What is Harold Holt remembered for?

Answer 1

Harold Holt served as the Prime Minister of Australia from January 1966 to December 1967. Holt is probably best remembered for the manner of his disappearance.

On 17 December 1967, Holt went swimming at Cheviot Beach near Portsea, on the Mornington Peninsula, south of Melbourne, Victoria. After plunging into the notoriously rough surf, Holt disappeared. He was never seen again, and there have been many theories regarding his fate since then. These theories include that he committed suicide, faked his own death in order to run away with his mistress, or that he was a Chinese spy. Despite an extensive search, neither his body nor any trace of his clothes was ever found. He was officially presumed dead on 19 December 1967.

Holt is also remembered for being the one who brought Australia into the Vietnam War. He sought closer ties with the United States, and this led to Australia's involvement in the Vietnam War. Holt seemed to indiscriminately follow US policies, regardless of their relevance to Australians. He was noted for that most unfortunate saying, "All the way with LBJ", referring to American President Lyndon Baines Johnson, and which signalled Australia's involvement in a war which had nothing to do with the country.