6. John Lennon Seen As a National Threat
John Lennon’s influence in the music industry was revolutionary—maybe a little too revolutionary for the Nixon administration’s liking. Lennon’s songs preached anti-war theology regarding the Vietnam conflict. His songs like “Give Peace a Chance” and “Bring on Lucie (Freda Peeple)” were seen as too radical and as threatening the basis of national security. They were seen as anti-war, and since the US was involved in the Vietnam War during that time, they were also seen as anti-America.
When Lennon came to New York on a visa, he was immediately put under FBI surveillance to ensure that no funny business was going on. Lennon met up with a group of anti-war enthusiasts and was seen as even more of a threat to national security. A year after his arrival, Immigration and Naturalization tried to deport him.[5] Although their attempts were unsuccessful, Lennon continued to be investigated.
Because of the popularity and public nature of the government’s suspicion, many documentaries and articles were written regarding the complication and seriousness of the issue. Interviews were conducted with people close to Lennon, including Yoko Ono, Angela Davis, and Gore Vidal. They were asked about their opinions on the situation and how Lennon’s career changed because of it.