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Presidential Medal of Freedom Recipient John Wayne
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Presidential Medal of Freedom Recipient John Wayne
JOHN WAYNE
Awarded by
President Jimmy Carter
June 9, 1980
John Wayne was both an example and a symbol of true American grit and determination. Through his countless film roles, "The Duke" still leads millions on heroic adventures on behalf of fairness and justice. He embodies the enduring American values of individualism, relentless bravery and perseverance in pursuit of what is right. He was the quintessential patriot, and will especially be remembered whenever our Nation faces a challenge calling for steadfast courage.
John Wayne is considered one of the greatest stars of Hollywood, and a symbol of patriotism and spirit.
He was born Marion Michael Morrison in Winterset, Iowa in May 1907. His father was a pharmacist who due health reasons moved his family to California when Marion was six years old. When a ranching venture failed, the Morrisons moved once more - to Glendale, when Marion worked for his father and acquired the nickname "Duke" - after his pet Airedale. As a teen, he rose before the sun at 4 a.m. and delivered newspapers, and then after school and football practice he continued working by making deliveries for local stores. He believed in responsibilities and took them seriously. Among other things, he was an A student, head of his senior class, and an all-state guard on a championship football team.
Duke's goal after high school was to attend the U.S. Naval Academy and was actually named as an alternate selection to Annapolis. However, the first selection accepted, and so Duke accepted the next best thing - a full scholarship to play football at the University of Southern California. Once there, USC Coach Howard Jones helped Duke find work in 1926 during the summer at Fox. He did various behind-the-scenes jobs for director John Ford, including assistant prop man. From his job in props, Duke worked his way into roles on the screen - with the help of John Ford in 1930. The Duke's first break came when John Ford recommended him for the lead role in the movie western "The Big Trail", filmed by Raoul Walsh. Other sources say that the Duke's real break didn't come until 1939 when Ford convinced United Artists to give him the role of the Ringo Kid in "Stagecoach".
Either way, the role in "Stagecoach" put Wayne firmly into the top ranks of box-office stars. When America's involvement in World War II began, Duke tried to enlist but was rejected due to a combination of an old football injury, his age (he was 34), and his married, father of four status. Duke was so dejected he even flew to directly to Washington to ask to be allowed to join the Navy - but was turned down.
Since he couldn't go fight abroad, he decided to do his part at home, and dedicated himself to the war effort by making inspirational war films - including 1942's "Flying Tigers", and 1945's "Back to Bataan". To all Americans, he became the true symbol of the American fighting man.
Besides the war in Europe, Duke also fought against Communism in his backyard. In the 1940s, Duke was one of the most notable stars to come out against the supposed Communist conspiracy in Hollywood. With others, he helped form the Motion Picture Alliance for the Preservation of American Ideals. With fellow actors like Barbara Stanwyck and Robert Taylor, Duke sought to challenge the Hollywood Communists.
Even when some personalities admitted to their Communist leanings, Duke thought it took courage to admit wrongdoings, and felt that those who came clean deserved to work in continue working in Hollywood instead of being blacklisted. People warned Duke that his battle against Communism would led to the end of his career, but when he left the presidency of the MPAPAI, he was still the number one box office draw. So much for his critics.
After World War II ended, Duke continued working and continued to gain the respect of his peers and fans. Howard Hawks cast him in 1948's "Red River", co-starring a young Montgomery Clift. Turning in an excellent performance, the Duke created an unlikable, yet complex character. John Ford also cast him in two movies that continued adding to Wayne's onscreen legend, in 1948's "Fort Apache" and 1949's "She Wore a Yellow Ribbon".
Through the 1950s and 1960s, Wayne starred in several mediocre movies that only made money because he was the star. One notable disaster was Duke's turn as Genghis Khan in 1956's "The Conqueror". But for every bad film, there were those he was destined for, including 1956's "The Searchers", 1959's "Rio Bravo", and 1962's "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance". "The Searchers", the one movie of Wayne's that I've seen, is now considered to be Wayne's best performance. In 1969, Wayne won the Academy Award for "True Grit", another Hollywood classic.
In the 1960's, Duke also traveled to Vietnam, and visited the troops. When he returned to the States, he vowed to make a film in honor of the Special Forces. That film was "The Green Berets". Critics were not kind, condemning both the film and the actor. Duke fired back, claiming the critics were attacking his politics, not his pictures. Indeed, now "The Green Berets" is also considered a classic Wayne film - patriotic to the core, just like Wayne.
In his private life, he had seven children and 21 grandchildren and made sure he was an active Dad. He lived and loved hard, and drank, smoked, gambled and all the other macho things that you associated with John Wayne's name. To his friends and fans, Duke was generous and loyal - and they to him. In one account, when Wayne and Jimmy Stewart were in California they came upon some anti-war demonstrators displaying the Viet Cong flag. Duke entered the throng and in a moment the flag came down - Duke had informed them that Stewart's son had recently died in the war, and the demonstrators respected the Duke's wish that the flag not be flown. I can't think of any other actor who could have made that kind of request in the turbulent 1960s and 1970s.
In the 1970's, Wayne's best role was in 1976's "The Shootist", but by this time the actor was dying of cancer, and while still the strong man on screen, was suffering off screen. But he was a fighter, and after going public with his battle, he helped raise millions of dollars for cancer research. He died in June 1979 of late stage cancer, and Americans mourned their loss.
Over twenty years later, John Wayne is still an icon - a screen presence who tops the lists of many people as being one of the most patriot symbols of American pride. He took pains to be professional in all aspects, and took responsibility for all of his actions - whether they were regarded highly by others or not. You may not like his acting, his accent, or his politics. Or you may love his acting, his accent and his politics. But either way - you know the name of John "Duke" Wayne, and you know what he stood for. And that's the way he liked it.
John Wayne has also been awarded the Congressional Gold Medal
image courtesy of June Parker Beck at Maureen O'Hara Magazine
"Rio Grande" is part of a John Ford Trilogy that includes
"Fort Apache" and "She Wore a Yellow Ribbon."
image courtesy of June Parker Beck at Maureen O'Hara Magazine
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Medal History
