Quote:
Originally Posted by megadude
I worked for a company in which John Turner was on the board. Crossed paths with him or rode the elevator with him a handful of times over the years. Never actually talked to him, but at the end of a board meeting either the receptionist or another employee would go down to the lobby with him and call a cab (he was somewhat fragile). Perhaps if he grew up wealthy he might prefer having a limo. But then again, the chairman of the company arrived to work in a cab everyday.
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Once, about 20 years ago, I was in Toronto and was boarding the subway at the Osgoode station late in the evening (after 10 PM anyway).
When I got down to the platform, it was nearly deserted, but there was one elegant looking older man waiting patiently for the next train. He was impeccably dressed, and I realized almost immediately that it was John Turner.
Here was an ex Prime Minister of the country, waiting for a subway train on an empty platform, late at night, with no visible security anywhere. There was no pretense in his mannerisms, and no swagger.
I tried to mentally contrast this humble and unassuming vision in front of me with what I would expect to be the circus surrounding an ex president venturing out in public (secret service, limousines, public kept at bay), and I must admit that it made me proud to be Canadian.
The only ex US president this humble is Jimmy Carter as far as I'm concerned.