Sir Robert Gordon Menzies

Sir Robert Gordon Menzies , 1894-1978, Australian statesman. A barrister, Menzies was elected to the Australian House of Representatives in 1934 and was attorney general (1935-39) in Joseph A. Lyon's government. Upon Lyon's death (1939), Menzies succeeded him as leader of the United Australia party (later the Liberal party) and as prime minister. In 1941 his party lost the election, and he led the opposition in the House from 1943 to 1949, when the Liberal-Country coalition defeated Labour at the polls and Menzies again became prime minister. He retired in 1966, making him the longest continuously serving Australian prime minister. During his terms in office, Menzies pursued a conservative, anti-Communist policy. He unsuccessfully tried (1951) to ban Australia's Communist party, and he dispatched Australian troops to support the U.S. effort in South Vietnam (see Vietnam War .

Menzies, Sir Robert Gordon (1894–1978) Australian statesman, longest-serving prime minister (1939–41, 1949–66). He encouraged British and US commitment to the security of Southeast Asia, and supported the ANZUS Pact and the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO).

http://www.nma.gov.au/primeministers

Menzies, Sir Robert Gordon (1894–1978) Australian Liberal statesman, Prime Minister (1939–41; 1949–66). Australia's longest-serving Prime Minister, he implemented policies resulting in fast industrial growth in the 1950s and gave impetus to the development of Australian universities. Menzies was noted for his anti-Communism, making an abortive attempt to abolish the Australian Communist Party in 1951 and actively supporting the USA in the Vietnam War.