About this record

This is a black-and-white photograph of the Rt Hon. Sir John Gorton, Australia's nineteenth Prime Minister. It shows him talking with troops at Nui Dat, South Vietnam, in June 1968. Gorton was the only Senator ever sworn in as Prime Minister. As with tradition, he resigned as Senator, contested Harold Holt's electorate of Higgins in the by-election and won, achieving 68 per cent of the vote. Gorton had a keen interest in defence matters given his experience as an RAAF pilot.