NAA: M4294, 7 Harold Holt jostled during a November 1966 election rally in Rockdale

Parliament

Holt was committed to his parliamentary duties to the point of 'slavishness', with substantial experience of the requirements of managing parliamentary business gained from a decade as the Leader of the Government in the House of Representatives. The Holt Government's election victory in November 1966 greatly reduced the number of Labor parliamentarians, and Arthur Calwell's retirement brought Gough Whitlam to the leadership. Holt was under pressure, within his party and beyond, to step up and perform well in Parliament by comparison with the new Opposition Leader. The half-Senate election on 26 November 1967 was expected to extend the 1966 election success, instead the government lost control of the Senate. Throughout 1967, Holt faced significant pressure in Parliament over lengthy, unresolved issues including allegations about misuse of Royal Australian Air Force VIP flights, which centred on the extent to which passenger lists for these flights were available.

Party

The 1966 federal election held ten months after Holt became prime minister was dominated by the issue of Australia's commitment to the Vietnam War. The commitment was denounced by the Labor leader Arthur Calwell, establishing Labor as the anti-war party. The Australian public confirmed their support of the action taken by the Holt Government, with the Coalition returning with a majority of 41 seats. Holt now had a very large and ambitious backbench, but did not take the opportunity for significant renewal in Cabinet. Holt did not have the authority of Menzies and was considered by some colleagues to be too loyal and nice. With party mavericks, he appealed to their sense of fair play, rather than taking tougher action against them. Holt experienced a revolt by a number of backbenchers, over what they viewed as the inadequacy of the Spicer Royal Commission into the HMAS Voyager disaster. Holt bowed to the pressure and announced a second royal commission, without consulting his Attorney-General or his Cabinet.

Partnerships

During his visit to the United States in June 1966, Holt formed a close personal relationship with U.S. President Lyndon Johnson. In a speech at the White House, Holt departed from the prepared text and enthusiastically declared that Australia will be ’all the way with LBJ’ in relation to the Vietnam War. The remark created a furore in Australia, where it was variously described as servile, cringe-worthy and trivial. Holt was surprised by the reaction to the comment and stated that it ‘doesn’t mean, certainly, that Australia has any lack of independence of mind…’ On hearing of the criticism, Johnson sent Holt a personal letter of support. In October 1966, in the lead-up to the federal election, Johnson became the first American president to visit Australia. Holt returned again to the United States in June 1967. The disappearance of Holt in December 1967 greatly shocked Johnson, who came to Australia for his memorial service. In an address to the Cabinet, Johnson compared the impact of Holt’s death to the assassination of John F. Kennedy. Tony Eggleton, who was press secretary to both Holt and Gorton, recalls Johnson reflecting on his relationship with Holt, after meeting his successor Gorton, saying ‘Tony. It’s just not the same’.

People

During the 1966 federal election campaign Holt faced some of the most disorderly crowds witnessed in Australian politics. In part this was sparked by the arrest of the first conscientious objector to the Vietnam War, the young teacher William White. At an election rally in Sydney on 24 November 1966, Holt was abused, spat on and punched by members of a crowd that contained up to 1000 anti-Vietnam War demonstrators. Holt was reported in newspapers as saying that ‘the meeting was stimulating, but I must confess the last 20 yards outside were the most rugged I have encountered in 31 years of campaigning.’ He had been hit on the head and shoulder with a placard as he was escorted to his car. The Rockdale demonstration followed an earlier incident on 21 June 1966, where Labor leader Arthur Calwell was shot at while sitting in his car at the end of a rowdy election meeting in Mosman Town Hall. There were now calls for political leaders to have permanent security protection, and Holt called for legislative changes that would curb ‘excesses which stifle democratic processes.’