McLuhan's Winnipeg high-school classmate (Kelvin, 1928) and later president of Western University — the "expert bureaucrat" of McLuhan's circle. Cameron places Williams, with McLuhan and Easterbrook, at the Winnipeg core of the 1953–55 Ford "Explorations" seminar, and as the administration-siding foil to Carpenter.
Across the dialogues
The Winnipeg bureaucrat of McLuhan's circle — Explorations core, and the administration foil to Carpenter
Williams was one of the three Winnipeg men — with McLuhan and Easterbrook — at the core of the 1953–55 Ford "Explorations" seminar.
"he got three Winnipeg boys — Carlton Williams, who becomes president of the university; McLuhan becomes famous; and Easterbrook becomes a well-known follower of the major scholar Harold Innis."
Williams was the administration man to Carpenter's anti-administration — the two detested each other, while McLuhan moved easily between them.
"Carpenter and Williams were kind of opposed in all of these things. Williams would take the side of the administration; Carpenter would be the anti-administration side. So Carpenter and Williams hated each other."
As president of Western, Williams declined McLuhan's request to help Wilson Bryan Key.
"Williams didn't come through for Key on behalf of Marshall."
Connections
One of the three Winnipeg men (with McLuhan and Easterbrook) at the core of the 1953–55 Ford "Explorations" seminar.
The administration man to Carpenter's anti-administration — the two detested each other, with McLuhan navigating between.