John Wayne Day Rejected By California Assembly

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — He's considered to be a cinema icon and one of the biggest actors in Western movies, but John Wayne won't have a day in his honor in California.

The California Assembly rejected John Wayne Day over remarks the actor made in the 1970s among other issues.

Republican Assemblyman Matthew Harper proposed the resolution to honor the actor's birthday on May 26, but says he was blindsided when instead of a unanimous vote, he got a 20-minute emotional debate.

Democratic Assemblyman Luis Alejo led that debate, saying of Wayne, "He had disturbing views toward race."

Critics pointed to a 1971 Playboy interview where Wayne told the magazine, "I believe in white supremacy until the blacks are educated to a point of responsibility. I don't believe in giving authority in positions of leadership and judgment to irresponsible people."

Democratic Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez objected too, as did Democratic Assemblyman Mike Gipson, who said Wayne's remarks were personally offensive.

From the 1930s through the 1970s, he was the start of many of what were then called "cowboy and indian" movies. In 1956 he portrayed Genghis Khan in the widely panned "The Conqueror."

Some people CBS13 spoke to at the Capitol on Friday called the whole disagreement silly and said cultural context needs to be considered.

Harper says as a Republican, there are some union leaders he doesn't agree with who he has voted to honor. He says Wayne later founded a cancer center that helped countless people.