canadians to pay the price. You had an option sir to say no and you chose to say yes to the old attitudes and the old stories of the Liberal Party. That sir, if I may say respectfully, that is not good enough for Canadians. That was the voice of at the time the opposition leader. It was probably the most seminal moment in Canadian federal election debate history and it was said by my father, the late great Brian Mulrooney. Our father, the late great Brian Mulrooney. I'm joined again by Mark and Nick, my brothers who are very busy men. And it means the world that you would come onto the show

and share some of your thoughts and remembrances of dad. Thanks so much for being here. Pleasure. Okay, so now we're gonna have a little bit of fun because dad was eminently quotable. And so I am going to read some quotes to you and you are going to tell me if dad said it or if dad didn't say it.

You don't have to say who said it, but either dad or not dad. All right, so let's start. The first quote is, you do not have a monopoly on patriotism and I resent the fact at your implication that only you were a Canadian. Did he say it or did he not? Yes, yes. Was that Nick? Mark. I'm gonna go no. Yes and no. Yes and no. It's a yes. It's a yes. Let's play it. I happen to believe that you've sold us out. I happen to believe that once you, Mr. Turner, just one second.

Once any nation. You do not have a monopoly on patriotism. And I resent the fact that your implication that only you were a Canadian. I want to tell you that I come from a Canadian family and I love Canada. And that's why I did it. To promote prosperity. And don's why I did it, to promote prosperity. And don't you impute my motives. Guys, that is a debate.

I don't know what we've been watching the past few days, but that is a debate. That is fair. That was a great one. Come on. This was a man who was tested in battle from the time he was in high school. This was a guy who took shots, body blows at every round,

because he knew it would make him better at his ultimate goal, which was to become prime minister. That's what he wanted and he worked towards it. And he knew that the only way to get there was to be tested by the best. And he won it at every turn. And that's- And don't forget then that his moment as a labor lawyer,

he would be chosen by his firm to go represent these groups. He didn't have a choice. In modern times, you can pick your side of which argument you want to be on. He had to represent these people to the best of his ability. And I think that really framed a lot of his relationships moving forward. That's why he got calls from both sides of the aisle on both sides of the ability. And I think that really framed a lot of his relationships moving forward. That's why he got calls from both sides of the aisle on both sides of the border.

Yeah, yeah, you're right. All right, here's the next quote. You guys ready? Canadians and Americans congregate the world over on the least provocation. An inviting border has made us close and easygoing neighbors. The essence and the strength of the relations

between our two countries are people. Our people naturally get along well together. We share our triumphs and victories as we share our adversities and when at times we spar we do so without rancor and we and we work out our differences. Did Brian Mulroney say it or not Mark? Nope. Nicholas? Yes. Nick, I don't know what's going on here. You're dead wrong. This was Ronald Reagan. Let's listen. Nancy and I are delighted to again host an evening that brings Americans and Canadians together. No gathering could be more enjoyable. Nothing is less unusual.

Canadians and Americans congregate the world over on the least provocation. An inviting border has made us close and easygoing neighbors. The essence and the strength of the relations between our two countries are people. Our people naturally get along well together. We share our triumphs and victories as we share our adversities. And when at times we spar, we do so without rancor and we work out our differences. I mean, Nick, Ronald Reagan was talking about the Canada US relation, wasn't he? Because I don't think he's talking about it today. Hey, Ben, I'll just say one thing. You know,

I'm too smart to always bet against Mark. Yeah, correct. Correct. He's won. He's won 350 50s in his life. Yeah. Every time I go to a casino with Mark, he'll say, sit here, I'm going to go win us some money. And I sit down, I have a drink, and he comes back with a pile of cash every time, every single time. Every single time. Never bet against Mark. All right, here's quote number three. I was a very tough report. Oh, okay. So this one isn't dad. This is a reporter talking about a relationship with dad. And I want you to guess the report. All right. This is a reporter talking about a relationship with dad. And I want you to guess the reporter.

All right. This is the quote. I was a very tough reporter when Brian Mulroney was prime minister, and he actually wasn't a fan of mine. He called me a knee capper. Which reporter did Brian Mulroney call the knee capper? Nick? I have no clue. Mark? Fife. Mark, you're three for three. It was Bob Fife. Here's a little more about that story. When my wife's mother passed away, there was a phone call around, I think around 10 o'clock or so, and she answered the phone and I didn't know what was going on. And she came out of, she came, when she hung up the phone, she said, you know, that was Brian Maroney calling me to express his sympathy for the loss of her mom. And she said, you know, I can't believe

that you were so mean to him. He really did make people reevaluate later on in life, didn't he, Nick? He did. He did. I actually got to speak to Bob Sight during the funeral and let's just say he said some nice things to me. Yeah. Yeah, I know people I never would have expected to come out of the woodwork and express kindness after having had the daggers out for so long. That was one of the most wonderful parts of the long goodbye that was his funeral mark. Yeah, 100%. And you know, the truth is he he understood that when you were in the arena, you shed blood. And then when you left, you could be concovivial and you could have a beer.

It was unbelievable. Yeah. All right. Here's I don't know how much time we have left. We're gonna keep going until we run out. Okay, who said this? I believe that it will be said that in the life of this country, the United States, which is in my judgment, the greatest democratic republic that God has ever placed on the face of the earth. Did dad say it or not? Yes, he did. Where did he say it? He said it in Washington. You gotta be more specific. I think he said it when he addressed Congress. He said it at George Herbert Walker Bush's funeral.

Nice one, Nick. And 50 or 100 years from now, as historians review the accomplishments and the context of all who have served as president, I believe it will be said that in the life of this country, the United States, which is, in my judgment, the greatest democratic republic that God has ever placed on the face of this earth. I believe it will be said that no occupant of the Oval Office was more courageous, more principled and more honorable than George Herbert Walker Bush. Nick, in my humble estimation, Dad was, up until his passing, the single greatest living orator in the English language. And you point to that as Exhibit A.

I was alive for that one, Ben. to that is Exhibit A. I was alive for that one, Ben. All right, hey guys, before I let you go, there's one last quote. It is Dad. I'm just going to read it out because I think it's a nice way to end this. But before I do, I just want to tell you that one of the gifts that I think Dad gave us in leaving us was I think he brought us closer together and I thank him every day for that.

Amen, brother. All right, here we go. Okay. Canadians have an obligation to help make the world a better and safer place. Not least we owe it to ourselves to honor excellence and pursue it relentlessly. Canada must stand for the best in all fields of human endeavor, and we must be uncompromising in the pursuit of values that are the moral foundation of all great nations. That is my dream for my country, a Canada fair and generous, tolerant and just.

And I honestly, guys, I think that's the perfect way given where we are as a country, where we are vis-a-vis our friends in the world. I hope everybody hears that and I hope everybody finds a way to live by that. And brothers, Mark, Nick, thank you so much. Thank you for coming on the show. Thank you for always being there for me. Thank you for making our family as magical and wonderful and essential in my life as it is,

I owe you everything. God bless, Ben. Thank you, Ben. Daniel Blanchard is no ordinary thief. His heists are ingenious, his escapes defy belief, and when he sees the dazzling diamond CC Star, he'll risk everything to steal it. His exploits set off an intercontinental manhunt,

but how long can CC Star stay lucky for Daniel? I'm Seren Jones, and this is A Most Audacious Heist. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, or wherever you get your podcasts.