Dean, you weren't very tall last night

John Wayne was one of Hollywood's most prominent Republicans. In 1968, the Republican Party asked him to run for president thinking it could profit from Wayne's huge popularity. Wayne declined as he believed people would not take a Hollywood actor in the White House seriously. So instead of running for president himself, he publicly supported Republican candidates such as Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan (even though Reagan had been an actor too).

On 20 January 1969, Richard Nixon and vice-president Spiro Agnew took office. Wayne, who had actively campaigned for Nixon-Agnew, was not amused after friend and fellow actor Dean Martin had made jokes about the vice-president during a show. On 24 January, Wayne sent a telegram to Martin reprimanding him for his conduct. Four days later Martin sent Wayne his reply. Both telegrams can be read below.

Source: heritage auctions/ image reproduced with permission

Transcript: 

Telegram- January 24, 1969 

10:10 AM 

(operator DJ)

Mr. Dean Martin

601 Mountain Drive

Beverly Hills, Calif.

Dear Dino:

You weren't very tall last night. Spiro Agnew is Vice President of the United States of America.

Duke

Source: heritage auctions/ image reproduced with permission

Transcript:

1969, JAN 28 PM 3 20

JOHN WAYNE=

26 86 BAYSHORE DR NEWPORT BEACH CALIF (NR)=

DEAR DUKE I JUST RETURNED FROM THE CROSBY TOURNEMENT [sic] AND JUST RECEIVED YOUR WIRE. I ONLY WANT TO SAY THAT I WILL BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO RERUN THAT PARTICULAR SHOW FOR YOU SO YOU CAN SEE THAT WE SAID NOTHING AGAINST MR AGNEW OR POKED ANY FUN AT HIM. I NEVER DO THAT TO ANYONE ESPECIALLY OUR VICE PRESIDENT AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT ONLY A FEW PEOPLE KNOW I VOTED FOR MR NIXON AND MR AGNEW AND ALSO GAVE A CONSIDERABLE SUM OF MONEY FOR HIS CAMPAIGN BECAUSE I BELIEVE IN HIM AND KNOW THAT HE WILL MAKE A FINE PRESIDENT. ALWAYS YOUR FRIEND=

DINO=

John Wayne and Dean Martin in Howard Hawks' great western "Rio Bravo" (1959). They would appear together in one other western, "The Sons of Katie Elder" (1965).