Q&A: Jane Crosbie saw it all ... and she wrote it down. John Crosbie's widow publishes memoir

John Crosbie — the larger-than-life politician who dominated public affairs for decades in Newfoundland and Labrador and indeed a lot of Canada — made no secret of the fact he had a special power helping him through his political career.

That was his wife, Jane Crosbie, who has just released her early diaries in a new memoir.

The book has an intriguing title: The Horse Doctor's Daughter: The Early Diaries of Jane Crosbie.

It's not an analytical memoir. It is a diary in every sense, with short, sharp entries that cover the mundane. For example: "Friday, Sept 6, 1968: Got hair done at 9:30, then worked like a dog for tonight. Ches vacuumed. Perfect day."

There are also some juicier entries, too.

"Friday, Sept. 27, 1968: John showing friends his reply to Joey. If this is a success it will be the third time John made Joey eat shit. I'll send that letter on Monday." 

Jane Crosbie suffered a stroke in 2020 so she's unable to read the book she just published. But she's certainly able to talk about it despite a slight speech impediment.

Following is my conversation with Jane Crosbie, which has been edited for length and clarity. 

Q: You have written this book, The Horse Doctor's Daughter. I find it interesting because it doesn't say "John Crosbie's wife." It's "the horse doctor's daughter." Why that title?

A: I used to follow my father around when I was a little girl. [Someone asked] who's that little girl? And they said, "Oh, that's the horse doctor's daughter." They didn't know what a veterinary surgeon was. 

The book is interesting because you have all kinds of diary entries from 1966 right into the '80s. One of the entries I read was on May 1, 1966. The entry is very simple. You say, "John raked the lawn and decided to run for the Liberals."

He had been elected as deputy mayor [of St. John's] and Joey discovered that he was a vote-getter. He decided to run because he wanted to get in politics. I was very upset about that. John thought women were seen and not heard and I hated Joey. I really did.

Later John would also dislike Joey quite a bit, but not in the beginning?

No, he didn't. He had these wild ideas, according to John.

I'm looking at your diary entries, and this part has nothing to do with politics. On Nov. 3, there was "my cocktail party here at 2 p.m." The next day, Friday, Nov. 4, a cocktail party, fashion show and luncheon. The next day, Saturday, Nov. 5, a cocktail party at a home. It sounds there was a lot of cocktail parties here! 

I thought so, too. I couldn't get over it. You would think I'd be drunk the whole time. We were asked everywhere and we went.

The early to mid-'60s people had cigarettes on the coffee table. There's always booze everywhere.

That's right. Exactly. You got the whole picture.

You also like curling. There's a lot of entries about curling.

Oh, yes. The two of us curled a lot. I was never good at sports but I had to do something. 

I want to ask you about some serious entries about being married to somebody like John Crosbie. I guess it might be true for any political spouse. But there's one entry in 1967 and you write, "John is making me very unhappy. He doesn't confide in me to the smallest degree. I'm hurt very much. I know he isn't the type to discuss much, but he doesn't even try. Am I too stupid to bother with?" Can you explain that to me?

He had a male attitude. Women were just seen like children and not heard. That's why we had so many battles. I was strong-minded. He had [our house near] Hogan's Pond built, he never consulted me at all, and I didn't like the house. I had it all changed.

Now I'm going forward by about a decade. He's now involved in federal politics at this point. Later on in the book you write — it was very honest because the diary is just a diary — "A terrible fight with John. He's under such a strain. He's totally unreasonable. It all started when he came home and I said I felt depressed. And instead of comforting me, he went into a rage. This time it's just too much. This is all just a one-man show, this racket."

You wouldn't do all these things to women now. They're equal. They thought they could do everything. I tried to train him. 

You talk about some of the everyday things, obviously being a mom and taking your kids to sports. Did you have your hair done every 36 hours?

Yes, three wonderful children. [And] I put in every time I had my hair done. 

One of the entries that jumped out at me is on Thursday, July 7, 1977. You talk about Geoff Stirling, of all people. You say Geoff Stirling called John on the phone and told him he was really good on TV yesterday and he would be prime minister someday.

Yes, that's right. Geoff is a character. An oddball, too. He was a nice man.

You have an entry there Dec. 16, 1979, and it made me laugh because you write, "Beth has gone skiing." Your daughter Beth, "Bob Rae with the NDP who's responsible for causing the vote. The little shit." That's the famous non-confidence vote [that brought down the PC government of Joe Clark], right?

Yes. 

So you're not a Bob Rae fan?

Far from it. He came to John's funeral here three years ago. He came up to me and I said, "I'm not speaking to you." He said "why not?" and I said "for what you did," and I walked away.

Obviously you and John, like all husbands and wives, you had your moments and you've talked about them. But overall, it seems as though you had a pretty good marriage.

We did. He wouldn't go anywhere without me. I had to come with him and I didn't mind, of course. It's only since he died that I'm getting a bit of rest, sadly. I couldn't sleep. I was taking sleeping pills. I got so uptight over it all, I guess. But I enjoyed Ottawa because the Liberals loosened their grip, I think.

When you read the diary it starts with you and John meeting Richard Nixon.

Yes. Met him. We were to a play and he walked out in New York and he gave me his autograph at that time. I don't know what I did with it.

Did you enjoy being part of a public life for so long?

He loved politics and I supported him. So naturally I miss him very much. He'll never be dead to me.

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