Help!!! Trying to locate a John Wayne Speech 1976

[dldcolumbus]

In 1976, during a televisied bicentennial special, I think it was NBC, John Wayne gave a most moving speech about how great it was to be an American. IM a former Congressional staffer and in the 1980's I used to quote from that speech in many of my own speeches, its a wonderful text....but over the years with moving and all, I cant find my files and I am dying to find that speech somewhere.....its typical John Wayne fashion, he starts out with this talk about how people say america is going down hill and how there is no more opportunity and then he goes into this, and Ill quote from what I remember, "When Cryspus Attucks died for our rights on the streets in Boston, Booker T. Washington was a 9 year old slave..yet by the time he was 29, he'd become President of Tuskeegee institute...At the age of 7 Mickey Mantle was settling for a base on balls and at 18 months Neil Armstrong took his first baby step and fell flat on his face, but later in life he would take a giant leap for mankind.." and he goes on, "and how many of you are getting on in years and thinking theres not much more you can give to America, well a fella by the name of Eisenhower who had already given a lifetime serving as a soldier, was relected as President....and he goes on and on. its a great speech, I so want to find it....Please if any of you know how to find this speech let me know, im at dldcolumbus@yahoo.com

....David

[ethanedwards]

Hi dldcolumbus'

First of all,

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I am sure, someone will be able to answer your question.


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[Stumpy]

I'm darned if I can find any mention of this speech he's referring to in all my books about Duke. Nor does Google or Yahoo bring up any hits. Wonder if it was someone other than JW?

[Colorado Bob]

Howdy David,
And welcome to the BEST John Wayne message board in existence. I am sure that I have what you're looking for in my collection. Give me a couple of days, maybe a week, to find it, and I'll see what I can do to get a copy to you. Talk to you later.
Colorado Bob

[dldcolumbus]

Oh no this speech is real, I had a word for word copy in my speech files in 1982, but over the years lost it. I am a former Congressional Staffer and would cite from this speech on many ocassions. In addition, Anheuser Busch reprinted the speech on parchment paper and gave it away through grocery markets across America. I witnessed the speech live and then years later found the parchment copy in an office building where I sat and copied it word for word. As no one here has heard of it, IM glad now that I brought forth something for all of you to find, the long lost and last speech by John Wayne. It will enlighten all of you if it can be found. I have exhausted google and yahoo search engines to no avail. If anyone has any contacts with Anhauser Busch archives or NBC archives it could be a good place to start...I think once all of you get a chance to read this speech you'll understand why I am on this quest to find it...David

[Colorado Bob]

Howdy David,
I apologize for not responding sooner, but as busy as I am these days, it is a rare pleasure to be able to visit the JWMB. At any rate, I believe the program you are looking for is "Swing Out, Sweet Land" which was originally broadcast in November 1970, and then rebroadcast in 1976 in celebration of the country's bicentennial. Fortunately, this program is now available on DVD, under the title, "John Wayne's Tribute to America." There are any number of web sites with copies for sale, including Amazon.com and I also just checked and found 3 copies on ebay. I am sure if you just googled the title, "John Wayne's Tribute to America" you will find several options for buying a copy. I hope this helps, and again, I apologize for taking so long to get back to you.
Best Always,
Colorado Bob

[chester7777]

. . . Anheuser Busch reprinted the speech on parchment paper and gave it away through grocery markets across America. I witnessed the speech live and then years later found the parchment copy in an office building where I sat and copied it word for word. As no one here has heard of it, IM glad now that I brought forth something for all of you to find, the long lost and last speech by John Wayne. It will enlighten all of you if it can be found. I have exhausted google and yahoo search engines to no avail. If anyone has any contacts with Anhauser Busch archives or NBC archives it could be a good place to start...I think once all of you get a chance to read this speech you'll understand why I am on this quest to find it...David

I believe the program you are looking for is "Swing Out, Sweet Land" which was originally broadcast in November 1970, and then rebroadcast in 1976 in celebration of the country's bicentennial. Fortunately, this program is now available on DVD, under the title, "John Wayne's Tribute to America."

Colorado Bob hit the nail on the head! Great job, Bob!!

The speech that David refers to is near the end of the special, and it is very moving, and very typically John Wayne in it's style and delivery! It was shown on NBC and sponsored by Anheuser-Busch (that would explain A-B making special parchment copies of the speech available).

We've discussed the special here - John Wayne's Tribute to America - and as Colorado Bob said, it is available at Amazon, very reasonably priced.

If you don't already own this DVD, don't waste another minute! Order one online or get out to the nearest Wal-Mart (or wherever you have to go to get one) and get it! I promise, you won't be sorry. Makes you proud to be an American, and a John Wayne fan, too!

Chester