Howard makes a commitment to "set the record straight about the fundamental role Bob Menzies played in the building of modern Australia" after countering ex-PM Paul Keating's contention that Menzies ran the country in "neutral". He also takes issue with some historians' view that Australia's longest-serving PM was "antiquated".

Although much of what Howard shares has been described by television critics as "compelling", his argument falls over with the contentious claim that Mr Menzies "launches an era of prosperity" during the Cold War era, where in fact Mr Menzies inherited prosperity driven policy from the former Labor government. (This does gets mentioned later, but more as a side-note.)

"Years have to pass before things are put into proper perspective about a person's contribution," Howard argues.

Despite Howard speaking to former Labor PM Bob Hawke as a counter to some of his own reverence for Menzies many on Twitter remained unconvinced.

John Howard rewriting history as only he can. I can only imagine the disgust on Paul Keating's face right now. #howardonmenzies #auspol— Big H (@bigh220377) September 18, 2016

Not surprisingly, this is more hagiography than biography. #HowardonMenzies— Michael Byrnes (@MichaelByrnes) September 18, 2016

It's a little like a film crew has stumbled upon a retired PM muttering his political memories to himself...#HowardonMenzies— kelloveslife (@kelloveslife) September 18, 2016

As if Howard would give a balanced view on the role of Menzies? Hardly. Not a balanced or historical account at all #howardonmenzies #auspol— Ian Peter (@IanWPeter) September 18, 2016

ROFL.#HowardonMenzies https://t.co/LJ76y0jbm5— meh (@zippuli) September 18, 2016

LOL this documentary isn't even pretending to be balanced. Portrays Liberal policy as inevitably superior to anything else. #HowardonMenzies— Osman Faruqi (@oz_f) September 18, 2016

This Liberal Party ad must have cost 'em a bomb! #HowardonMenzies— Deluxe Minimalist (@Hincerooney) September 18, 2016

Compared to last year's wonderful series 'A Country Road: The Nationals', #HowardonMenzies comes across as a lethargic vanity project so far— Adam Spence (@AdamSpenceAU) September 18, 2016

#HowardonMenzies I think this is about Howard less than Menzies.— Roger Wilkinson (@rogerwilkinson3) September 18, 2016

Howard: 'the Labor Party believes its own propaganda'. Unlike the Liberals with its tax-payer funded tosh in #HowardonMenzies ?— Eddy Jokovich (@EddyJokovich) September 18, 2016

Quote of night from #HowardonMenzies:
"The Lab Party tend to believe their own Propaganda"

Says fmr PM who took Aus 2 war ON A LIE #auspol— Sam W (@sammmw8) September 18, 2016

Anyone seen anything other than Howard positioning himself to aquire Menzies legacy? #HowardonMenzies #auspol— Ghost of PJK (@GhostOfPJK) September 18, 2016

#HowardonMenzies "The Labor party tends to believe their own mythology," says former Liberal PM eulogising former Liberal PM.— Bill (@Billablog) September 18, 2016

Wow. The ALP are the ones who believe their own mythology...this coming from Howard #HowardOnMenzies— Josh Fergeus (@JoshFergeus) September 18, 2016

Howard is like a dog on heat humping his master's leg pathetic #HowardonMenzies #auspol— muamatt (@mattmua72) September 18, 2016

However, Howard acknowledged Mr Menzies was far from a forward-thinking Liberal.

"He was an economic protectionist, but all politicians of that era were," says Howard. "They believed in government; I think the Liberals wanted to be smaller, when you put it that way, and Labor wanted to be larger."

Vision of FX Holdens rolling off the production line from Broadmeadows in Victoria and workers building the Snowy Mountains hydroelectricity scheme, as well as general footage of a bustling, working population thanks in part to mass immigration, suggests otherwise.

These, however, were all Labor initiatives.

As Hawke tells Howard: "He had a situation in the post-world war era, where the world was prepared to pay anything for what we grew and, later, what we dug up. So it wasn't the most challenging period; I think in a sense like Gough Whitlam, I don't think Menzies personally had a great interest in economics as such."

Rupert Murdoch concurs: "We were critical at the time and I think we were right. He was very much the status quo, central planning, wage controls. He wasn't much for change."

Still Howard isn't to be dissuaded from his argument: "But it seemed to work well, didn't it?"

"Our country did very well, but you have to say today the old protectionism, are we paying for it now?" says Murdoch. "Because the car industry was too feather-bedded and for so long, and when we opened it up it was unsustainable."

The voiceover then makes the brief point that "like affordable housing, its days are numbered" but doesn't go any further.

Twitter commentators also took aim at Sydney housing affordability woes after Howard is seen watching an auction for an uninspiring three-bedroom home selling for $1.2 million.

The point was to demonstrate Menzies' success in building up home ownership to almost 70 per cent, through cheap housing loans, when average house prices were only four times the average income.

"What do you think he would think of an Australia where more and more people think it's too hard to buy your first home?" Mr Howard asks La Trobe professor of politics Judith Brett.

Brett replies: "I think he'd be pretty appalled by what's happening now, but I think it's the affordability crisis which he'd find quite disturbing because I think it is very hard for a lot of young people to buy their first home, particularly in cities." 

But there were some who appreciated the documentary.

*Ducks#HowardonMenzies— Callum:Davidson (@callumdav) September 18, 2016

If it makes you angry, switch it off. Easy. #auspol— Con Psalios (@Konstantinos305) September 18, 2016

The first in the two-part series rated 20th among metro city audiences, attracting 110,000 viewers.

Howard on Menzies: Building Modern Australia continues next Sunday on ABC at 7.40pm.