Why Is Harold Holt Important

Harold Edward Holt, (5 August 1908 – 17 December 1967), was an Australian politician who served as the 17th Prime Minister of Australia, in office from 1966 until his presumed drowning death. Harold Holt spent 32 years in Parliament, including many years as a senior Cabinet Minister, but was Prime Minister for only 22 months. Harold also was born in Sydney, but lived in Melbourne from a young age. He was also the first prime minister born in the 20th century.Harold was the eldest child to Thomas and Olive Holt whom were both school teachers. Harold’s parents divorced when he was ten years of age. Harold had a younger brother Clifford. Harold married Zara Bate at age 38 and had three children, named Sam, Andrew and Nicholas.
Harold completed his education at Wesley College, excelling more as a sportsman and in theatricals than as a student, although the scholarship he took to Queen's College, University of Melbourne placed half the weighting on academic attainment and the other half on force of character and athleticism. The undergraduate continued his sporting career, captaining the college in cricket and representing it in football and tennis. He won a college medal for oratory (1930) and was

For a majority of his time in Parliament he served on the government front benches. Holt held the senior portfolios of Immigration and of Labour and National Service in the 1950s, and became Treasurer in 1958. Holt became leader of the Liberal Party and Prime Minister after Menzies retired from the position and from Parliament in 1966. The major challenge facing Holt during his time in office was the war in Vietnam and Australia's continued involvement in the conflict. In October of 1966 US Lyndon B. Johnson, then President of the United States, came to Australia at Holt's invitation. In December of that year Holt campaigned at the federal election on the