William Lyon Mackenzie King, who served as the Liberal prime minister since 1921, called for re-election on October 29, 1925. Facing internal cabinet turmoil and exhaustion, he felt he had no choice but to seek another term. At 51 years old, he expressed in his diary a desire for rest, even welcoming the possibility of defeat. A century ago, the Liberal government found itself in a minority position, grappling with challenges as it approached the election. Like Mark Carney today, King had to work hard to rethink his party and navigate the votes in the House of Commons. Ultimately, he was unable to maintain his position, and the government transitioned to the Conservative leadership of Arthur Meighen a few months later.

King's significance in Canadian history is rooted in his remarkable tenure. He holds the record for the longest-serving prime minister in Canada, with a total of 7,828 days in office, nearly 22 years. However, his longevity is not the sole reason for his importance. King excelled in building, balancing, and sustaining power in a nation often divided by region, language, and class. His approach offers valuable lessons for contemporary politicians.

King's success was built on four key pillars: his ability to create flexible political coalitions, his management of caucus and cabinet, his growing administrative competence, and his knack for identifying effective policies at critical moments. While he was not known for being visionary or inspiring, these qualities made him an effective leader.

When King became the leader of the Liberal Party in 1919, Canada was facing significant challenges. The Winnipeg General Strike had recently unsettled the nation, the Spanish flu was still affecting communities, and deep-seated regional, linguistic, and class tensions threatened national unity. King adeptly navigated these crises with a keen sense of political survival. His Liberal Party in the 1920s was not driven by passion or principle but was a coalition of convenience, primarily supported by Quebec and the Maritimes, with occasional backing from Prairie progressives. In the 1930s, this coalition shifted westward, and by the 1940s, it evolved into a Quebec-Ontario-Maritime alliance.

King's true talent lay in managing fragmentation rather than creating unity. He faced criticism for his perceived timidity, which political scientist R. MacGregor Dawson noted, stating that King was often reluctant to venture into the unknown. He typically followed public opinion rather than leading it, avoiding decisions that could divide the country. When forced to act, he did so only after careful consideration. His cautiousness was strategic rather than cowardly. King famously remarked, "Government is organized opinion," emphasizing his belief in governing through consensus rather than charisma.

Despite facing criticism from both the left and the right, King’s adaptability was his greatest asset. The left accused him of manipulating reformist rhetoric without delivering substantial benefits for workers or the poor, while the right viewed him as overly sentimental. Both perspectives contained elements of truth but overlooked the essence of his approach. In a nation characterized by compromise, King made compromise a fundamental aspect of governance.

As a manager, King was both deliberate and demanding. He recruited skilled civil servants and ministers, granting them autonomy as long as they remained loyal. He valued education and competence, and by the late 1930s, his government had transformed into a sophisticated administrative machine. His meticulous cabinet management ensured that no single faction dominated for extended periods. Even during the contentious conscription crises of the 1940s, when his cabinet was on the verge of collapse, King maintained government stability through patience, persuasion, and timely sacrifices.

The Second World War was a defining period for King. From 1939 to 1945, he emerged as a capable wartime leader, mobilizing a nation of 11 million into a significant industrial and military force on the global stage. His leadership during this time solidified his legacy as one of Canada’s most enduring political figures.