‘Currently in excess of three thousand Negro soldiers,’ the general replied, ‘and more on their way; there’ll be over seven thousand by August. They’re employed as work units – building airstrips and infrastructure needed for defence-and-attack bases in the Pacific conflict zone. MacArthur is fully aware he needs a plan to get them off the Australian mainland as soon as possible.’

‘So, Congressman,’ FDR said, ‘I want you down there to investigate. As a courtesy, upon arrival in Australia you’ll notify MacArthur, who’s currently at GHQ in Melbourne, after which you’ll proceed to Townsville, where you’ll get to the bottom of this mess and report directly back to me. You’ll report to me and no-one else, you understand?’ He shared a look with Eisenhower, who nodded, the two men having obviously reached an agreement.

‘Yes, Mr President.’

‘And keep a goddamned lid on it, Lyndon, lest it explode in our faces.’

Johnson scoffed back the remains of his rum and poured himself a third healthy measure. He’d enjoyed reliving that long-ago scene, which he firmly believed had been the first major stepping stone in his rise to the top.

‘C’mon, Robert, keep up,’ he urged, ‘you haven’t even finished your first slug of the stuff.’

‘Sure.’ Bobby obediently drained his glass, the alcohol no longer having an abrasive effect, but rather producing a warm glow. ‘It does kind of grow on you, doesn’t it?’

‘Sure does. And you want to know why I decided to open this bottle today of all days? You want to know why the synchronicity between my trip to Australia in forty-two and the toast we just made to the Civil Rights Act?’ He didn’t wait for an answer. The younger man’s interest was evident and his questions had been rhetorical anyway. ‘Well, I’ll tell you.’

LBJ settled comfortably back in his chair. ‘Roosevelt sent me out to Australia to investigate a race riot, the findings of which were to be kept top secret. As I told you, that secret remains to this very day, and I’ll tell you something else – the few Aussies in the know are only too happy for things to stay that way. Ever heard of the White Australia policy?’

‘Can’t say I have,’ Bobby answered, a little bewildered by the apparent non-sequitur.

‘It’s not officially referred to in international circles as the White Australia policy,’ Johnson admitted, ‘but I can promise you, that’s what the locals call it, and that’s just what it is. A discriminatory policy intended to deny entry to the country of all races non-Caucasian. It was the first legislation passed when the country formed a Federal Parliament and it was called the Immigration Restriction Act of 1901.’ He shook his head in whimsical fashion. ‘By golly, those Aussies really are something, a breed apart you might say.’

Bobby looked a query.