Jimmy Stewart Lobbied For National Boys Camp In ‘Mr. Smith Goes To Washington’

Summer Camp Culture ^ | Apr 2014 | Matt Ralph

[CondoleezzaProtege]

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington is a classic 1939 American political comedy-drama starring James Stewart as wide eyed scout leader Jefferson Smith, who ends up being chosen as the replacement for a recently deceased U.S. Senator.

In over his head when he arrives at the capital, the earnest head of the Boy Rangers is expected by the corrupt leaders of his state to be an easy mark but when Mr. Smith’s first order of business is to open a national boys camp in his home state, he unknowingly stumbles into a political machine bent on using the same land for nefarious purposes.

Smith’s proposal is simple: to create a national boys camp on 200 acres in the unnamed western state he represents:

“For the purpose of bringing together boys of all walks of life from various parts of the country, boys of all creeds, kinds and positions to educate them in American ideals and to promote mutual understanding and to bring about a healthful life to the growing youth of this great and beautiful land,” Smith tells the Senate.

To pay for the camp, Smith proposes that the government lend the money for the camp and boys pay it back by sending pennies, nickels and dimes. Donations pour in, but once the political machine learns of the proposed location for the camp, on the site of a dam-building graft scheme included in an appropriations bill, Smith’s whole plan is held up to scrutiny and his name smeared in the process.

In order to fight the machine and keep the hope for the camp alive, Smith launches a filibuster attempt of epic proportions with the help of his Boy Rangers spreading a campaign of their own to clear his name back home that ends with a dramatic 1930s cinema flair accented by Jimmy Stewart’s passionate delivery and charm.

[CondoleezzaProtege]

You see, boys forget what their country means by just reading The Land of the Free in history books. Then they get to be men they forget even more. Liberty's too precious a thing to be buried in books, Miss Saunders. Men should hold it up in front of them every single day of their lives and say: I'm free to think and to speak. My ancestors couldn't, I can, and my children will. Boys ought to grow up remembering that.

Just get up off the ground, that's all I ask. Get up there with that lady that's up on top of this Capitol dome, that lady that stands for liberty. Take a look at this country through her eyes if you really want to see something. And you won't just see scenery; you'll see the whole parade of what Man's carved out for himself, after centuries of fighting. Fighting for something better than just jungle law, fighting so's he can stand on his own two feet, free and decent, like he was created, no matter what his race, color, or creed.

I guess this is just another lost cause Mr. Paine. All you people don't know about lost causes. Mr. Paine does. He said once they were the only causes worth fighting for and he fought for them once. For the only reason any man ever fights for them. Because of just one plain simple rule. Love thy neighbor. And in this world today of great hatred a man who knows that rule has a great trust.

[Bob434]

He also smuggled out of nepal some ‘abominable snowman bones’- true story

https://knowledgenuts.com/2013/09/16/jimmy-stewart-and-the-yeti-hand-of-pangboche/

[SecAmndmt]

Love the movie, and Jimmy Stewart, a real patriot.

[Mouton]

ditto

[BenLurkin]

A national boys camp in his home state sounds like nefarious purposes. On one hand creating a captive audience for indoctrination, and on the other pork barrel politics.

[Vaquero]

The Simpsons remake. Staring Mel Gibson. (Don’t shoot me it’s satire)

https://youtu.be/W8imsr2WmEg

[WhoisAlanGreenspan?]

Bang

[Jimmy Valentine]

It may help you to remember that Jimmy Stewart was an Eagle Scout and very supportive of scouting before it all went to heck

[sneakers]

Born about five miles away from where I live. There’s even a statue of him in front of our county courthouse and a small museum next door above our town library.

[YogicCowboy]

My favorite silver screen actor, and the greatest ever in my opinion.

[Bommer]

Won’t have to raise money The BSA will soon be dumping camps right and left to defend the pediofiles they kept in leadership. They make the Catholic Church seem normal in comparison.