The Congressional Gold Medal is a rare honor bestowed by Congress on a civilian who has had a major impact on American history or culture. In 1979 Senator Barry Goldwater along with Elizabeth Taylor, Katharine Hepburn, Kirk Douglas, and Gregory Peck, among others, appealed to Congress to authorize President Jimmy Carter to present John Wayne the medal. It was actress Maureen O’Hara, a long-time co-star of Wayne’s, who told the subcommittee exactly what the gold medal should say: “John Wayne, Ame

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