Republican talking points, circa 1939

by David Safier

Who made the following statements?

• "American for Americans!"
• "The government must not interfere with business!"
• "Reduce taxes!"
• "Our national debt is something shocking!"

John Boehner? Mitch McConnell? Newt Gingrich? All of the above, and just about every other Republican legislator and luminary?

Maybe so.

But I took the quotes from Henry Gatewood, the crooked banker in the 1939 John Ford/John Wayne film, "Stagecoach." Seventy-two years ago, Gatewood had today's Republican talking points down cold.

Gatewood is the only true, unrepentant villain in the film. He's running off with $50,000 in payroll money deposited in his bank. While in the stagecoach making his getaway, he complains to the other passengers about bank examiners, government interference in business, taxes and, amazingly, the "shocking" national debt.

Here's the clip. (Notice he's clutching the valise with the stolen money as he bloviates about the problems with this country.)

Here's the text:

"Why, they're even talking now about having bank examiners. As if we bankers don't know how to run our own banks. Why Boone, I actually have a letter from a popinjay official saying they were going to inspect my books. I have a slogan that should be emblazoned on every newspaper in the country. 'America for Americans.' The government must not interfere with business! Reduce taxes! Our national debt is something shocking! Over one billion dollars a year!"

Spoiler alert: You'll be happy to know, near the end of the film, Gatewood is handcuffed and taken to jail.

BONUS CLIP: When Gatewood is handed the valise with the money near the beginning of the film, he gets off another classic line.

(APOLOGETIC NOTE TO FILM BUFFS: Please forgive me for using a colorized version of this beautiful black and white film. It's the only copy I could manage to download to my computer.)