Edwin Walker - Culture

Culture

Walker (along with Air Force General Curtis LeMay) was cited as inspiration for the Air Force General James Mattoon Scott character in the film Seven Days in May; in fact, Walker himself is mentioned by name in the film. While General Scott is portrayed by Burt Lancaster as smooth and formidable in the film, Walker was usually seen as abrasive and strident.

When Walker testified before Mississippi U.S. Senator John Stennis's subcommittee investigating "the muzzling of the military" in 1962, Walker testified,

"It is evident that the real control apparatus will not tolerate militant anti-Communist leadership in a division commander. The real control apparatus can be identified by the effects of what it is doing in the Congo, what it did in Korea..."

Alaskan Senator Bob Bartlett then asked,

"General, are you saying that there exists in this country - in positions of ultimate leadership - a group of sinister men, anti-American, willing and wanting to sell this country out? Is that the correct inference?"

Walker then replied,

"That is correct; yes, sir."

William F. Buckley, Jr., had considered Walker a potential leader of the Right but gave up on Walker in this period.

Walker is also cited as inspiration for General Jack D. Ripper in Stanley Kubrick's Dr. Strangelove

Walker is portrayed by Cameron Mitchell as a supporting character in the 1985 film Prince Jack. The movie includes a dramatization from Walker's perspective of Lee Harvey Oswald's attempt to shoot him.

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