Will Rogers -- American Intellect?

Will Rogers -- American Intellect?

Your intellect may be confused, but your emotions will never lie to you. Will Rogers

One of the most iconic "wits" in American history was that of William Penn Adair Rogers, better known as "Will" Rogers. Born during the Reconstruction Era in 1879, Rogers was a beloved American cowboy, social commentator, humorist, comedian and cynical American wits of the 1920s and 1930s. He was the leading wit of the Progressive Era, and even the top-paid Hollywood movie star of the time. Rogers died in 1935, just as recovery was beginning from the Great Depression. Just as he lived life to the fullest with over 71 movies to his credit, he died in a flash of flair -- he and aviator Wiley Post crashed in a small airplane near Barrow, Alaska (Yagoda, 2000).

Rogers was born in Indian Territory, Oklahoma. His father, a Confederate veteran, was a leader within the local Cherokee society and active in politics and in helping Oklahoma become a state. One biographer believes that one of the reasons for Will's move towards adventure (he became a gaucho in Argentina and then worked in Vaudeville) was the psychological conflict between his father's responsible, high-expectations for a business minded son, and his more easygoing mother, and the personality clashes between father and son after her death (Roach, 1980).

During his run with the famous Ziegfeld in Vaudeville, Rogers' popularity as the all-American cowboy, sometime aided by Theodore Roosevelt's image as a western range rider, he "roasted" President Woodrow Wilson with political humor based on country aphorisms, leaving the audience roaring with laughter, the critics enthralled, and an editorial in the New York Times stating that "Will Rogers…. Is carrying on the tradition of Aristophanes, and not unworthily" (Give a Through to Will, 1922). With that kind of publicity, it was quick that Samuel Goldwyn brought Will to Hollywood, making 48 silent movies until 1929, and becoming one of the few who successfully made the transition to the "talkies." Throughout these movies he played himself -- ad libbing and working in his comments about politics, social life, and his particular views of what he considered to be all-American values (Will Rogers, 2009).

Philosophy and Intellect - Rogers had the particular gift of being able to say things in a way that on the surface seemed very common sense -- the views of the "common man," yet, powerful statements that were worthy of any philosopher. Despite the fact that he downplayed his credentials noting, "Everybody is ignorant, only on different subjects," it was this very talent for self-deprecation and honesty that allowed him to be believable on so many levels (Sterline, 1990, 174).

In fact, Rogers became the epitome of the American cowboy philosopher as he travelled the Courts of Europe. Unpretentious in dress and mannerism, always ready with a smile, and ready to believe that there was a bit of good in everyone. In fact, one of his most famous quotations, "I never met a man I dident (sic) like" comes from his account of meeting infamous Russian revolutionary Leon Trotsky (Yagoda, xii). This, in combination with his slick use of language, and ability to use up-to-date sland and invented words to fit his needs, linked him not only with the cowboy tradition, but speech and mannerism of the American South. Because of this easy going style -- and ability to cut through the extraneous and find the base truth in the matter at hand, allowed him to move through social classes in all countries, standing for the virtues of a self-made-man, with the obvious respect for capitalism, utilitarianism, and faith in the progression of humans (Brown, 1979)