John Wayne was the best actor of his day. He was certainly not Shakespearean, rather he was the personification of what was called the "Great Generation". While many have tried to disavow that generation that disposed upon America its strongest period of history, instead celebrating what they call tolerance, which is better described as weakness.
I am sure that the period heralded of American power, is like that of the later Romans and Enoch Powell. "I see the river Tiber foaming with blood" ,the quote going back to Troy itself.