Quote:
Originally Posted by zraver
John Curtain
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Well done Zraver, though the spelling is Curtin.
Coming to power in late 1941, John Curtin rapidly became the only Prime Minister in Australian history to face an invasion. Worse, he did so with virtually all our military forces half a world away. His mixture of toughness & compassion won him both the love & respect of virtually all Australians.
His leadership through this period was all the more remarkable because he faced serious health issues that claimed his life shortly before the end of WW2. The burden of wartime leadership undoubtedly contributed to his untimely death.
What I like most about the John Curtin story is that it reminds us all not to make simplistic judgements about politicians based on their past or even personality flaws. There is no way that someone like Curtin could become PM in Australia, the US or many other nations nowadays. We are all the poorer for that fact.
Over to you Zraver.