He was a Progressive Conservative member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1963 to 1978 who represented the ridings of Kent West and Chatham—Kent.

In the 1963 provincial election, McKeough ran as the Progressive Conservative candidate in the southwestern Ontario riding of Kent West.

[7] Among other things, he introduced legislation to create the city of Thunder Bay in Northern Ontario by an amalgamation of existing municipalities.

[9] He was viewed as a compromise candidate between front runner Bill Davis and contender Allan Lawrence.

[11] In return, Davis appointed McKeough to the senior cabinet post of Treasurer of Ontario and Minister of Economics.

In 1994, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada for his "successful business ventures and fund-raising efforts on behalf of educational, medical, research and cultural institutions".