Sir John A. Macdonald and Abraham Lincoln might have borne the same cross in their married lives: wives whose conditions would make any man hurry of to his workplace early and remain there as late as humanly possible.

President Lincoln had Mary Todd, who according to at least one rare published report made it nigh impossible for him to enjoy a breakfast. And Sir John A., Canada's first prime minister, had Isabella Clarke - but he also had a battle-axe sister Louisa who ruled the roost.

At Dufferin County Museum Sunday, Ken Weber held an audience of about 80 spellbound with his tales of women in the top echelons of Canadian politics. His talk was mostly of prime-ministerial wives, and had been billed as Stand By Your Man (More or Less).

Isabella Macdonald might not have been Sir John A.'s choice of wives but she was a Scottish cousin who had pursued him (don't all women?) and who suffered from severe menstrual cramps.

She had the cramps when at home, but never while visiting relatives elsewhere. The prescribed remedy of "weak tea, turpentine and acid" was of no help. By a photo that left no doubt in the minds of spectators, Mr. Weber conveyed the message that the overbearing Louisa was likely the source of the at-home cramps.

Moving closer to the present, Maureen McTeer might have been somewhat difficult as the wife of short-time prime minister Joe Clark but she was unfairly treated by the media for retaining her own surname although married.

Her decision, said Mr. Weber, had nothing to do with feminism. She was the only child of an Ottawa Valley dairy farmer, and had retained the name in her father's memory and honour.

Ms. McTeer was highly educated with degrees in law and biotechnology, and can still be found on the speaking circuit. She can speak to the masses, but Mr. Clark seemingly had problems doing so. On one occasion, said Mr. Weber, he asked a foreign farmer the "totality of his acreage" rather than simply how big was his farm.

Mr. Weber worked with and was good friends with the Pearson family. Before becoming prime minister, Lester Pearson was a civil servant and diplomat. His wife, Marion, was "not confident with politics" but enjoyed faculty gatherings and such events.

From photos, she always wore sunglasses and always appeared annoyed or at least appalled when people approached the prime minister.

Mr. Weber quoted someone as saying that, "behind every successful man is a surprised woman." He quoted Prime Minister Pearson: "Married men should forget mistakes. No point in two people remembering them."

Margaret and Pierre Trudeau were "not a match made in Heaven." While he read philosophy, she read magazines. While the prime minister spoke to an international meeting, she danced disco at Studio 54.

On the other hand, Mr. Trudeau was not the easiest person to get along with. "He must have been difficult to be married to." Among his idiosyncrasies, the wealthy prime minister never carried money as he didn't want to pay for any- thing. And Margaret was not all bad. He said she was active in bipolar research, and brought water to Third World countries.

Mila Mulroney was arguably the best liked of Canadian prime-ministerial wives among leaders. She is credited with engineering the most legislation for women in history during prime minister Brian Mulroney's leadership.

Mr. Weber described prime minister Jean Chrétien as "the only prime minister who could speak neither official language (well)" and as a person who "never forgets and never forgives."

He was "crabby and difficult," but adores his wife Aline, who was the only person who could influence him.

The most difficult woman at 24 Sussex might have been Avril Phaedra (Kim) Campbell, who became the first and only female prime minister but who all but demolished the federal Tories.

Mr. Weber, a popular writer and historian, will be back at the museum on May 24 with more fascinating and little-known tales from Canada's mysterious past.