Menzies had previously been  Prime Minister, as leader of the United Australia Party from 1939-1941. From 1942 onward, Menzies had maintained his public profile with his series of "Forgotten People" radio talks, similar to Franklin Roosevelt's "fireside chats" of the 1930s, in which he spoke of the middle class as the "backbone of Australia" but as nevertheless having been "taken for granted" by political parties and of being effectively powerless because of lack of wealth on the one hand, and lack of organisation on the other.
Menzies had previously been Prime Minister, serving as leader of the United Australia Party from 1939-1941. From 1942 onwards, Menzies maintained his public presence through a series of "Forgotten People" radio talks, akin to Franklin Roosevelt's "fireside chats" of the 1930s, in which he highlighted the middle class as Australia's "backbone," yet acknowledged their neglect by political parties and their powerlessness due to lack of wealth and organization.