Prime Minister Pierre Elliot Trudeau famously said that being America's neighbor "is like sleeping with an elephant. No matter how friendly and even-tempered the beast, if one can call it that, one is affected by every twitch and grunt."From a speech by Trudeau to the National Press Club in Washington, DC, on March 25, 1969J. L. Granatstein and Robert Bothwell, Pirouette: Pierre Trudeau and Canadian Foreign Policy (1991) p. 51 Prime Minister Pierre Elliot Trudeau, sharply at odds with the U.S. over Cold War policy, warned at a press conference in 1971 that the overwhelming American presence posed "a danger to our national identity from a cultural, economic and perhaps even military point of view."J. L. Granatstein and Robert Bothwell, Pirouette: Pierre Trudeau and Canadian Foreign Policy (1991) p. 195 President Richard Nixon, in a speech to Parliament in 1972 was angry at Trudeau and declared that the "special relationship" between Canada and the United States was dead. "It is time for us to recognize", he stated, "that we have very separate identities; that we have significant differences; and that nobody's interests are furthered when these realities are obscured."J. L. Granatstein and Robert Bothwell, Pirouette: Pierre Trudeau and Canadian Foreign Policy (1991) p. 71 In late 2001, President George W. Bush did not mention Canada during a speech in which he thanked a list of countries who had assisted in responding to the events of September 11, although Canada had provided military, financial, and other support. Ten years later, David Frum, one of President Bush's speechwriters, stated that it was an unintentional omission. Prime Minister Stephen Harper, in a statement congratulating Barack Obama on his inauguration, stated that "The United States remains Canada's most important ally, closest friend and largest trading partner and I look forward to working with President Obama and his administration as we build on this special relationship." President Barack Obama, speaking in Ottawa at his first official international visit on February 19, 2009, said, "I love this country. We could not have a better friend and ally." President Joe Biden, while addressing Parliament on March 24, 2023, emphasized the strong relationship between the two countries, stating, “Americans and Canadians are two people, two countries, in my view, sharing one heart, a personal connection. No two nations on Earth are bound by such close ties, friendship, family, commerce and culture." Biden additionally commented on Canada's sports culture, saying, "I have to say, I like your teams except the Leafs." which was met with laughter and applause.
Prime Minister Pierre Elliot Trudeau famously said that being America's neighbor "is like sleeping with an elephant No matter how friendly and even-tempered the beast if one can call it that one is affected by every twitch and grunt"From a speech by Trudeau to the National Press Club in Washington DC on March 25 1969J L Granatstein and Robert Bothwell Pirouette Pierre Trudeau and Canadian Foreign Policy (1991) p 51 Prime Minister Pierre Elliot Trudeau sharply at odds with the US over Cold War policy warned at a press conference in 1971 that the overwhelming American presence posed "a danger to our national identity from a cultural economic and perhaps even military point of view"J L Granatstein and Robert Bothwell Pirouette Pierre Trudeau and Canadian Foreign Policy (1991) p 195 President Richard Nixon in a speech to Parliament in 1972 was angry at Trudeau and declared that the "special relationship" between Canada and the United States was dead "It is time for us to recognize" he stated "that we have very separate identities; that we have significant differences; and that nobody's interests are furthered when these realities are obscured"J L Granatstein and Robert Bothwell Pirouette Pierre Trudeau and Canadian Foreign Policy (1991) p 71 In late 2001 President George W Bush did not mention Canada during a speech in which he thanked a list of countries who had assisted in responding to the events of September 11 although Canada had provided military financial and other support Ten years later David Frum one of President Bush's speechwriters stated that it was an unintentional omission Prime Minister Stephen Harper in a statement congratulating Barack Obama on his inauguration stated that "The United States remains Canada's most important ally closest friend and largest trading partner and I look forward to working with President Obama and his administration as we build on this special relationship" President Barack Obama speaking in Ottawa at his first official international visit on February 19 2009 said "I love this country We could not have a better friend and ally" President Joe Biden while addressing Parliament on March 24 2023 emphasized the strong relationship between the two countries stating “Americans and Canadians are two people two countries in my view sharing one heart a personal connection No two nations on Earth are bound by such close ties friendship family commerce and culture" Biden additionally commented on Canada's sports culture saying "I have to say I like your teams except the Leafs" which was met with laughter and applause