John Wayne

By: Rhys Owens

John Wayne, born Marion Robert Morrison in 1907, was a towering figure in American cinema by 1969—an icon of rugged masculinity, patriotic virtue, and Old West mythology. Known for his deep drawl, imposing presence, and slow, deliberate gait, Wayne had become synonymous with the all-American hero through decades of Westerns and war films. Off-screen, he held fiercely conservative political views, was a vocal anti-communist, and supported the Vietnam War and traditional American values. He distrusted the counterculture and civil rights movements of the era, believing they threatened the nation's moral backbone.

In 1969, Wayne starred in True Grit, a role that finally earned him an Academy Award. He was still very much a commanding presence in both Hollywood and public life, outspoken and unbending, often perceived as the embodiment of a vanishing American ideal. Despite health problems and changing cultural tides, Wayne remained steadfast—principled to a fault, proud of his patriotism, and ever ready to stand his ground.