Presidents, peers, admirers etc have often made quotes about John Wayne(flattering and some not so), if anyone on this messageboard knows of any please type them here.

Here two that I know of.

Maureen Ohara at a special meeting organisned to tey and get John awarded the gold congressional medal of honour.

"To the people of America John Wayne is not just an actor and a very fine actor John Wayne is the United States of America and I feel the medal should say just one thing John Wayne American"

Steve McQueen (A big fan of the Dukes)

"People often ask me whats a pro, I just point to the Duke".

Clint Eatwood said something very complimentary about the Duke but I cant remember it if anyone does please post it.

Thanks
B)

Hi Robbie,

About Clint Eastwood, didn't he want to make a movie with John Wayne, and when he found one the Duke didn't want to do it?

Does anyone know about this being true? And how does Clint Eastwood feel about John Wayne now, and then?

Ronald Regan also had a lot of things to say, along with some actors that were in movies with him. There is a book you can get, it is titled; Duke We're Glad We Knew You, by Herb Fagen. I have it and it is pretty good!

This is part of what Ronald Regan says in the book;

We called him Duke, and he was every bit the giant off the screen that he was on. Everything about him - his stature, his style, his convictions - conveyed enduring strength, and no one who observed his stuggle in those final days could doubt that strength was real. Yet there was more.
etc. ect. ect.

It is a pretty good book, if you have a chance get it!

Stacy

Hey Robbie,

I found another one, and this one is from Jimmy Carter.


" He was bigger than life. In an age of few heros he was the genuine article. But he was more than a hero. He was a symbol of so many of the qualities that made America great. The ruggedness, the tough indpendence, the sense of personal courage - on and off screen - reflected the best of our national character. "

Like I said, this is a good book!

Stacy :D

Here are a few more...

Jimmy Carter also said, "It was because of what John Wayne said about what we are and what we can be that his great and deep love of America can be returned in full measure"

General Omar Bradley said, "His medal (From Congress) should be made of the same stuff his heart is -- solid gold.."

Frank Sinatra said, " For over half a century, Mr. Wayne has served honorably as America's symbol to the world of the highest morals and prudent standards of our society...No man's lifetime of work has better expressed the land of the free and the home of the brave. No man's lifetime of work has given more proof to the world that our flag is still there. John Wayne is in truth a star-spangled man whom so proudly we hail."

Katherine Hepburn said, " He's just exactly what we've all adored...all these years. He's a hero. And he's ours."

Barry Goldwater said, "He was a wonderful American, a very decent man, a complete gentleman, and a person I was glad to know, both as a friend, and as an American."

Burt Reynolds said, "John Wayne is the only movie star I've ever met that was not only exactly what
I hoped he'd be, but more."

And last but not least, George Burns said, "He had character, he had dignity, he was strong, and tall, and powerful, and rugged and I was always glad he was on my side."

Must have been a special person to have all these people feel as they did about him, don't ya think? dukefan1

Robbie,

And here is some more quotes;

Elizabeth Taylor: "He gave the whole world the image of what an American should be."

Ben Johnson: "Duke was the Rock of Gibraltar for me. He helped me a heck of a lot in the picture business. I doulbled for Duke way back in the nineteen forties, right after I first came out here. He was very professional and he was a great guy to work with." "Duke was from the old school. It was honesty, realism, and respect. He had a lot of respect for himself and a lot of respect for women and children. I like that philosophy, and that's what I live my life by. I was always glad someone else felt and thought the same way. He sure helped an awful lot of people through out the years. He was an all-around good fellow and helped a lot of kids all over the world, lots of under-privileged kids.

On a personal note, I feel the same way about him as everybody else did. He was a great man, stong and devoted to what he believed in! You can't say that about to many people.

Stacy

Hi Stacy

Duke vowed after watching "High Plains Drifter" that he never wanted to work with Clint Eastwood but Clint quoted that Duke liked him as a person but not his films.

There was a legendary bust up between Duke and Don Sigel on the set of the Shootist when they were filming the final shootout. Sigel asked Duke to shoot Cobb in the back, Duke replied "I dont shoot anyone in the back" Sigel says "Well Clint would have" Duke responce to this is reported to have been very bad tempered although I am not exactly sure of the exact quotes.

Hope you find this intersting

cya

B)

The government awarded Bob Hope a certificate and honor of being declared a veteran. Not to take anything away from Bob Hope, but wouldn't it be something if they awarded the same status to John Wayne.

Bob Hope said that out of all of his honors during his lifetime the honor of being declared a veteran meant the most.

Hey Robbie,

Thanks for the information, and yes I thought it was very interesting. I have often wondered if they did not like each other. I am glad it wasn't personal, because I do enjoy watching Clint Eastwood also. Not as much as watching the Duke! Clint Eastwood is a good actor also. So thanks that makes me feel a lot better!

ttyl
Stacy

I wouldn't say that Clint and JW didn't share a professional respect for each other. In fact, they were looking for a script that would unite them on the screen (what a box-office combination that would have been!). JW said so - I think it was in his infamous Playboy-interview, that the only scripts they were offered were about him and Clint, riding into town, cleaning it up - and that's not what they were looking for. In one of his last interviews JW stated that Clint would be the one who was able to replace him (although he forgot his name at that moment, and the interviewer mentioned it, so he said: Yep, that's him!).
Clint was on JW's birthday party on the Hellfighter's set, and there is also a picture in front of Paramount's, around the time of True Grit, when Clint wandered over from the set where he was making that musical-western with Lee Marvin. There is a TV show honoring JW, which is hosted by Clint - he's holding on to JW's winchester during his speech.
In one of his later interviews, Clint said that JW wrote him a letter concerning High Plains Drifter, and that he didn't like the way Clint - as the director of this one - portrayed the town people. So, that all said: I think those were professionals talking about their craft to one another - and it seems they were on very friendly terms.

I remember hearing someplace that Lonesome Dove was originally a script written as a vehicle for Duke and Clint to work on together. But they couldn't make it work (never heard the reasons) and it was shelved. Later, it was picked off the shelf and made into a novel and then a mini-series with Robert Duval and Tommy Lee Jones. If this is true, too bad it never happened. I think those two would have been great together. dukefan1

g'day robbie,

i think the greatest tribute to the man would have to be the number of fans world wide who still love his movies and the fact that he can attract young fans even now so hows that for a tribute to him :D

cheers smokey

Hi Smokey,
That is really great one!
It would be very interesting to see just how many people our fans, I am sure the number would be out of this world!
The book I am talking about is pretty good though!

That was a good one!
Stacy

Out of all the really great things I have read posted here I have to go with Maureen O'hara
"John Wayne, American"

Brian
Tulalip Wa

Smokey

How can I argue with that sentament especially with great comments from you to name one of many people on this board who have done a lot to honour this man.

I just watched "High Plains Drifter" and it was truely awful no wonder Duke hated it.

Thanks Roland for that great info about Duke and Clint if you have any more please share it.

I came across this quote by John Ford concerning Duke I dont know how accurate it is as its from a very flawed book namely "John Wayne in the camera eye" but here is what Ford said

"Hes the greatest actor in Hollywood, thats all". (what a compliment especially since its from John Ford.)



B)