A formidable trio

There were also strong suspicions that Page might not resign on the election of a new UAP leader, but perhaps the most extraordinary action was his failed attempt with Richard Casey (then Treasurer and a likely candidate himself) to persuade Bruce, to return to Australia to contest the Prime ministerial election. And that was not all, the final shocking and public showdown came in Parliament on 20 April1939 when, before relinquishing his commission, Page made a dramatic, bitter and unnecessary personal attack on Menzies with harsh accusations of cowardice and disloyalty, an attack to which Menzies replied with statesmanlike restraint. The speech shocked parliamentarians and did Page more damage than it did Menzies, forcing Page to relinquish his treasured leadership of the Country Party.

These three characters represent three styles of leadership and all were successful party leaders. Prime Ministership is different though and the transition from party leadership is clearly a difficult one.

Joe Lyons, who led the UAP for over 10 years, was clearly a natural leader and his leadership was never challenged.

Page led the Country Party from 1921 until 1939, but when it came to high office, he was clearly unfitted for it.

Menzies was also a natural leader, but could not handle the weight of responsibility thrust upon him, or gain the support of his colleagues when first appointed Prime Minister. Famously he recovered from the humiliation of 1941 to serve an unprecedented and unrepeated Prime Ministerial term of sixteen years.

Has this story any lessons for today? Probably, as we watch in wonder at rapidly unfolding events testing our first female Prime Minister. She seems to have the backbone to withstand the personal attacks on her, but would any of them be as hard to deal with as those of Bob Menzies in his first Prime Ministership?