Editing Brian Mulroney (section)

== Education (1955–1964) ==
Mulroney entered [[St. Francis Xavier University]] in the fall of 1955 as a 16-year-old first-year student. His political life began when he was recruited to the campus Progressive Conservative group by [[Lowell Murray]] and others early in his first year. Murray, who was appointed to the [[Senate of Canada]] in 1979, became Mulroney's close friend, mentor, and adviser. Mulroney made other important, lasting friendships with [[Gerald Doucet]], [[Fred Doucet]], [[Sam Wakim]], and [[Patrick MacAdam]]. Mulroney enthusiastically embraced political organization and assisted the local PC candidate in his successful 1956 Nova Scotia provincial election campaign; the PCs, led provincially by [[Robert Stanfield]], won a surprise victory.<ref name="ReferenceA" />

Mulroney became a youth delegate and attended the 1956 leadership convention in [[Ottawa]]. While initially undecided, Mulroney was captivated by [[John Diefenbaker]]'s powerful oratory and easy approachability. Mulroney joined the Youth for Diefenbaker committee, which was led by [[Edward Samuel Rogers|Ted Rogers]], a future [[kinship|scion]] of Canadian business. Mulroney struck an early friendship with Diefenbaker (who won the leadership) and received telephone calls from him.<ref name="Donaldson310" />

Mulroney won several public speaking contests at St. Francis Xavier University, was a star member of the school's [[debating]] team, and never lost an inter-university debate. He was also very active in campus politics, serving with distinction in several [[Model Parliament]]s, and was campus prime minister in a [[Maritimes]]-wide Model Parliament in 1958.<ref name="ReferenceA" />

Mulroney assisted with the 1958 national election campaign at the local level in Nova Scotia. This campaign led to the largest majority in the history of the Canadian House of Commons.<ref>''The Politics of Ambition'', by [[John Sawatsky]], 1991</ref> After graduating from St. Francis Xavier with a degree in political science in 1959, Mulroney at first pursued a law degree from [[Dalhousie Law School]] in [[Halifax Regional Municipality|Halifax]]. It was around this time that Mulroney also cultivated friendships with the Tory [[premier of Nova Scotia]], [[Robert Stanfield]], and his chief adviser [[Dalton Camp]]. In his role as an advance man, Mulroney assisted with Stanfield's successful 1960 re-election campaign. Mulroney neglected his studies, fell seriously ill during the winter term, was hospitalized, and, despite getting extensions for several courses because of his illness, left his program at Dalhousie after the first year.<ref name="ReferenceA" /> He then applied to [[Université Laval]] in Quebec City and continued his legal studies there later in 1960.<ref>{{Cite web |title="Le très honorable Martin Brian Mulroney, Biographie 1939–" |url=http://www.nlc-bnc.ca/primeministers/h4-3456-f.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/20020220000000/http://www.nlc-bnc.ca/primeministers/h4-3456-f.html |archive-date=February 20, 2002 |access-date=March 1, 2024 }}</ref>

In [[Quebec City]], Mulroney befriended future Quebec [[Premier of Quebec|Premier]] [[Daniel Johnson Sr.]] and frequented the provincial legislature, making connections with politicians, aides, and journalists. At Laval, Mulroney built a network of friends, including [[Lucien Bouchard]], [[Bernard Roy]], [[Michel Cogger]], [[Michael Meighen]], and [[Jean Bazin]], that would play a prominent role in Canadian politics for years to come.<ref>H. Graham Rawlinson and [[J. L. Granatstein]], ''The Canadian 100: The 100 Most Influential Canadians of the 20th century,'' Toronto: McArthur & Company, 1997, pp. 19–20.</ref>

Mulroney secured a temporary appointment in Ottawa during the summer of 1962 as the executive assistant to [[Alvin Hamilton]], minister of agriculture. Then, a federal election was called. Hamilton took Mulroney with him on the campaign trail, where the young organizer gained valuable experience.<ref>''The Politics of Ambition'', by [[John Sawatsky]], 1991, pp. 129–135</ref>