Photo Caption: Actors John Wayne and Mexican film actress Esperanza Baur applying for marriage license in Los Angeles, Calif., 1946. Source: Los Angeles Times photographic archive, UCLA Library. Copyright Regents of the University of California, UCLA Library.
In a recent 60 Minutes interview, CNN’s anti-immigrant, anti-Mexican xenophobe Lou Dobbs revealed that he is married to a Mexican-American (read: Chicana), the former Debbi Segura. In fact, Mr. “Broken Borders” revealed that he lives with 2 Mexicans and a Chicana (not counting the workers or seasonal ranch hands that may help out) at his Nuevo “Yersey” Rancho.
Yes! Dobbs lives with his esposa y los suegros! I love it! I can only imagine that Dobbs probably eats lots of comida Mexicana at home. Probably lots of tacos de carne asada, carnitas, tostadas, etc. are eaten at the Dobbs Rancho while some good Mexican music is playing on the estereo. You know, the kind of music heavy on the accordion, tubas and the tachun-tachun. Do you think “Meester” Broken Borders eats frijoles, too? Yo pienso que si! In fact, Dobbs’ suegros look like mi Tio Cornelio y la Comadre Chata. Dobbs’ suegro even has the Mexican-style razor-thin mustache on his upper lip, just like Pedro Infante used to sport. Can’t get more Mexicano than that. Read the connection to John Wayne after the bump.
Dobbs’ revelation reminds me of another fact. I recently found out that all 3 wives of John Wayne were Latinas. Wayne was widely perceived as a great “American” and defender of all things “American”, and even referred to as the “cowboy patriot“. In 1946, John Wayne married his second wife, Mexican film actress Esperanza “Chata” Bauer. By most accounts, Chata the Mexican was wild and a heavy drinker. The other great fact is that despite having portrayed a soldier in hundreds of war movies, John Wayne never served in the military.
…Wayne’s first wife, Josephine Saenz, was the daughter of a Panamanian consul in Los Angeles… Wayne met his second wife, Esperanza Baur Diaz, nicknamed Chata, in Mexico while vacationing there… He met his third wife, Pilar Wildy (born Palette) in Lima, Peru, in 1953, while he was scouting locations for The Alamo… her father was a Peruvian politician…
…The fact that all three of his wives were Latin American surprised Hollywood; this was the only “non-American” aspect in his life. “I have never been conscious of going for any particular type,” Wayne said in response to a challenge from the press, “it’s just a happenstance…”
8 responses so far ↓
cindylu // May 18, 2007 at 1:03 pm
How strange. I don’t care if either married Latinas or Chicanas, their actions and words say a lot more about their sentiments toward raza.
tacopoet // May 21, 2007 at 7:33 pm
Thank you for your comment, Cindylu. I am a big fan of your blog. Personally, I believe Lou Dobbs’s antics are all for ratings. He’s tapped into a rich vein that is very easy to exploit, the immigrant. He’s exploited the immigrants just like everybody else has.
thewhitechrist // November 30, 2008 at 2:31 pm
Just for the record, I’d say Latinas and Chicanos are NOT the same thing. That’s like saying Bulgarians and Norwegians look the same.
Many, MANY of the South American gentry were FAR more Spanish (i.e, sultry European) rather than Mestizo or Chicano (squat Indian types). It would have helped bolster your assertion about the Duke, had you had all three wives’ pics up there.
Yakub // January 12, 2009 at 8:33 pm
What does the fact that Lou Dobbs is against illegal immigration have to do with the fact that he is married to a Latina? For the record his WIFE is against illegal immigration and she wants the Border closed just as much as He does!
A closed border is not about racism. A closed border is about controlling who enters your country.
Eliza Madrigal // February 20, 2009 at 9:17 pm
Yakub is right. Who’s a little bit racist now? (you)
DOA Dan // March 25, 2009 at 9:32 pm
I don’t understand why this would be a surprise to anyone. John Wayne also spent most of his spare time in Mexico. Wayne was rather old by the beginning of the War, and had a bad back. I can tell you that when your back is gone, you may still look pretty, but there is really not much left of you. Big men usually lose their backs to arthritis by the age of forty.
Wizard // August 18, 2009 at 3:07 pm
thwhitechrist needs to clear some things in his head before he starts miseducating readers about South Americans. Chicanos and Latinos are different just like apples and fruits are different, is that right?
GIL.G // October 20, 2009 at 4:21 pm
So he liked latin women….who cares ! I remember him as a good actor,when a film is being shown and john wayne is in it i watch it. He is gone but his legacy still in good condition.