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== Personal ==

== Personal ==

The son of barrister and lecturer Leo Blair and his wife Hazel, Tony Blair was born in [[Edinburgh]], but spent most of his childhood in Durham. Blair has an older brother, Sir William, and a younger sister, Sarah. At the age of 14 he returned to Edinburgh to finish his education at Fettes College. Blair was known as a cheeky, rebellious, and argumentative schoolboy, and at 17 he was threatened with expulsion for persistently breaking school rules.<ref name="bbc">[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/6506365.stm The Tony Blair Story] BBC News 10 May 2007</ref>. After leaving Fettes with three A levels he studied law at [[Oxford University]], and went on to become a barrister (Lincoln's Inn) himself, before entering politics. Blair married his wife, [[Liverpool]]-born Cherie Booth QC, a barrister and daughter of the actor Tony Booth, in 1980, and they have four children.

The son of barrister and lecturer Leo Blair and his wife Hazel, Tony Blair was born in [[Edinburgh]], but spent most of his childhood in Durham. Blair has an older brother, Sir William, and a younger sister, Sarah. At the age of 14 he returned to Edinburgh to finish his education at Fettes College. Blair was known as a cheeky, rebellious, and argumentative schoolboy, and at 17 he was threatened with expulsion for persistently breaking school rules.<ref name="bbc">[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/6506365.stm The Tony Blair Story] BBC News 10 May 2007</ref> After leaving Fettes with three A levels he studied law at [[Oxford University]], and went on to become a barrister (Lincoln's Inn) himself, before entering politics. Blair married his wife, [[Liverpool]]-born Cherie Booth QC, a barrister and daughter of the actor Tony Booth, in 1980, and they have four children.

Blair is a competent guitar player and at university was a member of a rock band called Ugly Rumours. His favourite music includes [[The Beatles]], [[The Rolling Stones]], [[Led Zeppelin]], Free, [[Bruce Springsteen]], [[U2]], Coldplay, The Foo Fighters, and Simply Red.<ref name="bbc" />

Blair is a competent guitar player and at university was a member of a rock band called Ugly Rumours. His favourite music includes [[The Beatles]], [[The Rolling Stones]], [[Led Zeppelin]], Free, [[Bruce Springsteen]], [[U2]], Coldplay, The Foo Fighters, and Simply Red.<ref name="bbc" />

==Blair and the media==

==Blair and the media==

In the 1990s in particular, Blair was seen as a charismatic leader, with formidable media performing skills. His most famous television appearance was his tribute to [[Diana, Princess of Wales]] on the morning after her death in August 1997, in which he described her as "<i>the People's Princess</i>" and "<i>the Queen of Hearts</i>". Blair acquired a reputation for excessive news management, and even for dishonesty, particularly after the Iraq War.

In the 1990s in particular, Blair was seen as a charismatic leader, with formidable media performing skills. His most famous television appearance was his tribute to [[Diana, Princess of Wales]] on the morning after her death in August 1997, in which he described her as "''the People's Princess''" and "''the Queen of Hearts''". Blair acquired a reputation for excessive news management, and even for dishonesty, particularly after the Iraq War.

Blair was criticized by more liberal opponents for his close association with conservative News Corp. owner [[Rupert Murdoch]], and the positive press they believed he received in return.

Blair was criticized by more liberal opponents for his close association with conservative News Corp. owner [[Rupert Murdoch]], and the positive press they believed he received in return.

He is also the only Prime Minister to provide his own voice in an episode of ''[[The Simpsons]]'', in the episode "<i>The Regina Monologues</i>".

He is also the only Prime Minister to provide his own voice in an episode of ''[[The Simpsons]]'', in the episode "''The Regina Monologues''".

== Presidential Medal of Freedom ==

== Presidential Medal of Freedom ==

:Tony Blair has been a powerful force for freedom and for building understanding among nations. As Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, he was instrumental in helping millions of people secure their freedom in Afghanistan, Iraq, Kosovo, and Sierra Leone; forging a new era of peace in Northern Ireland; providing humanitarian assistance around the globe, especially in Africa; and strengthening the special relationship between our two nations. Throughout his career, and in his role as Quartet Representative to the Middle East, he has worked to provide people with opportunities to better their lives. The United States honors Tony Blair for his lifelong dedication to building a more just and peaceful world.

:Tony Blair has been a powerful force for freedom and for building understanding among nations. As Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, he was instrumental in helping millions of people secure their freedom in Afghanistan, Iraq, Kosovo, and Sierra Leone; forging a new era of peace in Northern Ireland; providing humanitarian assistance around the globe, especially in Africa; and strengthening the special relationship between our two nations. Throughout his career, and in his role as Quartet Representative to the Middle East, he has worked to provide people with opportunities to better their lives. The United States honors Tony Blair for his lifelong dedication to building a more just and peaceful world.

==See Also==

==See also==

* [[British politics]]

* [[British politics]]

* [[Labour Party]]

* [[Labour Party]]

*Abse, Leo.  ''Tony Blair: The Man Behind the Smile.''  (2001); nasty attack from the Old Left.

*Abse, Leo.  ''Tony Blair: The Man Behind the Smile.''  (2001); nasty attack from the Old Left.

*Beckett F, Hencke D. ''The Survivor: Tony Blair in Peace and War .'' (2006) prize winning book by investigative journalists

*Beckett F, Hencke D. ''The Survivor: Tony Blair in Peace and War .'' (2006) prize winning book by investigative journalists

*Naughtie, James.  ''The Accidental American: Tony Blair and the Presidency.''  (2001); [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A21050-2004Sep14.html Interview in ''The Washington Post.'']]

*Naughtie, James.  ''The Accidental American: Tony Blair and the Presidency.''  (2001); [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A21050-2004Sep14.html Interview in ''The Washington Post.'']

*Riddell, Peter. ''The Unfulfilled Prime Minister: Tony Blair and the End of Optimism.'' (2004)  

*Riddell, Peter. ''The Unfulfilled Prime Minister: Tony Blair and the End of Optimism.'' (2004)  

*Seldon, Anthony. ''Blair.''  (2004) [http://www.cerium.ca/article944.html#ouverture "Tony Blair in History"]

*Seldon, Anthony. ''Blair.''  (2004) [http://www.cerium.ca/article944.html#ouverture "Tony Blair in History"]

[[Category:British People]]

[[Category:British People]]

[[Category:English People]]

[[Category:English People]]

[[Category:Former Heads of government]]

[[Category:Former Heads of Government]]