Category: Australia

Mrs Gorton stands by her man Canberra, Wednesday, 19 March 1969 – In popular mythology the Ides of March is associated with hellish forebodings. It is dated from March, 44BC, when Julius Caesar was assassinated by fellow senators marking a turning point in Roman history. Shakespeare cemented irrational fears about the calendar month by writing…

Midnight dancing at the US Embassy Canberra, Thursday, 1 November 1968 – Prime Minister John Gorton was just emerging from the tabloid scandal involving cabaret artist Liza Minnelli at Chequers nightclub in Sydney when he was hit by fresh claims about his misbehaviour with a teenage female from Canberra’s National Press Gallery. The story unfolded…

My part in John Gorton’s downfall London, Saturday, 22 March 1969. The sheer excitement of having a story on the front page is the dream of all reporters, and don’t let them tell you otherwise. I hung around after I had finished my shift on London’s Sunday Times to grab a copy of the first…

Rupert Murdoch storms Fleet Street with help of old schoolmate John Gorton London, Monday, 4 December 1968 – Rupert Murdoch was the enfant terrible of media owners when he arrived at London’s Heathrow Airport three weeks before Christmas. Cashed up and burning with ambition, Murdoch was on the acquisition trail. He wanted to achieve what…

John Gorton goes dancing again at Sydney Town Hall SYDNEY, Saturday, 13 July 1968 – Four days after his perilous escapade at Sydney Chequers restaurant with cabaret star Liza Minnelli, Prime Minister John Gorton was on the dance floor for a very different event at Sydney Town Hall. He was a surprise attendee at the…

Chequers scandal threatens to end John Gorton’s prime ministership SYDNEY, Tuesday, 2 July 1968 – When Prime Minister John Gorton arrived at Chequers nightclub he had been drinking – on and off – for most of his day in Sydney. After the formal Cabinet meeting which he chaired, Gorton joined Liberal Party grandees from the NSW…