Times may be grim and getting grimmer for the Liberal and National parties, but things could be worse. The Coalition, for example, could be living in 1967.

Following the drowning of then-prime minister Harold Holt, John McEwen – the then-Country (as the Nationals were then known) party leader and deputy prime minister – vetoed deputy Liberal leader Bill McMahon from becoming leader of the party and country. “Black Jack”, who represented Victoria’s manufacturing and farming interests, had reasons to dislike and distrust the Sydney solicitor, who toed Treasury’s free trade line.