Trudeau, Margaret (1948–)

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Trudeau, Margaret (1948–)

Canadian first lady. Name variations: Margaret Kemper. Born Margaret Sinclair, Sept 10, 1948; dau. of James Sinclair (Liberal fisheries minister); m. Pierre Elliott Trudeau (prime minister of Canada, 1968–79), Mar 4, 1971 (sep. 1977, div. 1984, died 2000); m. Fred Kemper (real-estate developer), 1984 (sep. 1999); children: (1st m.) Justin (b. 1971), Alexandre (Sasha, b. 1973), and Michel (b. 1975, drowned 1998); (2nd m.) 2.

Married Pierre Trudeau at age 22, becoming the youngest first lady in the world, and one of the most troubled; chafed under the scrutiny and violated protocol; walked out on the marriage while husband was still in office, though they would remain close; became a photographer, actress, writer and tv host, while social life became a popular topic for tabloids; subject of a CBC documentary "Passion Before Reason: Life & Times of Margaret Trudeau" (1998).

See also autobiography Beyond Reason (Paddington, 1979) and Consequences.