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Features Australia

Gorton vs McMahon: the secret memo

The bitter rivary between two Prime Ministers exposed - over penning stories in the press and cabinet solidarity

30 August 2014

9:00 AM

30 August 2014

9:00 AM

Former Prime Minister John Grey Gorton walked into the office of his successor, Billy McMahon, on the afternoon of 12 August 1971. Both men knew that a showdown between them had been looming for some time.

A secret note made by McMahon detailing his conversation with Gorton has been discovered in McMahon’s extensive personal papers kept in the National Library of Australia.

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