Former US president George W Bush once called John Howard a "man of steel" over his steadfast support for the American-led invasion of Iraq.
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But it was the relatively trivial matter of a fake Facebook page that wrong-footed the usually unflappable former prime minister on Thursday.
Appearing at a leadership conference in Canberra, Mr Howard was approached by Stuart Coward, the executive officer of Steps Group Australia, a national not-for-profit employment, training and housing organisation based in Caloundra on Queensland's Sunshine Coast.
Mr Coward was excited to meet Mr Howard after sending him messages via Facebook for the last couple of years. Mr Coward would use the page to try to engage Mr Howard in conversation about cricket or seek advice about leadership issues. He never received a reply but put this down to the impossibility of personally replying to each of the page's 37,000 followers.
But the former PM appeared surprised when Mr Coward mentioned their correspondence. "I don't have a Facebook page!" Mr Howard told him.
"I think he was rather shocked actually," Mr Coward told Fairfax Media.
Mike Baird's Government deserves to be reelected. The Premier leads a strong united team and is making the right decisions. John Posted by John Howard on Saturday, March 21, 2015
There was nothing on the Facebook page to give away the fact it was not genuine. Recent posts, which were signed John, seemed in keeping with Mr Howard's public persona, including messages wishing the Australian cricket team success, thanking well wishers for their concern following a recent health scare, and another urging the reelection of the Baird government in NSW.
Thank you to everyone for the warm wishes after my recent health troubles. I am feeling much stronger. John Posted by John Howard on Saturday, March 21, 2015
"It seemed to be quite genuine and personal, the way that he was communicating," Mr Coward said.
"I actually thought it was something that John might have picked up in his retirement as an avenue or a forum to stay connected with community."
What are your thoughts on the carbon tax being repealed? Posted by John Howard on Wednesday, July 16, 2014
A spokeswoman for Mr Howard confirmed the former prime minister did not have a Facebook page.
Later at the event, Mr Howard reaffirmed his support for Prime Minister Tony Abbott's leadership.
Thank you to everyone for the heartfelt birthday messages. I feel blessed to have had 75 wonderful years. Posted by John Howard on Saturday, July 26, 2014
"I think that Tony Abbott is the best person to lead the Liberal Party. I think Tony Abbott deserves the time that the colleagues decided to give him. I'm impressed with the way he's responded to the challenge and it remains my very strong view that he is undoubtedly the best person to lead the party (through to the next election)."