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Steve Paikin

Steve Paikin has been a journalist in Canada for more than 25 years. He is currently anchor and senior editor of TVO’s flagship current affairs program The Agenda with Steve Paikin. He is the author of four books for Penguin: The Life: The Seductive Call of Politics; The Dark Side: The Personal Price of a Political Life; Public Triumph, Private Tragedy: The Double Life of John P. Robarts; and The New Game: How Hockey Saved Itself.   Paikin lives in Toronto.

Steve Paikin sets out to answer one big question in The Life: why on earth would anyone want to be a politician? After all, as he notes in his introduction, "it often seems like a miserable, thankless job. Voters hate politicians and the feeling is often mutual. Media coverage frequently portrays politicians as slimy, unprincipled egomaniacs who are only out to feather their own nests, their constituents' needs be damned."

But there is a definite lure to a life in politics, one that attracts people from every walk of life. Their motivations are legion — some are crusaders, some are born to it, some fall into politics almost accidentally. But all are drawn to the sense of purpose, the excitement and the drama of politics. Once tasted, it's hard to forget; but to those of us on the outside, it's sometimes hard to understand. The Life is our passport to the world of politics, and the people who live for it.

Q: What first sparked your interest in politics?
A: Two things, I suppose. My parents were not active in partisan politics when I was young, but we did talk about politics and issues, and they had a few friends stand for office, so I can remember watching them help on campaigns. My own personal interest in politics came when I was 13 years old. The Watergate hearings were in full force. When I'd get home from school, my mother would be watching the hearings on television, and somehow I got hooked. So my first interest was really in American politics, and then later in politics in general.

Q: What made you decide to cover politics as a journalist rather than enter the political arena as a candidate or political worker?
A: The decision to enter journalism really happened during my first year at the University of Toronto. I got heavily involved in the campus radio station and newspaper, initially in sports.
The notion of running for office is not something I've ever thought about seriously. The political process intrigues me, but I prefer the view from my perch as a journalist.

Q: In The Life, the politicians you profile are grouped according to their motivations for entering politics — The Crusaders, The Accidental Candidates, The Back Room Boys, and many more. Which appeals to you the most?
A: I think what I love about politics is that it brings together so many different kinds of people with so many different motives for getting in. One can't help but admire the altruists, the crusaders, those that run with no hope of winning, but just want to participate in the democratic process. However, I'm just as impressed with those who had no intention of getting involved, but suddenly find themselves on the front lines of having to make decisions which are crucial to our lives. The obvious example here is George W. Bush, who certainly had no clue that his presidency would be dominated by one issue...one for which he has absolutely no credentials. But he has so far risen to the occasion, as so many politicians do in extreme circumstances.

Q: Is there any one group whose motivations you find difficult to fathom or sympathize with?
A: There is, no doubt, a small minority of politicians who run for office solely to collect the salary, the pension, to leave few footprints, and merely keep a seat warm in Parliament. I find that objectionable. I also find it to be rare. Most people don't go through the hassle of trying to win nominations, then run for office, then endure the internecine warfare that is a part of any caucus, without having an end goal of making their communities better. You may not like their decisions, but unlike most journalists, I don't automatically question their motives and presume that they're all evil.

Q: What makes a great Canadian politician? Is there such a thing as a quintessentially Canadian politician?
A: I've made it a point during my career of covering politics never to point to anyone and say, "He/she is my favourite politician." It's not wise when you have to cover their activities on a daily basis. Most politicians have admirable qualities. All of them have qualities that are not desirable at all.

Having said that, my idea of the quintessential Canadian politician is one who holds a national view of the country, rather than a parochial, narrow, regional perspective That is an important starting point. I am partial to big dreamers who like to get big things done, as opposed to caretakers who simply like to manage the store. And I like politicians who can speak well. You'd be amazed how many can't give a basic stump speech, but that kind of theatre is an integral part of the job. I like politicians who have a sense of humour. The longer you're in the job, the more you realize how much you need one. I like politicians who know when it's time to come into office, and when it's time to leave.

Of course, I could put names on all of the above, but I won't!