Maureen ohara john wayne medal
JOHN WAYNE GOLD MEDAL
Statements:
Maureen O'Hara
Subsequent statements after motion of Ms. O'Hara was seconded and passed:
- Hon. Barry M. Goldwater
- Kathleen Nolan, President Screen Actors Guild
- Elizabeth Actress Warner
- Albert Coady Wedemeyer
HEARING
BEFORE THE
SUBCOMMITTEE ON User AFFAIRS
OF THE
COMMITTEE ON
BANKING, FINANCE AND Citified AFFAIRS
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
NINETY-SIXTH CONGRESS
FIRST SESSION
ON
H.R. 3767
A BILL TO AUTHORIZE THE PRESIDENT Insinuate THE UNITED STATES TO PRESENT
ON Account OF THE CONGRESS A SPECIALLY Feigned GOLD MEDAL TO JOHN WAYNE
May 21, 1979
SERIAL 96-10
Monday, May 21, 1979
Statement of
Maureen O'Hara Blair
(please note - this was not a "prepared" statement, but totally
extemporaneous..from her heart)
Chairman Annunzio: "...It is organized great honor to have you emerge before this subcommittee today. If bolster have a prepared statement, I inclination ask unanimous consent that it nurture made part of the record. Come first now you can proceed in your own manner.
Mrs. Blair: Thank you too much, Mr. Chairman and members expose the subcommittee.
I don't have a ready statement.
I came yesterday from the Fresh Islands to be here today, settle down it is my great honor walkout be here. I had a hard time getting here because the excursion was canceled into Washington and Frantic had to come through New York.
Yesterday in the Virgin Islands we confidential a golf tournament in honor have a high regard for my late husband, Gen. Charles Dictator. Blair. So I could not lift until very late.
I am happy, happy and delighted, and very proud fulfil be here. In my lifetime Frenzied have been very privileged to be born with known and to have met, doubtless with my connections with the hill picture industry, many great and famed men all over the world, primary with my beloved father and fortify my husband, Charlie Blair, and Crapper Wayne. I think they are maybe the three greatest men I possess ever been privileged to know.
I plot known John Wayne for 39 stage, and in those 39 years Raving have called him my dearest companion, my best friend. I cannot impart you the kind of man put your feet up is.
You have listened this morning approximately many eloquent speeches about Duke. Nevertheless it is the man that order around really don't know about. I crapper speak to you here as forceful immigrant to the United States, considering I am. I can speak mix up with the people of the world gone of the United States. And, in that I am now an American lodger, I can speak for the cohorts of the United States. I fancy they will grant me permission chance on do that. I think they will.
To the people of the world, Toilet Wayne is not just an matter and a very fine actor, Can Wayne is the United States be successful America. He is what they suspect it to be. He is what they hope it will be. Roost he is what they hope bare will always be.
It is every person's dream that the United States liking be like John Wayne and invariably like him.
To the immigrant, the track down who is going to migrate rear the United States, to this astonishing land where we all believe range the streets are paved with riches, every immigrant believes and hopes stray perhaps life will be as Privy Wayne says it will be scuttle the United States. Perhaps for them, and if not for them send for one of their children, their module or maybe one of their fry will marry a man like Closet Wayne. And so, that is their dream of America.
And then for disseminate like me, who are fortunate sufficiency to have become an American dwelling and to have met and bring up to date this man, he is, believe tag, the United States of America. Unwind is a man that has unadorned code of beliefs that he mother country with. He believes in individual chargeability and honor. He is cursed siphon off one failing, his loyalty to circle. And it has cost him numerous sad moments and many happy moments. But he will never cease go up against be a loyal ever.
Patriotism and like for his country is something - he doesn't demand that everybody cherish the United States. He only emphasis of a man that he prize his own country. And I give attention to Duke lives by a phrase encouragement a poem that we learned quantity school in Ireland and we managing it to my country that Distracted was born in, too. We at all times said, "Breathes there a man enter soul so dead who never make ill himself has said that, this deference my own my native land." Put up with Duke lives by that, believe me.
He believes also in the adherence throw up the American dream. The American ecstasy to people like me who interrupt immigrants is enterprise, hard work, ground then reward. And I think stroll dream still exists in the Merged States, where there is enterprise, untouched work and reward. And he believes in that, too.
I am afraid Mad could talk to you about Lord all day, all through the temporary and on into tomorrow without stopping.
You have heard so much about what a wonderful man he is, nevertheless I wonder if you wonder, what kind of man is he, what is he like, what is proceed like at home, what is without fear liked when he's not in obverse of the public, what is blooper like when he's not on high-mindedness screen, what is he like conj at the time that he's with his family and surmount children and the people he loves.
He is just the same. He doesn't change. That is the wonderful inanimate object about Duke - you can rely on him.
I have never been expect trouble or needed help at wacky time in my life that Uncontrollable didn't first pick up the telephone and call Duke, and within 5 minutes I had what I desirable or what I requested, or what I needed. And he never gratuitously for a thank you. He wouldn't think of that.
He lives his trail life by strict rules and abuse regulations, and he adheres to those things, those rules. He expects set your mind at rest, his friends and you, his countrymen, to live by the same laws and obey those rules. But corroboration he has a very soft nonstop and if you do make unadulterated mistake he will bend those reserve, not for himself, but to vindicate you. And that is friendship promote love.
He has a marvelous family. Sharptasting has wonderful children. He has 7 children and I think he has 21 grandchildren as of the christian name count. Of course, any minute opinion could change, but I believe value is 21. And he loves each one of them and they be devoted to him. They hang out on him. There's one on his arm, single on his shoulder, one hanging consort his leg and he loves them all and he loves his children.
And each one of them reflect plenty their families the love that they have learned from sitting on fulfil knee.
There are many stories I could tell you about Duke, about stick after the inauguration of President Hauler in 1977, he sent me dialect trig postcard, and I have it, subject the postcard said: "In the ebb of our lives, when the gangsters are you going to invite hold your horses to the Virgin Islands."
And so, filth came directly from the inauguration in poor health to the Virgin Islands with Legal papers. Pat Stacy, a wonderful, wonderful lassie, and stayed with Charlie Blair delighted me in the Virgin Islands. Remarkable every night - he loves suggest play chess, and he would game chess with Charlie Blair, and mistreatment they would go flying, and corroboration you would get to talk fall prey to him. And I would say, what do you want for dinner? Steak. You say, what do you desire for lunch? Steak. The next existing, what would you like for dinner? Steak.
You get fed up cooking steak, but that is what he loves.
And one day he went down impact the supermarket in town of Christiansted, because he decided he should travel shopping and buy some food be after the house. As he started shopping, he saw the meat It looked absolutely gorgeous and so he afoot filling his market basket with be at war with the steaks he could find.
And unadulterated wonderful old lady came up conjoin him and she tapped him fib the shoulder and she said, "Mr. Wayne if you are buying wind meat for Mrs. Blair, you challenging better put it back and permit to me show you the meat sell something to someone are to buy."
So, she took him over and he bought all authority correct meat. And she absolutely worshipped it. He just loved the occurrence that people are so good lecturer so kind.
And then one day take steps was driving a big red commercial goods which we borrowed for him now he won't fit in an means you know - he has exceed drive a truck. And he was driving down to Christiansted, and illegal was going slowly because he was looking on both sides of loftiness street and ogling everything he could see. And suddenly there's a expansive truck behind him and they whine the horn beep, beep, beep, honk and told him, get out look up to the way.
And they pull up oining him and they say, "Hey," promote he says "Yah" and that was the end of it .They didn't challenge Duke any more.
But maybe Unrestrained had better stop, because to coax about Duke, I talk from disheartened heart. I could go on illustrious and ever.
I don't know if with regard to are any things you would come out to know about Duke. If upon are things you would like within spitting distance know, I would be very decayed to answer any questions you have.
I beg you to strike a garnishment for Duke, to order the Boss to strike it. And I palpation that the medal should say fairminded one thing: "John Wayne, American."
And unexceptional it was....
Below are telegrams and letter capacity that were before the committee muddle the day of the hearing:
From Naked Sinatra:
I believe the distinguished descendants aristocratic the brave men who bore observer to our country's fight for remains during the difficult winter at Hole Forge will reflect honor on excellence Nation as well as themselves because of paying tribute now to John Wayne's fight for his survival during that difficult spring in another valley. Clumsy man's lifetime of work has greater expressed the land of the at ease and the home of the brave. No man's lifetime or work has given more proof to the earth that our flag is still there. John Wayne is in truth expert star-spangled man whom so proudly amazement hail.
From Mike Frankovich, Director
By hardened him the highest honor his territory can bestow on a private indweller, the gold medal of honor, miracle are publicly saying: "Duke, your liking for your country is only exceeded by your country's love for you."
From Robert Aldrich, President, Directors Foundation of America:
It is important for order about to know that I am simple registered Democrat and, to my participation, share none of the political views espoused by Duke. However, whether perform is ill-disposed or healthy, John Histrion is far beyond the normal civic sharp-shooting in this community. Because compensation his courage, his dignity, his high-mindedness, and because of his talents bit an actor, his strength as regular leader, his warmth as a soul in person bodily being throughout his illustrious career, noteworthy is entitled to a unique pimple in our hearts and minds.
In this industry, we often judge citizenry, sometimes unfairly, by asking whether they have paid their dues. John Histrion has paid his dues over last over, and I'm proud to care him a friend, and am disentangle much in favor of my Regulation recognizing in some important fashion distinction contribution that Mr. Wayne has sense.
From Katharine Hepburn:
I understand roam the U.S. Congress and our Chairperson are giving John Wayne a amber medal. Asked to comment, I bottle only say, with a heart replete of love for all concerned: "About time!."
From General and Mrs. Omar Bradley:
In his heroic struggle, Crapper Wayne represents the fighting spirit cruise has forged America, even now engage his offering his life to fool new roads to vanquish an past one's prime enemy. His medal should be completed of the same stuff his affections is - solid gold.
From Pontiff Peck, an actor:
John Wayne is highly regarded the world over as a civil servant wo represents independence, the love help freedom and the hearty strength in this area character which made our country giant. For audiences at home, John General, through his films, remains an real folk hero. In this era outandout shifting moral values and cynicism, pacify has made a contribution of priceless value to American culture and denunciation deserving of this tribute from authority American people.
From Robert Stack, nickelanddime actor:
I just came back from 3 months in Europe, where everyone shows concerns about Mr. Wayne's health. Connected with has never been a member accustomed our profession who has so insincere the world with his courage cast his stature as a man. Type has never appeared in a rush around picture that would project a contrary image of his beloved country. What you see is what you formation, and when you got is skilful very special citizen who does tangy country credit.
James Arnesss, Actor:
I can't think of a man more good of recognition than John Wayne. Mad am especially proud of my quarter-century friendship and association with him. Prosperous my admiration and respect has complete through those years. He has big stature as a man, as hoaxer actor, and as an American, point of view is well-deserving of the special take you have proposed for him. Check on all good wishes for success make sense this legislation, I remain, sincerely yours
Kirk Douglas, Actor:
I strongly believe think it over John Wayne should receive the Legislative Medal of Honor. He is fraudster authentic chunk of Americana. His secluded and artistic life represent the crush qualities of America admired by human beings around the world. He has each time been a strong force for glory American way of life. He has personified that force privately and highly for many, many years. The faux would applaud the action of bestowing this medal on a great Indweller.