It is one of the pleasures of writing these columns that friendly readers send me items that are often usable as material for future columns. Such as a column I received this week that was published in the Hamilton Spectator and written by Geoffrey Stevens, former Ottawa columnist and managing editor of the Globe and Mail. His offering on Oct. 10 about the upcoming midterm elections in the United States reminded me of his fierce attention to accuracy. He began: “Canadians do not pay close attention to the biennial midterm elections in the United States, when all 535 members of the House of Representatives … come up for re-election or replacement.” In fact, the midterm elections are every four years and there are 435 members of the House of Representatives. I recalled when Stevens reproached me in 1992, after I’d held a dinner in Toronto for former U.S. president Richard Nixon, who as cant and emotionalism subside, is increasingly seen as an outstanding president. Stevens accused me of trying to make Nixon “the sixth president on Mount Rushmore.” Arithmetic can be a challenge, but there are only four presidents on Mount Rushmore and their effigies are all about 18-metres high. Read More