John Wayne, also known as "The Duke", was the premier movie star in the 50's and 60's. Larger than life, he picked his roles carefully, to ensure that his movie characters aligned with his own philosophy about life and his cultural priorities. He starred in over 300 films and never once apologized for his pro-USA stance and old fashioned values. They say that some of the best ways to learn about someone is to listen to their views on life so here are some of my favorite quotes from "The Duke":
“All battles are fought by scared men who'd rather be someplace else.”
“A man deserves a second chance, but keep an eye on him.”
“My hope and prayer is that everyone know and love our country for what she really is and what she stands for.”
“I stick to simple themes. Love. Hate. No nuances. I stay away from psychoanalyst's couch scenes. Couches are good for one thing.”
“Government has no wealth, and when a politician promises to give you something for nothing, he must first confiscate that wealth from you -- either by direct taxes, or by the cruelly indirect tax of inflation.”
“Give the American people a good cause, and there's nothing they can't lick.”
“My hope and prayer is that everyone know and love our country for what she really is and what she stands for.”
"Life is tough, but it’s tougher if you’re stupid."
"What’s the secret of success? Right decisions. How do you make right decisions? Experience. How do you get experience? Wrong decisions."
Can't you just hear that famous John Wayne drawl and delivery when you're reading his quotes?
You know, as I've progressed through this life I've noticed an interesting transformation, I believe that while I'm growing in my ability to see nuance, the gray area, in people and situations, yet, I also find myself embracing the fact that this world isn't as complicated as it appears, there is evil and there is good, right and wrong, and though motivations may be complicated the choices are usually not.
Wayne, like his friend Ronald Reagan, believed in stripping decisions, scenarios, and people down to the basics of life. They both believed that big government is bad, welfare for those who don't strive to achieve a better life was a waste, that continual handouts fostered a society predicated on dependence, that a man was only as good as his character, that faith is vital, patriotism essential, and courage is a trait required to be a citizen of this great country. There is such a thing as making life too complicated, too cerebral, too much about ourselves, and I believe that we can lose our true selves while in the ponderous, tangled, selfish journey of discovery.
Are there some basics that are infallible in your life? Decisions that you don't have to ponder? Do you wake up in the morning and have to cycle through your decision-making process to determine if you're going to treat people fairly, give your best efforts at whatever you are trying to achieve? Do you daily wrestle with the issue of giving God His deserved place of honor and glory, and respecting this great country that has enabled you the freedom to have the plethora of decisions that you are facing? If so, I would say you need to spend some time on the basics - not on social media, or escaping into entertainment, but truly spending some time pursuing what you are choosing to stand and live for, and then holding true to your convictions.
Okay, enough soap-box time, let's conclude with a funny story regarding John Wayne. Stop me if you've heard the story about John Wayne, Joseph Stalin, and the KGB. No? Okay, here it is . . .
Stalin was a great fan of American movies but he hated what John Wayne stood for and felt that he was an active threat to communism and therefore a person to be eliminated. He sent word to two KGB agents in the US that their mission was to assassinate "The Duke". The FBI intercepted that communication and asked Wayne if he would like around-the-clock protection. He was more angry then concerned and let the FBI know that he would take care of the matter himself.
Less than two months later, FBI agents visited Wayne in his office and let him know that two KGB agents were at that very moment on their way to kill him. In fact, as Wayne and the real FBI agents were talking, his phone rang informing him that two men who said they were FBI agents were at the front gate and demanding to speak to Wayne.
"Send them up," said Wayne as he ushered the two real FBI agent into an adjoining room. When the two assassins arrived, Wayne greeted them, had them sit down, and then asked the nature of their business. The pair said they wanted to talk to him privately, outside of his office, and would he accompany them down to the studio lot. Wayne agreed. The two KGB agents headed for the door, not realizing that Wayne had grabbed a handgun and then he roughly ordered them onto their knees, facing away from him. He then informed them that he was going to kill them both and they started begging for their lives but Wayne had no mercy. He counted to three, pulled the trigger, and then repeated the process again with the second agent. Two loud bangs, but nothing more had happened, John Wayne was using an handgun filled with blanks.
It was at that moment that a grinning John Wayne called for the real FBI agents to make an appearance and they arrested the two KGB operatives. The Russians, feeling fortunate to be alive but realizing they had failed in their missions, begged the FBI to allow them to defect. They explained that Stalin would have them killed because of their failure and in return they promised to reveal intelligence to the US government. The FBI agreed and the agents were allowed to switch sides.
In a stunning epilogue to this story, in 1959, when Nikita Khrushchev visited the United States, he requested to do two things, visit Disneyland and meet John Wayne. Because of security issues the first request was denied but he was allowed to meet "The Duke" and during their meeting he promptly apologized for the assassination attempt on his life. Wayne supposedly told him to forget it, it would have taken more than two of his agents to do the deed.
Wow.
In summing up his 50-year Hollywood film career, Wayne said this, "I've played the kind of man I'd like to have been." I think he achieved his goal. And now, if you'll excuse me, I think I'm going to go watch Rio Bravo for about the twentieth time.
