CIA • 1974

(EDWARD) GOUGH WHITLAM

Approved for Release: 2021/04/29 C06589350 (Edward) Gough WHITLAM Prime Mrnister Gough (rhymes with cough) Whitlam became Prime Minister of Aus- tralia in December 1972, when he led the Austra- lian Labor Party (ALP) to its first victory in federal elections in almost a quarter of a century. He has been parliamentary leader of the party since 1967. Whitlam served concur- rently as Foreign Affairs Minister until November 1973, when he relin- quished the portfolio to Senator Donald Willesee In May 1974 Parliamentary opposition forced Whitlam to dissolve both Houses of Parliament and call for general elections, in which the ALP won by an extremely narrow margin...