This article examines Walter Gordon's influence on Canadian political thoug
ht, particularly, his ideas about Canada's economic relations with the Unit
ed States. It argues that Gordon lacked understanding of the international
economic issues that were central to much of his thought and that his views
were based on intuition and personal experience, rather than examination o
f Canadian affairs. Nevertheless, in the late 1960s and early 1970s, his pu
blic prominence and connections with the media, coupled with a growing unea
se in Canada about the country's relations with the United States, allowed
Gordon to amass broad support for his efforts to reduce Canada's reliance o
n American capital.