John Kerr 'dreamed of becoming PM' FORMER governor-general Sir John Kerr reportedly once dreamed of becoming prime minister. Kerr controversially dismissed Labor PM Gough Whitlam in 1975 during his second term in office. But in series of interviews conducted by the National Library of Australia, transcripts of which have been obtained by News Limited's Australian, Kerr reportedly revealed he had become estranged from Labor long before the dismissal and had thought of taking parliament's top job for himself. In one interview, published by the paper for the first time on Saturday, Kerr said Whitlam "represents something that perhaps I might have been, had I stayed in the party as he did." He also said he discussed his future with former Liberal prime minister Robert Menzies and how he could make his "way to the top." The interviews with Kerr, who died in 1991, reveal that he also considered a dozen offers to be a Liberal MP before becoming governor-general. "I had, during the 60s, re-established an interest in politics and was tempted to submit myself in the Liberal interest," he said.