Summer 1952 (PJW)

June, July, and August of the year 1952.

Summer 1952
The idea of a John Wayne presidency could be found even before 1952.

We were in his beach house, late summer of '51. Wayne's new picture, Flying Leathernecks, was all the rage at the time. Wayne played a strict air wing commander, placing the good of the nation first and the lives of his fellow pilots second. People smarter than me can probably make a metaphor out of that.

Me, Morrison (Wayne's actual name - a fact people sometimes forget), and a few other Hollywood bigwigs brought out cigars and whiskey as a card game began. Radio was on in the background, some Bing Cosby tune, but that was soon interrupted by a news bulletin containing information straight from our boys in Korea.

"We've been in a stalemate at Heartbreak Ridge even before Leathernecks came out," one of the bigwigs said. A laugh went around the table, and now we were in the realm of discussing politics. Hollywood was heavily anticommunist, even back then. Everyone at the table had worked with the House Un-American Activities Committee, supplying them with lists of witnesses and suspicious figures. They all took part in the Motion Picture Alliance for the Preservation of American Ideals.

"I say - I say we just drop an A-bomb on 'em. If that don't work...drop another!" A producer said.

"Can't say I agree with you there," Wayne countered.

"Ah well, you can tell 'em that when you're president!" Another round of laughter. Wayne was the most famous out of all of us. And we knew about his involvement in the [John Birch] Society, his anticommunist credentials. He would be a shoe in, for any election.

Wayne wasn't so sure though. "An actor? In the White House? Come on now."

The presidential election for 1952 was in its earliest stage at the moment. Both sides were looking to draft Eisenhower; Ike was so popular each party knew whatever side he chose would likely win the election. So everyone at the table was hoping the General chose the Republicans.

Little did we know what was to come.

- Anonymous White House Insider, Frontier Spirit: An Unauthorized History of the Wayne Administration



GENERAL EISENHOWER SUFFERS MAJOR HEART ATTACK

- New York Times, 6/19/52



GENERAL BOWS OUT OF RACE

SACRAMENTO - General Dwight Eisenhower, a front runner for the Republican presidential nomination, has announced he will dropping out of the race this afternoon.

Eisenhower suffered a heart attack last night that left him hospitalized until the morning. Though the heart attack was only minor, it did bring up long-standing questions of the General's health. Eisenhower must have taken these questions seriously, as he announced the end to his campaign shortly after leaving the hospital:

"I am very honored, by all of you that considered me for the nation's highest calling. In today's world, the President must have a sound mind and a sound body. He must be active, never incapacitated. At the advice of my physicians, family and those close to me, I formally announce I am dropping out of contention for the Republican nomination."

Despite wishing the best of luck to the others vying for the nomination - Robert Taft and presumably Thomas Dewey - Eisenhower has not actually relinquished his delegates to either side. It's very likely, then, that the General will be playing kingmaker at the National Convention two months from now in Chicago.

- Los Angeles Times, 6/20/52

''A spinning globe appears on a dark screen. In front of it appears the words “Universal International Newsreel”. Triumphant, patriotic music played by a band begins in the background. ''

The scene shifts to an overhead shot of cars and citizens walking down the main streets of Chicago.

Broadcaster: We are one week away from the Republican National Convention here in Chicago, Illinois, and it’s anyone’s guess as to who will take home the nomination.

Scenes of citizens placing their votes in ballot boxes play.

Broadcaster: Thanks to our boys overseas, our country remains free, and no armed guards will be telling the American people who to vote for. And what a colorful choice of candidates the American people have selected.

Robert Taft appears, entering the International Ampitheatre where the Convention is held.

Broadcaster: Senator Taft is the front runner now, with Ike ending his campaign. Your friends at Universal wish you well, General!

Thomas Dewey responds to interviewers from his desk.

Broadcaster: Governor Dewey has thrown his hat into the race. Having been Eisenhower’s campaign manager, he hopes Ike’s delegates will go to him at the nomination. Dewey was the Republican nominee in 1944 and 1948.

Earl Warren is shown making a speech in California.

Broadcaster: Governor Warren hasn’t been campaigning, but don’t count out the man from California yet. Could he be a compromise candidate?

Douglas MacArthur chews on his ironic corncob pipe while staring into the distance.

Broadcaster: General MacArthur has earned 10 delegates of his own. Will he be considered at the convention?

''Scene shifts to outside the International Ampitheatre at night. Massive spotlights illuminate the building.''

Broadcaster: The Republican convention begins July 7th. Join us then for the first ever live television coverage of the event, available coast-to-coast.

- Universal International Newsreel, 7/1/52

I had actually been watching some of the Republican convention that day. The first ever convention televised live across the entire country. Pretty bang-up, modern stuff if you had asked me. We really were entering a new era. Maybe it was an omen.

A few of the men inside later gave us the details of what happened on the fateful evening within a back room inside the International Ampitheatre. It was seemingly the usual political gathering: cigar smoke, liquor, card games. The big movers and shakers were Taft, Dewey, and Ike himself. Though he gave his delegates to Dewey, he still was an important figure and his endorsement would mean the world. So they kept him around. They say Dewey himself wasn’t too eager to run, having lost twice (and once to Truman of all people!), but he was interested in making sure Taft or one of his men didn’t get the nod.

Neither Taft nor Dewey would budge. They tried on a compromise candidate. Warren? That got laughs; neither wanted Warren in. Stassen? Nobody outside of Minnesota knew who has Stassen was.

Draft MacArthur? MacArthur made it clear he wanted no part in government. Well, draft someone else then.

In that backroom they began crafting the ideal candidate. He had to be a compromise between Taft’s and Dewey’s ideas, of course. A man of the people. Clean. Charismatic. Well-known. Strong anti-communist credentials, to appeal the man from Wisconsin. The table was silent for a moment.

They say nobody knows who truly came up with the idea. Some say they had an advertisement on the radio for Flying Leathernecks. Others say a few Californian delegates in the room thought of it. Whoever it was, the idea went around the room.

Wayne did fit the credentials. Taft wasn’t too happy at first, but Dewey offered a compromise for Taft man Everett Dirksen (who had earlier yelled at Dewey while his supporters instigated a fist fight) would be vice president. Dirksen was a political veteran and would assuage the fears of inexperience. Taft still didn’t like it, but he did agree with the goal that a Republican needed to get in the White House soon as a possible.

Was it a long shot? Of course. But America is a land of opportunity, right?

It was around 10 when the phone rang.

- Anonymous White House Insider, Frontier Spirit: An Unauthorized History of the Wayne Administration



CHICAGO - After three days of debate the Republican nominee has finally been chosen: actor and national icon John Wayne. The Robert A. Taft faction and the Thomas Dewey faction stood at a deadlock for the past three days, with neither side gaining enough support to elevate their candidate to become nominee. "We had been debating for some time," stated Senator Everett Dirksen (R-IL). "It was becoming clear that neither side would be gaining the upper hand. So we needed to compromise - choose an outsider that both factions could rally around. And that man is John Wayne."

"I fully support this nomination," Senator Joseph McCarthy (R-WI) told the Post. "Truman and the Democrats stood by and failed to act when communists began infiltrating our shores, even infiltrating the current Democratic administration. Wayne has been an outspoken supporter of the House Un-American Activities Committee. When he is in the White House, he won't be standing by."

Wayne received a phone call the night of the first day of the convention, requesting that he be the Republican nominee for the President of the United States. Wayne, despite having never held public office, definitely had resolute politic views, and accepted the offer. He arrived in Chicago the day after, and the Republicans announced their candidate on the third day.

"We are in a trying time, my fellow citizens," Wayne stated in his nomination speech. "The United States is under assault from the dangers of communism. Our current administration has been unable to turn back the spread of communism to our homeland. It's time we, as Americans, took a stand. I will not stop, I will not rest until America is restored to the beacon of democracy it once was."

The announcement of Wayne's Vice President is expected to come tomorrow on the fourth and final day of the convention.

- Washington Post, 7/11/52



STEVENSON PROMISES TO TALK SENSE

CHICAGO: Only a few weeks ago, the Republican Party had their national convention in this same amphitheater and chose actor and national icon John Wayne to be their presidential candidate. Today, the Democrats finished their selection, and their candidate is Adlai Stevenson, Governor of Illinois.

Stevenson originally didn't want the candidacy - he didn't even appear in the primaries. But after giving a rousing opening speech at the Democratic National Convention, an effort began to nominate the Governor. After three ballots, Stevenson had enough support to be chosen as the party's candidate.

"Our nation is at a crossroads," Stevenson stated in his speech accepting the Democratic nomination. "The trials and tribulations are from over. We can't escape those facts. Let's face it. Let's talk some sense to the American people. We must make some great - not easy - decisions. We come must stand united as a nation to overcome these challenges. There is a tyrannical empire across the sea, our valiant soldiers are fighting and dying in Korea in the name of democracy, and we must establish peace and security in our homeland while making sure the rights our our citizens are protected.

The people are wiser than the Republicans think. We are fighting a battle against tyranny - a battle we can and will win - with the right leadership. The Democrat Party is the people's Party. It is the Party of everyone. Myself and my colleagues understand the enormity of the decisions we must make, and with the help our citizens, we will make sure the right people are there to make those decisions.

The Republican Party does not seem to understand this. We stand on the precipice - and who do they nominate? A man with no experience in public office. A man that is most famous for working in Hollywood. Now, more than ever, the United States needs a strong politician - and the Republicans chose an actor."

John Sparkman (S-AL) was nominated for Vice President.

Despite a positive reception of Stevenson's speech, opinion polls between the two conventions shown that a majority of Republican voters are supportive of Wayne's nomination.

- Chicago Tribune, 7/26/52

Dewey was good. He really wanted Wayne and the Republicans too win. Should be obvious, but a lot of people in the upper echelons of the Republican Party wasn’t a fan of nominating an actor. But Wayne’s nomination came at a perfect time. People hated Washington – not the place, but the idea. Career politicians, uncertainty with reds and negros – they looked to guidance and they believed they only saw corruption. The buck certainly didn’t stop there.

They call it populism. A negative connotation comes to mind when you read it now, doesn’t it? It certainly wasn’t that way at the time. Wayne wasn’t a politician, he was a man of the people. Say all you want about the Wayne administration, but he took the Oval Office with a genuine desire to help a nation that had lost its way. And that’s what we campaigned on.

Wayne reached out too his friends in the industry, too. No official records, nothing of that nature – but everyone knew, because a month or two after the nomination, new shorts rolled out in front of movies. Little snippets, with titles such as “STALEMATE IN KOREA” or “REDS IN THE CAPITOL” then a reminder to the American people that they had a choice this November. Didn’t make any mention of Wayne – any candidate, for that matter. But you knew.

And they worked. Wayne was making noise in the polls. Stevenson was too smart for his own good.

''Below is a picture of John Wayne shaking hands with Dwight Eisenhower. Playing on the popular phrase “I Like Ike”, the phrase “Ike Likes Wayne” is fixed above the photo.''

''Another picture is featured. A row of Republican senators and Wayne posing for a photo. Next to Wayne is Senator Joseph McCarthy. Fixed above the photo is “Republicans Stand with Wayne Against Communism”.''

- Anonymous White House Insider, Frontier Spirit: An Unauthorized History of the Wayne Administration

The caption “A Political Announcement paid for by Citizens of Wayne” appears on screen.

''The advertisement is an animation reel. An American soldier on the frontlines in Korea wearily attempts to light a cigarette. A loud roar is heard, causing the soldier to go wide-eyed. He grabs his rifle and peers over the trench.''

''Massive caricatures of Joseph Stalin and Mao Zedong appear, laughing evilly. The infantryman quickly grabs his radio, only to the line to the phone has been cut.''

''Atop a map of the Pacific, the soldier looks back to Washington for help. The soldier gasps when a gloved hand bearing the hammer and sickle appears from behind the horizon. The hand grabs onto the capital, engulfing it.''

The soldier turns around and gulps as the caricatures of the communist leaders tower over him.

Narrator: Is this what you want for our country? It’s certainly what the Democrats want.

''The soldier steadies himself and readies for battle. The communist leaders suddenly panic and flee. The soldier is left wondering, then feels a hand on his shoulder.''

''Looking back, he sees none other than John Wayne himself. He is amongst the people of the United States, all who stand behind him. Industrial workers, farmers, fathers, mothers, children. Wayne gives the soldier a warm smile.''

Narrator: This November, vote for an end to a stalemate in Korea and to communism in our great nation. Vote John Wayne.

A blank screen with nothing but “A Paid Political Film” ends the advertisement.



WAYNE TAKES 3 POINT LEAD NATIONALLY - Stevenson Talks Too Much For Little Results

- Los Angeles Times, 8/25/52