1. John Vorster conducted a more pragmatic foreign policy than his predecessors, in an effort to improve relations between the white minority government and South Africa's neighbours, particularly after the break-up of the Portuguese colonial empire.
John Vorster resigned the premiership in favour of the ceremonial state presidency, from which he was forced out as well eight months later.
From 1939, John Vorster attracted attention by strongly opposing South Africa's intervention on the side of the Allies and their former foe the United Kingdom, in World War II.
John Vorster dedicated himself to an anti-British, pro-Nazi organisation called the Ossewabrandwag, founded in 1938 in celebration of the centenary of the Great Trek.
John Vorster, who was interned for his activities, which included helping previously interned fugitives, claimed not to have participated in the acts of war attributed to the group.
John Vorster described himself as anti-British, not pro-Nazi, and said his internment was for anti-British agitation.
John Vorster rose rapidly through the ranks of the Ossewabrandwag becoming a general in its paramilitary wing.
In 1953, John Vorster was elected to the House of Assembly representing the seat of Nigel in the Transvaal.
John Vorster answered his critics by saying that he had now "come to believe in" the parliamentary system.
John Vorster combined that with the Minister of Police and Prisons in 1966.
John Vorster's supporters held him in great affection for his eccentricities.
John Vorster alienated an extremist faction of his National Party when it accepted the presence of Maori players and spectators during the tour of the New Zealand national rugby union team in South Africa in 1970.
John Vorster was more pragmatic than his predecessors when it came to foreign policy.
John Vorster improved relations with other African nations, such as by the adoption of his policy of letting Black African diplomats live in white areas in South Africa.
John Vorster unofficially supported, but refused officially to recognise, the neighbouring state of Rhodesia, whose predominantly white minority government had unilaterally declared independence from the UK in 1965.
John Vorster followed white public opinion in South Africa by supporting Rhodesia publicly, but was unwilling to alienate important political allies in the United States by extending diplomatic recognition to Rhodesia.
John Vorster did not inform his cabinet of these activities and financed them through a secret defence account.
John Vorster resigned as Prime Minister in 1978, after twelve years in office.
In what came to be known as the Muldergate Scandal so named after Dr Connie Mulder, the Cabinet minister at its centre, John Vorster was implicated in the use of a secret slush fund to establish The Citizen, the only major English-language newspaper that was favourable to the National Party.
In 1982, John Vorster supported the Conservative Party of Andries Treurnicht at its founding congress.
John Vorster is depicted on the obverses of the following coins of the South African rand;.