Early Political Career
Curtin stood as the Labor candidate for the federal seat of Fremantle, near Perth, in 1925, losing badly to the incumbent, independent William Watson. Watson retired in 1928, and Curtin ran again, winning on the second count. Reelected in Labor's sweeping victory of 1929 election, he expected to be named to James Scullin's cabinet, but disapproval of his drinking kept him on the back bench. Watson roundly defeated him in 1931 as part of Labor's collapse to 14 seats nationwide. After the loss Curtin became the advocate for the Western Australian Government with the Commonwealth Grants Commission. He sought his old seat in 1934 after Watson retired for the second time, and won.
When Scullin resigned as Labor leader in 1935, Curtin was unexpectedly elected (by just one vote) to succeed him. The left wing and trade union group in the Caucus backed him because his better known rival, Frank Forde, had supported the economic policies of the Scullin administration. This group also made him promise to give up drinking, which he did. He made little progress against Joseph Lyons' government (which was returned to office at the 1937 election by a comfortable margin); but after Lyons' death in 1939, Labor's position improved. Curtin led Labor to a five-seat swing in 1940 election, coming within five seats of victory. In that election, Curtin's own seat of Fremantle was in doubt. United Australia Party challenger Frederick Lee appeared to have won the seat on the second count after most of independent Guildford Clarke's preferences flowed to him, and it was not until final counting of preferential votes that Curtin knew he had won the seat.
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