[From Wikipedia: John George Diefenbaker PC, CH, QC (1895–1979) was the 13th Prime Minister of Canada, serving from June 1957, to April 1963. He was the only Progressive Conservative (PC or Tory) party leader between 1930 and 1979 to lead the party to an election victory, doing so three times, although only once with a majority of seats in the Canadian House of Commons.]
This headline is deliberately misleading. But perhaps you can think of a better one.
On Monday, February 3, The Globe and Mail carried on its front page a long article by Kathryn Blaze Carlson about the death, a little more than a year ago, of Gordon Dryden, with this headline, “The Quiet Death of a Leading Liberal Voice.” It described the career of the treasurer of the Liberal Party, a man who devoted his life to the Party, and was consulted by Pearson and Trudeau.
Towards the end of the piece there was this passage: “Mr. Dryden passed away after complications following heart surgery, leaving behind wife Mary Lou Dryden, brother Barrie Dryden Sr. and son Barrie Dryden Jr. He also raised George Dryden, who in 2011 was disproved as his biological child….
“Mr. Dryden’s relatives, who spoke through the family’s lawyer, say the low-key farewell is part of a Dryden penchant for privacy. But some of those who knew Mr. Dryden hypothesize that recent events might help explain the discreet departure: George Dryden unsuccessfully sued Mr. Dryden for millions, alleging emotional abuse and financial wrongdoing, and then proved through a headline-grabbing DNA test that Mr. Dryden was not his biological father.
“George Dryden asserts he is instead the son of John Diefenbaker. Since Gordon Dryden’s passing, George Dryden said he has genetically proved he is related to a set of Saskatchewan brothers who believe their father was the Conservative prime minister’s son. ‘[The DNA results] explained a lot,’ said George Dryden, who has retained a lawyer to seek access to his mother, whom he is not authorized to visit at a Toronto nursing home. ‘He was very distant and cold.’”
What should be the headline of this post?
Crossing party lines, dead husband of Diefenbaker mistress bans love child visits.
“Liberals Moot Ban on DNA Testing”
Why do I find myself recalling a childhood visit to the Royal Winter Fair where I saw a life sized statue of Dief the Chief carved in butter? Do I detect a Freudian slip or association here?
Blair’s headline demonstrates wit and gravitas.
Schatzky’s smacks of the tabloid press. Shame on him!
There is the need to drop at least one additional veil (of mystery) to drop before the word alleged can be legitimately dropped from the title.. More I learn of Gordon Dryden, sadder the story becomes.