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The 1968 Liberal Party of Australia leadership election was primarily precipitated by the disappearance and presumed drowning of Prime Minister Harold Holt.
Answer: True
Explanation: Harold Holt disappeared while swimming at Cheviot Beach on December 17, 1967, and was officially declared dead on December 19, 1967, necessitating a leadership election.
Prime Minister Harold Holt disappeared while swimming at Bondi Beach on December 17, 1967.
Answer: False
Explanation: Harold Holt disappeared while swimming at Cheviot Beach, Victoria, not Bondi Beach.
The election was held on January 9, 1968, to fill the vacancy left by Harold Holt's death.
Answer: True
Explanation: The leadership election took place on January 9, 1968, to address the vacancy created by Harold Holt's death.
What was the primary reason Harold Holt's disappearance triggered a leadership election?
Answer: He was officially declared dead.
Explanation: Harold Holt's official declaration of death following his disappearance necessitated the election of a new party leader.
What event directly led to the 1968 Liberal Party of Australia leadership election?
Answer: The disappearance and presumed drowning of Prime Minister Harold Holt.
Explanation: The disappearance and presumed drowning of Prime Minister Harold Holt directly precipitated the 1968 Liberal Party leadership election.
Where did Harold Holt disappear while swimming?
Answer: Cheviot Beach, Victoria
Explanation: Harold Holt disappeared while swimming at Cheviot Beach, Victoria.
William McMahon was the expected successor to Harold Holt as Liberal Party leader because he was the incumbent Deputy Leader.
Answer: True
Explanation: William McMahon, as the incumbent Deputy Leader, was widely considered the presumptive successor to Harold Holt.
John McEwen, the interim Prime Minister, prevented William McMahon from becoming leader by stating his Country Party would not join a coalition led by McMahon.
Answer: True
Explanation: John McEwen, as interim Prime Minister, declared that his Country Party would not participate in a coalition government headed by William McMahon, thereby preventing McMahon's ascension.
John McEwen declined the Liberal leadership because he did not want to defect from the Country Party and seek election as the Liberal leader.
Answer: True
Explanation: John McEwen declined the opportunity to become the permanent Liberal leader as it would have required him to defect from the Country Party and seek election as the Liberal leader, a prospect he had not considered.
John Gorton held the position of Minister for External Affairs at the time of the 1968 leadership election.
Answer: False
Explanation: At the time of the election, John Gorton held the positions of Minister for Education and Science and Leader of the Government in the Senate.
Paul Hasluck represented the Division of Wentworth in the Parliament of Australia.
Answer: False
Explanation: Paul Hasluck represented the Division of Curtin in Western Australia.
Les Bury was the Minister for Immigration when he contested the 1968 leadership election.
Answer: False
Explanation: Les Bury contested the 1968 leadership election while serving as the Minister for Labour and National Service.
Billy Snedden represented the Division of Bruce in Victoria.
Answer: True
Explanation: Billy Snedden represented the Division of Bruce in Victoria.
What was the primary reason cited for John McEwen's refusal to serve in a government led by William McMahon?
Answer: McEwen's threat to break the coalition if McMahon became PM.
Explanation: John McEwen threatened to break the coalition if William McMahon became Prime Minister, thus preventing McMahon's leadership bid.
Who was the leader of the Liberal Party immediately before the 1968 leadership election?
Answer: Harold Holt
Explanation: Harold Holt held the position of Liberal Party leader immediately prior to the 1968 leadership election.
Why was William McMahon unable to secure the leadership position after Harold Holt's disappearance?
Answer: The Country Party, led by John McEwen, refused to serve in a government led by him.
Explanation: William McMahon's leadership bid was unsuccessful because the Country Party, under John McEwen, indicated they would not join a coalition government led by him.
What was the primary reason John McEwen did not become the permanent Liberal Party leader?
Answer: He preferred to remain leader of the Country Party.
Explanation: John McEwen declined the permanent leadership as it would have required him to defect from the Country Party, an action he did not wish to undertake.
Which of the following was NOT one of the four main candidates in the 1968 Liberal Party leadership election?
Answer: William McMahon
Explanation: The four main candidates were John Gorton, Paul Hasluck, Les Bury, and Billy Snedden. William McMahon declined to run.
What ministerial role did John Gorton hold at the time of the election?
Answer: Minister for Education and Science
Explanation: At the time of the election, John Gorton served as the Minister for Education and Science and Leader of the Government in the Senate.
Which electorate did Paul Hasluck represent in Parliament?
Answer: Curtin
Explanation: Paul Hasluck represented the Division of Curtin in Western Australia.
What position did Les Bury hold immediately prior to the leadership election?
Answer: Minister for Labour and National Service
Explanation: Prior to the leadership election, Les Bury occupied the office of Minister for Labour and National Service.
Which of the following figures declined to run for leadership and was the Minister for Defence?
Answer: Allen Fairhall
Explanation: Allen Fairhall, the Minister for Defence, was among the prominent figures who declined to contest the leadership.
The 1968 Liberal Party leadership election featured five main candidates vying for the leadership.
Answer: False
Explanation: The principal contenders in the 1968 Liberal Party leadership election were four main candidates: Les Bury, John Gorton, Paul Hasluck, and Billy Snedden.
In the first ballot of the election, Paul Hasluck received more votes than John Gorton.
Answer: False
Explanation: In the first ballot of the 1968 Liberal Party leadership election, John Gorton received 35 votes, while Paul Hasluck received 24 votes.
Billy Snedden was eliminated after the first ballot for receiving the highest number of votes among the candidates.
Answer: False
Explanation: Billy Snedden was eliminated after the first ballot having received the fewest votes (6), not the highest.
John Gorton won the leadership election on the second ballot, securing 51 votes against Paul Hasluck's 30 votes.
Answer: True
Explanation: John Gorton secured victory in the second ballot of the 1968 Liberal Party leadership election with 51 votes, compared to Paul Hasluck's 30 votes.
Paul Hasluck received 37.0% of the vote on the second ballot.
Answer: True
Explanation: Paul Hasluck received 37.0% of the vote on the second ballot.
Les Bury and Billy Snedden were eliminated after the second ballot for not receiving enough votes.
Answer: False
Explanation: Les Bury and Billy Snedden were eliminated after the first ballot, not the second.
The total number of votes cast on the second ballot was 81, with John Gorton receiving 51 votes.
Answer: True
Explanation: The second ballot recorded a total of 81 votes, with John Gorton securing 51 votes.
On what date did the 1968 Liberal Party of Australia leadership election occur?
Answer: January 9, 1968
Explanation: The 1968 Liberal Party of Australia leadership election took place on January 9, 1968.
In the first ballot of the leadership election, how many votes did John Gorton receive?
Answer: 35
Explanation: John Gorton received 35 votes in the first ballot, representing 43.2% of the total votes cast.
Who ultimately won the 1968 Liberal Party leadership election?
Answer: John Gorton
Explanation: John Gorton emerged victorious in the 1968 Liberal Party leadership election.
What percentage of the vote did Paul Hasluck receive on the second ballot?
Answer: 37.0%
Explanation: Paul Hasluck received 37.0% of the vote on the second ballot.
What was the outcome for Les Bury and Billy Snedden after the first ballot?
Answer: Both were eliminated from the contest.
Explanation: Les Bury and Billy Snedden were eliminated after the first ballot, having failed to secure sufficient votes to advance.
John Gorton was sworn in as Prime Minister on January 9, 1968, the same day he won the leadership election.
Answer: False
Explanation: John Gorton was sworn in as Prime Minister on January 10, 1968, the day after winning the leadership election on January 9, 1968.
John Gorton is unique among Australian Prime Ministers for having previously served as a Senator.
Answer: True
Explanation: John Gorton possesses the unique distinction of being the sole Australian Prime Minister who previously served as a Senator.
William McMahon retained his position as Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party after the 1968 election.
Answer: True
Explanation: Subsequent to the leadership election, William McMahon was re-elected unopposed to the position of deputy Liberal leader.
John Gorton contested and won a by-election for the seat of Higgins after becoming Prime Minister.
Answer: True
Explanation: Following his assumption of the Prime Ministership, John Gorton successfully contested and won the vacant seat of Higgins, previously held by Harold Holt, in a by-election.
Paul Hasluck was appointed Governor-General of Australia in 1968, shortly after the leadership election.
Answer: False
Explanation: Paul Hasluck was appointed Governor-General of Australia in 1969, not 1968.
Billy Snedden eventually became the leader of the Liberal Party in 1968, immediately following John Gorton's election.
Answer: False
Explanation: Billy Snedden ultimately ascended to the leadership of the Liberal Party in December 1972, not in 1968.
Les Bury later served as the Treasurer of Australia under Prime Minister John Gorton.
Answer: True
Explanation: Les Bury subsequently held the significant governmental portfolio of Treasurer of Australia, serving under Prime Ministers John Gorton and William McMahon.
The caption for the image of John Gorton's swearing-in stated that he was being sworn in as Governor-General.
Answer: False
Explanation: The caption accompanying the image of John Gorton's swearing-in identifies the event as his induction as Prime Minister.
John Gorton's government is referred to as the "Gorton Government" in the "See also" section.
Answer: True
Explanation: The "See also" section refers to the government formed by John Gorton as the "Gorton Government."
When was John Gorton sworn in as Prime Minister?
Answer: January 10, 1968
Explanation: John Gorton assumed the office of Prime Minister on January 10, 1968.
What unique distinction does John Gorton hold regarding his path to the Prime Ministership?
Answer: He is the only Prime Minister who was previously a Senator.
Explanation: John Gorton holds the unique distinction of being the sole Australian Prime Minister who previously served as a Senator.
What happened to William McMahon's role as Deputy Leader after the election?
Answer: He was re-elected unopposed.
Explanation: Following the leadership election, William McMahon was re-elected unopposed to the position of deputy Liberal leader.
Which seat did John Gorton contest and win in a by-election after becoming Prime Minister?
Answer: The Division of Higgins
Explanation: After becoming Prime Minister, John Gorton successfully contested and won the vacant seat of Higgins in a by-election.
In what year was Paul Hasluck nominated and accepted the position of Governor-General of Australia?
Answer: 1969
Explanation: Paul Hasluck accepted the appointment as Governor-General of Australia in 1969.
When did Billy Snedden eventually become the leader of the Liberal Party?
Answer: 1972
Explanation: Billy Snedden ultimately ascended to the leadership of the Liberal Party in December 1972.
What significant government role did Les Bury later hold?
Answer: Treasurer of Australia
Explanation: Les Bury subsequently held the significant governmental portfolio of Treasurer of Australia.
What does the caption for the image of John Gorton's swearing-in state?
Answer: John Gorton being sworn in as Prime Minister on January 10, 1968.
Explanation: The caption accompanying the image of John Gorton's swearing-in identifies the event as his induction as Prime Minister on January 10, 1968.
What is the title of the government formed by John Gorton, as mentioned in the "See also" section?
Answer: The Gorton Government
Explanation: The "See also" section designates the government established by John Gorton as the "Gorton Government."
According to the Liberal Party navbox, Malcolm Fraser served as a leader before John Gorton.
Answer: False
Explanation: According to the Liberal Party navbox, Malcolm Fraser served as a leader *after* John Gorton and William McMahon.
John Howard is listed in the Liberal Party navbox as a leader who never held the position of Deputy Leader.
Answer: False
Explanation: John Howard is listed in the Liberal Party navbox as a leader who previously held the position of Deputy Leader.
The Liberal Party navbox details the leadership of Robert Menzies as the "Menzies government (1949–1966)".
Answer: True
Explanation: The Liberal Party navbox details the leadership of Robert Menzies as the "Menzies government (1949–1966)".
The "See also" section suggests looking at the 1945 Australian Labor Party leadership election as a related event.
Answer: True
Explanation: The "See also" section references other leadership ballots held after the death of a prime minister, including the 1945 Australian Labor Party leadership election.
The leadership election that preceded the 1968 contest was held in 1970.
Answer: False
Explanation: The leadership election that preceded the 1968 contest was held in 1966.
The contest in February 2015, mentioned in the navbox, was a formal election for a new leader.
Answer: False
Explanation: The contest in February 2015, mentioned in the navbox, was a leadership spill motion, not a formal election for a new leader.
The Liberal Party held the position of the junior partner in the Coalition government at the time of the election.
Answer: False
Explanation: At the time of the election, the Liberal Party was the party of government, not the junior partner in the Coalition.
Who is listed in the Liberal Party navbox as a Deputy Leader who later became leader?
Answer: John Howard
Explanation: John Howard is listed in the Liberal Party navbox as a Deputy Leader who subsequently became the party leader.
What does the caption for the photo of the Liberal Party Room describe?
Answer: The venue where the leadership election took place.
Explanation: The caption for the photograph of the Liberal Party Room describes it as the setting where the election took place.
According to the Liberal Party navbox, who was a notable leader serving *after* John Gorton and William McMahon?
Answer: Malcolm Fraser
Explanation: According to the Liberal Party navbox, Malcolm Fraser is listed as a notable leader who served after John Gorton and William McMahon.
What was the Liberal Party's status in the Australian Parliament at the time of the election?
Answer: The party of government
Explanation: At the time of the election, the Liberal Party held the position of the party of government in the Parliament of Australia.
What does the navbox indicate about the leadership contest following the 1968 election?
Answer: It took place in 1969.
Explanation: The navbox indicates that the leadership contest following the 1968 election took place in 1969.