John Wayne - Political Office

Due to his enormous popularity, and his status as the most famous Republican star in Hollywood, wealthy Texas backers of the Republican Party asked Wayne to run for national office in 1968 as had his friend and fellow actor, Sen. George Murphy. He declined, joking that he did not believe the public would seriously consider an actor in the White House. He did support his friend Ronald Reagan's runs for Governor of California in 1966 and 1970, however. In 1968 Wayne was also reportedly asked to be conservative Democratic governor George Wallace's running mate in the presidential election; Wayne's response made headlines: "Wayne Wallace VP? Wayne Says 'B------t!'" (Films in Review, May, 1977).