Knute Rockne All American (1940)

Ronald Reagan: George Gipp

Photos 

Quotes 

• George Gipp : Rock, someday when the team's up against it, and the breaks are beating the boys, ask 'em to go in there with all they've got and win just one for the Gipper. I don't know where I'll be then, but I'll know about it. I'll be happy.

• Bonnie Skiles Rockne : [George Gipp is visiting the Rockne home rather than attending a post-game press conference]  You're a strange person, George. Here you are at this very minute the biggest news of any boy in America. And yet you deliberately run away from all that fame and publicity. Why?

  George Gipp : Oh, I don't like people to get too close to me.

  Bill Rockne - Age 5 : Nobody got close to you today, George!

  [Gipp laughs] 

  Bonnie Skiles Rockne : George, Knute and I often talk about you. We'd like for our two boys to grow up and be just like you someday.

  George Gipp : You mean to play football?

  Bonnie Skiles Rockne : No, not just that. To... to have your poise, and thoughtfulness. And your intelligence.

  George Gipp : Did, uh... Rock say that?

  Bonnie Skiles Rockne : Yes. He said those qualities are rare in a boy your age.

  George Gipp : No Bonnie, Rock's the rare one, not me. There'll be new fellas coming along year after year, a lot of 'em much better football players than I ever was. There'll never be but one Rockne, here at Notre Dame or anywhere else. He's given us something they don't teach in schools. Something clean and strong inside. Not just courage, but a right way of living that none of us will never forget. Um... don't tell Rock I said that Bonnie, he'd think I was an awful sap.

  Bonnie Skiles Rockne : That's funny George, he said the same thing about you. There'll never be but one Gipper, not here or anywhere else.

  [Gipp coughs]