What Margaret said: the true story behind Gough Whitlam's dismissal

By Linda Morris
Updated October 30 2014 - 10:09am, first published October 22 2014 - 2:07pm
Together: Gough Whitlam celebrating with his wife Margaret in December 1972.
Together: Gough Whitlam celebrating with his wife Margaret in December 1972.
Margaret and Gough Whitlam celebrate the Labor victory in the 1972 Federal election.
Margaret and Gough Whitlam celebrate the Labor victory in the 1972 Federal election.
Margaret Whitlam and Germaine Greer at The Lodge in Canberra on 18 December 1972
Margaret Whitlam and Germaine Greer at The Lodge in Canberra on 18 December 1972
Gough and Margaret Whitlam
Gough and Margaret Whitlam
Margaret and Gough Whitlam celebrate the Labor victory in the 1972 Federal election.
Margaret and Gough Whitlam celebrate the Labor victory in the 1972 Federal election.
Margaret Whitlam and Germaine Greer at The Lodge in Canberra on 18 December 1972
Margaret Whitlam and Germaine Greer at The Lodge in Canberra on 18 December 1972
Gough and Margaret Whitlam
Gough and Margaret Whitlam
Margaret and Gough Whitlam celebrate the Labor victory in the 1972 Federal election.
Margaret and Gough Whitlam celebrate the Labor victory in the 1972 Federal election.
Margaret Whitlam and Germaine Greer at The Lodge in Canberra on 18 December 1972
Margaret Whitlam and Germaine Greer at The Lodge in Canberra on 18 December 1972
Gough and Margaret Whitlam
Gough and Margaret Whitlam
Margaret and Gough Whitlam celebrate the Labor victory in the 1972 Federal election.
Margaret and Gough Whitlam celebrate the Labor victory in the 1972 Federal election.
Margaret Whitlam and Germaine Greer at The Lodge in Canberra on 18 December 1972
Margaret Whitlam and Germaine Greer at The Lodge in Canberra on 18 December 1972
Gough and Margaret Whitlam
Gough and Margaret Whitlam

When Gough Whitlam told his wife his government had been sacked by the Queen's man, Sir John Kerr, Margaret had asked him why he hadn't thought to tear up the letter of dismissal. It was a legal letter, he said. There was no choice but to accept it.

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