Frank Forde - After Politics

After Politics

Forde retired to Brisbane where he devoted himself to Catholic charity work. In his living room hung a large portrait of wartime US General Douglas MacArthur. On 11 April 1964, at the request of the Prime Minister Robert Menzies, Forde represented Australia at MacArthur’s funeral in Arlington, Virginia.

He died in 1983. His funeral was held on 3 February, the same day that Bob Hawke was elected ALP leader. Indeed, it was at Forde's funeral that Senator John Button told then Labor leader Bill Hayden that he must step aside in favour of Hawke, which he did.

The shortest-serving prime minister in Australian history – his term of office lasted only eight days – Forde was previously the longest-lived Australian prime minister (living 700192000000000000092 years, 7002194000000000000194 days), until he was surpassed by Gough Whitlam on 21 January 2009. He was the only deputy Labor leader who served under three leaders (Scullin, Curtin and Chifley) until Jenny Macklin (Crean, Latham and Beazley, 2001–06). The electoral Division of Forde and the Canberra suburb of Forde are named after him.