Portrait of a politician as an everyman
The documentary series on Bertie Ahern is a fond reminder of what we admire in our former leader, says Willie O'Dea
Sunday November 09 2008
Samuel Beckett, it is said, went to extraordinary lengths to ensure his biographer got to meet and talk to his friends, saying: "You won't have any difficulties finding my enemies."
It underlines the risk with both written and TV biographies. The forgettable ones can be divided into two types: the fawning hagiographies, heaping praise upon the subject or the vicious hatchet jobs, spewing bile and calumny upon the target.
The memorable ones, however, retain their objectivity, treating their subject in a fair though critical manner. Mint production's four-part documentary series Bertie falls into this heading -- and I don't just say that as one of those interviewed for the series.
The series chronicles the story of one of the most charismatic, yet enigmatic political leaders of our generation. Last Monday's episode, covering the period up to 1989, offered an intriguing and informative account of Bertie Ahern's formative years and his entry into politics.
Amid a number of interesting insights and revealing interviews, the first episode highlighted two things in particular.
First, it showed that the pursuit of wealth and personal glory was most definitively not what motivated and propelled Bertie Ahern into politics. Like others, across many political parties, he went into politics to represent the people he knew and grew up with and to do what he could to improve their lot. Unlike many others though, he possessed the skills and talents that destined him for the highest offices.
Second, it showed the extraordinary loyalty and belief he generates in those closest to him. That depth of loyalty is something every aspiring politician yearns for, but as the programme made abundantly clear, that loyalty was based on the enormous confidence and faith his family, his friends and supporters had in his capacity and in his abilities.
That loyalty was almost infectious. It rippled outwards as his career progressed, spreading first from his close supporters to the voters in his native Drumcondra, then to the people of Dublin's north inner city and eventually to the majority of people across the island.
The fact that the first episode of Bertie was watched by almost 40 per cent of the available TV audience shows that he still has the capacity to draw in the crowds.
Indeed the title of the programme tells us something about how the former Taoiseach is viewed by the population at large. It could easily have been called Ahern, like the earlier documentary series Haughey. The perception that only supporters of Charlie Haughey called him Charlie prompted the producers to use his surname to avoid any accusations of bias.
No such problems existed with Bertie. Whereas Haughey polarised, Bertie united. Across the political divide he is known just as Bertie.
Even Fine Gael's constant references to him as "Ahern" during their many attempts to undermine him, failed to take hold. The public resolutely continued to call him Bertie. The use of the familiar "Bertie" is indicative of his approachability and accessibility.
Some have referred to the latest series as the unofficial third part of a trilogy of political biographies/documentaries which started with Fine Gael: A Family at War followed by the aforementioned Haughey.
Taken together, the three series undoubtedly chart the development and modernisation of Irish politics from the late-1970s to date, but unlike the others this series documents the career of a man who has influenced and shaped our country like no one else in recent years.
Like their other productions, Bertie is well researched, professionally produced and hugely entertaining. As with the other two series it has the producer's trademark use of music. The creative and often humourous use of chart hits from the periods covered gives the programmes their unique feel and pace.
I look forward to the next three episodes.
Willie O'Dea is Minister for Defence and Fianna Fail TD for Limerick East
