Frank Yuan, ‘Haunted with the statues of mediocrities’ Menzies’s views on America

Robert Menzies’s relationship with the United States was complex. While he respected their vital role as Australia’s ‘great and powerful friend’ and protector, and grew to appreciate their shared values, he was acutely aware that they were different to Britain and his first visit to America provoked quite hostile views. Menzies knew that with great power comes great responsibility, and he had some skepticism about whether the United States could live up to its role of global leader as the British Commonwealth receded. Nevertheless, by the time he retired in 1966 his views had warmed such that he decided to spend a twilight year lecturing at the University of Virginia.

In this week’s episode of the Afternoon Light podcast, Robert Menzies Institute CEO Georgina Downer talks to Frank Yuan, PhD candidate at the University of Sydney, about how Menzies viewed the United States.

Frank Yuan is a history PhD candidate at the University of Sydney, where he is currently researching Australia-China relations since 1949 under the supervision of Professor James Curran. He has written articles for the Lowy Institute, and his honours thesis was titled ‘Heir to the Empire: Robert Menzies and The United States of America’.