Tosspot to Bodgie: Seven Prime Ministerial nicknames

Affable Alfred

The nickname ‘Affable Alfred’ was frequently applied to the second prime minister, Alfred Deakin, either by friends or the press. It came from his acknowledged good-natured and courteous nature. Sometimes, opponents would use the name sarcastically, implying Deakin was anything but. However, almost every biography and description of Deakin suggests he more than lived up to his nickname. 

The Little Digger

William Morris Hughes (Bill to his friends, ‘Billy’ to the general public) was known as the ‘Little Digger’, a nickname stemming from his popularity with Australian soldiers during the First World War. That popularity transferred to the public, and the nickname along with it. ‘Digger’, of course, referred to an Australian soldier and ‘Little’ because Hughes was short in stature. Hughes’ wartime leadership came to define his persona for the rest of his life; right up until his death he attended Anzac Day parades in Sydney, and after he died a slouch hat was placed on the chair he usually sat on to honour Australia’s ‘Little Digger’.

Pig Iron Bob and Ming the Merciless

Robert Menzies had many nicknames, but the two that live on in popular memory are ‘Pig Iron Bob’ and ‘Ming’.

The first comes from a 1938 Lyons government decision to sell scrap iron, or ‘pig iron’, to Japan. At the time, Japan was seen as a potential military threat, and dockworkers refused to load the iron on grounds it could be made into weaponry and used to attack Australia. A lockout and strike dragged on for weeks, and the epithet ‘Pig Iron Bob’ was levelled at Menzies for his role in the dispute as Attorney-General. This might have been a little unfair, since Menzies was doing as he was asked, and Cabinet had fully backed the sale. But the name stuck with Menzies for the rest of his life.

The second nickname, ‘Ming’, derives from the Scottish pronunciation of Menzies; ‘Ming-is’. The Clan Menzies is a prominent Scottish family, and Menzies preferred (in vain) that pronunciation of his name. Shortened to Ming, the name also echoed a popular science-fiction villain, ‘Ming the Merciless’, from the Flash Gordon comic books and later films serials.

Black Jack

A type of weapon as well as a card game, the name ‘Blackjack’ or, rather, ‘Black Jack’ was a reference to John McEwen’s dour, brooding and sombre personality. The ‘blackness’ of McEwen was highlighted by his propensity for dark suits and ties. The name was coined by Robert Menzies, who appeared to delight in it. He sometimes referred to McEwen in French as ‘Le Noir’, once joking that he only did so when he didn’t want other Country Party politicians to understand who he meant.

The Silver Bodgie

A bodgie was a 1950s teenager who dressed like an American ‘greaser’ from popular films (James Dean being one such style icon). Boys were bodgies, girls were widgies. It was a subculture based in part on emulating the American soldiers recently stationed in Australia – some even spoke with American accents. One characteristic was particularly impressive, coiffured hair. After Hawke achieved national fame, first as President of the ACTU then as prime minister, he still styled his greying hair in this way. Hence, he became the ‘Silver Bodgie’ to the national media.