Power of Speech

A highly original study of prime ministerial rhetoric that exposes the sources of our most powerful leaders' beliefs about Australia. The subjects of this book are five fascinating prime ministers-Gough Whitlam, Malcolm Fraser, Bob Hawke, Paul Keating and John Howard-and how they view Australia. Until the 1960s, our nation believed itself to be British. Then, during a decade of momentous change, this concept of our national identity collapsed.