John and Yoko raise their fists as they join a protest
by about 500 persons in front of British Overseas Airways Corp. offices
in New York on Feb. 5, 1972.
Even after The Beatles broke up, John Lennon was so influential on American culture that the government tried to have him deported.
The legal battle between Lennon and U.S. Immigration began this week in
1972, when he was at the height of his political activism.
According to Jon Wiener’s book Gimme Some Truth: The John Lennon FBI Files, the Nixon Administration (we know, crazy)
issued one letter ordering Lennon to be “arrested if at all possible on
possession of narcotics charge” to give them good reason to deport the
Beatles legend. Yup, Lennon was so outspoken that the U.S. government
tried to deport one of the most treasured and revered artists in all of
music.
The Nixon Administration was legitimately concerned that Lennon alone
would influence enough voters to swing the election in favor of Nixon’s
opponent, so that should put in perspective just how massive a figure
Lennon was at the time. It also didn’t help Nixon that Bob Dylan penned a typically eloquent letter to the INS defending him which said:
John and Yoko add a great voice and drive to the country’s
so-called art institution. They inspire and transcend and stimulate and
by doing so, only help others to see pure light and in doing that, put
an end to this dull taste of petty commercialism which is being passed
off as Artist Art by the overpowering mass media. Hurray for John and
Yoko. Let them stay and live here and breathe. The country’s got plenty
of room and space. Let John and Yoko stay!
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