Howard on Menzies

I suppose the title Howard on Menzies lets you know what you’re in for.

A former Prime Minister turning documentary presenter is not something a broadcaster manages to snag every day, nor is it particularly something I am used to reviewing.

Howard on Menzies is a bit of an oddity. This 2 part ABC documentary by filmmaker Simon Nasht isn’t a straight-up analysis of former Prime Minister Robert Menzies. It’s Menzies as seen through the eyes of a Liberal descendant -indeed one whom many have regarded as subscribing to Menzies-like politics- and second only in terms of length in office.

But it has assembled a formidable roll-call of interview subjects: historians Geoffrey Blainey and Henry Reynolds, economist Bob Gregory, academics Professor Judith Brett and Dr Stephen Mills, PM Malcolm Turnbull and former PM Bob Hawke, journalists Paul Kelly and Greg Sheridan and former politicians Barry Jones and Alexander Downer, plus Rupert Murdoch, Barry Humphries, Clive James and Thomas Keneally.

Archival footage of Menzies and social Australiana are interwoven with contemporary interviews, narration and John Howard visiting locations such as Menzies’ hometown of Jeparit, the National Museum, Parliament House etc.

“I want to set the record straight about the fundamental role that Bob Menzies played in the building of modern Australia,” Howard tells us. Despite Menzies’ 18 years in office, over two terms, there are those who regard his leadership with faint praise.

Howard only met the man once in 1964 but it was clearly a moment that stayed with him. Throughout the doco we hear much about the young Howard growing up in his family. As fate would have it, not only did he become PM but he lost the leadership of his party before gaining office, just as his political hero did. Cue that ‘Lazarus with a triple bypass’ line. Similarly, Malcolm Turnbull empathises with Howard. No such inclusion of Andrew Peacock who also led the Libs twice (in Menzies’ own seat of Kooyong).

The first episode focusses on Menzies’ term as a United Australia Party PM from 1939 – 1941 aligning closely with Winston Churchill in the UK during WWII, but losing the political fight back home. Eventually he would forge the Liberal Party and rebuild his standing during subsequent Opposition, with regular radio broadcasts (I presume on the ABC!) winning back middle Australia. When Labor’s Ben Chifley attempted to nationalise banks, Menzies was surprisingly returned to office in 1949, enjoying a long run of 16 years as PM.

“(Labor) made the same mistake with me. When I was in politics I never dismissed the quality of the person I was against,” Howard tells us.

Howard maintains Menzies contributed much to modern Australia during his second term. Immigration was high, home ownership lifted to 70%, trade expanded. There was an ANZUS Treaty, a war in Korea, and allowing UK nuclear tests in Maralinga. The first episode concludes with Queen Elizabeth’s first visit to Australia in 1954.

It’s a positive that the doco includes occasional criticisms.

Rupert Murdoch says Menzies largely maintained the status quo: “He wasn’t a great advocate for change.”

But Barry Humphries recalls the broadcasting of Parliament opened Australia’s eyes to the rough and ready men in office, but believes the well-spoken Menzies “was different.”

However as a TV presenter Howard makes a good Prime Minister. Most of his links to camera present like flat political statements, reminiscent of his time as PM. I found it unnecessary to hear about Howard’s own parents when this is supposed to be a doco on Menzies, and thus his personality smothers what remains of interest. At least narrator Linda Cropper is there to break it up and add a sense of story and independence.

I haven’t viewed episode 2 but I would hope given its “participant” nature that the experience enlightens Howard to chinks in his own armour and leadership. If one wants to embark on these kinds of docos, you really have to illustrate how the experience throws light on your own shortcomings. Otherwise if there is no change, no lesson-learning, isn’t it all just a bit too narcissistic?

Episode two has set up quite a bit of ground to cover.

Howard on Menzies airs 7:40pm Sunday September 17 & 25 on ABC.