John Howard

Next is my list of autographs is John Howard.

Best known for being the 25th Prime Minister of Australia, John Howard joined the Liberal Party in 1957.  In 1974 he won the seat of Bennelong (NSW) for the party, as was appointed Minister for Business and Consumer Affairs by Malcolm Fraser in 1975.

John Howard served as Federal Treasurer from 1977 until Malcolm Fraser lost the 1983 election to Bob Hawke.  Upon Malcolm Fraser's resignation from politics, John Howard contested the leadership of the Liberal Party but lost to Andrew Peacock.  Accepting the role of Deputy Leader of the Opposition, John Howard remained determined to obtain the top job.

When Andrew Peacock tried to have him replaced by John Moore as Deputy Leader, the Liberal Party re-elected John Howard to the role 38 votes to 31.  Andrew Peacock subsequently resigned, and John Howard was elected Leader of the Opposition, defeating John Carlton 57 votes to 6.

John Howard pushed for economic reform and a slowing of Australian's reliance on multiculturalism.  However with infighting amongst the Howard and Peacock supporters in the Liberal Party, the Bob Hawke-led Labor Government continued to dominate in the polls.

In 1989, Andrew Peacock regained his position as leader of the Liberal Party, bouyed by support by then Carlton Football Club President John Elliott.  When Andrew Peacock lost the 1990 Federal Election to Bob Hawke, he was replaced as leader by Dr John Hewson.  Dr Hewson was unsuccessful in introducing the GST and therefore lost the 1993 Federal Election to Paul Keating.  Alexander Downer became leader of the Liberals in 1994, but after he resigned the position, John Howard was re-elected leader (unopposed) on 26 January 1996.

Recanting his views on immigration, John Howard lead the Liberal Party to power with a 45 seat majority over the Paul Keating-led Labor Party, and was sworn in as Prime Minister of Australia on 11 March 1996.

John Howard subsequently moved to introduce spending cuts aimed at reducing the country's budget deficit, and introduce the GST.

 In the 1998 Federal Election, John Howard defeated the Kim Beazley-led Labor Party.  Dealing with issues such as the proposition of Australia becoming a Republic, illegal immigrants coming into the country, and the reconciliation with Aboriginies, John Howard remained stead-fast in his beliefs.

Once again defeating Kim Beazley in the 2001 Federal Election, John Howard dealt with Australia's response to the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the US, by pledging assistance from the Australian Armed Forces.  The 2002 Bali bombing also dominated his time and re-iterated his earlier stance on the War on Terror.

In the 2004 Federal Election, John Howard defeated the Mark Latham-led Labour Party, despite not commiting to remaining as Leader for the full term.

Leadership speculation remained in the headlines, with then Deputy Leader Peter Costello seen as his successor.

John Howard lost the 2007 Federal Election (and his own seat of Bennelong) to the Kevin Rudd-led Labour Party, who used social media (rather than the traditional Political media) to gain popularity.  John Howard remained as caretaker Prime Minister until Kevin Rudd's formal swearing-in on 3 December 2007.

Since the 2007 election loss, John Howard has largely remained out of the headlines, except for the occassional dental appointment mis-hap, and being the target of protesting shoe-throwers.

Now, onto the autograph!  After John Howard's victory over Mark Latham, I wrote to him c/o the Prime Ministers Office (bear in mind I did NOT include a stamped, self-addressed envelope).  Shortly after I received this in the mail:

Brilliant!