In 1972, during an interview on Dick Cavett’s show, John Lennon stunned the nation by revealing that the FBI was spying on him. This revelation initially led to widespread disbelief and skepticism, with many questioning why the FBI would take an interest in a pop music icon like Lennon.
Years later, it was Jon Wiener who fought a legal battle lasting 25 years to obtain the FBI’s files on Lennon, proving that the surveillance did indeed happen. The FBI had amassed over 300 pieces of evidence, albeit without substantial merit, portraying Lennon as a threat to national security.
Lennon’s appearance on Cavett’s show marked a crucial moment where he could humanize himself on a mass scale. This public exposure eventually contributed to him being accepted for a Green Card, altering his public image significantly.
The investigation into Lennon’s activities wasn’t directly ordered by President Nixon himself, but rather by his advisors, who saw Lennon’s influence on young voters as a potential threat to Nixon’s reelection campaign. The fear was that Lennon’s anti-war stance and ability to mobilize young voters could sway the election against Nixon.
Wiener explained that Nixon’s administration sought to deport Lennon to prevent him from engaging in activities that could mobilize young voters against Nixon. However, Lennon’s financial resources and legal defense team prevented his deportation within the tight deadlines initially set.
Ultimately, Nixon’s victory in the 1972 election wasn’t as contested as feared, but the administration’s targeting of Lennon remained a testament to their concern over his potential influence on young voters. Ironically, Nixon’s own actions, including the Watergate scandal, would lead to his downfall, indirectly benefiting Lennon by securing his Green Card under President Ford’s administration.