All You Need Is Love
Bill McGurn ·
Jun 29, 2011 at 8:49am
Was John Lennon ... a Reaganite?
In new documentary Beatles Stories, [former assistant Fred] Seaman tells filmmaker Seth Swirsky Lennon wasn't the peace-loving militant fans thought he was while he was his assistant.
He says, "John, basically, made it very clear that if he were an American he would vote for Reagan because he was really sour on (Democrat) Jimmy Carter.
- Comment (12)
- · Quote
- · UnfollowFollow (1)
Comments :
May '10
Re: All You Need Is Love
Of course Bill McGurn beat me to the posting punch! Even more than long-time conservative icons, I enjoy hearing stories about pop culture icons who mature and see the naivety of their previous views. Perhaps some boomers can take solace in the fact that the most important 1960s left-wing pop culture figure recognized his mistakes.
I look forward to smugly grinning the next time I hear a John Lennon song at a peace rally.
Jul '10
Re: All You Need Is Love
That public persona thing can be a bit of a trap for some.
On the non-political side, Ron Perlman's big break was as Beast in the Beauty and the Beast live action drama that also boosted Linda Hamilton's career. Ron has moved on to many more fantasy roles, including two marvelous turns as Hellboy, but in interview is known to confess that it is not an area he personally has ever felt drawn to for entertainment.
My favorite in this area is Bob Dylan, whose songs were fraught with ambiguities and strong narrative combined with lyric imagery. The presence of Biblical imagery and tone in his work was sometimes strong, but he started out vamping for the lefty New York coffee house set and then chasing Joan Baez and writing "Masters of War" and "Blowing in the Wind" and the Left cuddled write in declaring him their poet. I still remember the chain of apoplectic seizures when Slow Train Coming was released in 1978, artistically announcing his conversion to Christianity. And not that nice, mystery-befuddled hand waving Episcopalian stuff, but the apocalyptic (surprise!), ecstatic variety. The Left had so many cows it was milk all day.
Jan '11
Re: All You Need Is Love
From what I've read, Lennon was always a liberal, but at least he was a practical liberal. My favorite line is at the end of Lennon's Luck of the Irish: "Alright, so flower power didn't work. So what? We start again."
Hey, at least he was sane enough to admit that flower power didn't work.
He gave generously to New York cops and firemen; he wasn't a "hate the pigs" whacko. He was a bit of a psychotic for years, but said that the experience of caring for his son as a house husband changed a lot for him. I doubt that it would have made him a Reaganite, but maybe he could have become a liberal we could haggle with.
May '11
Re: All You Need Is Love
I'm not 100% sure about this but apparently Reagan and Lennon appeared on Monday Night Football together in the 70's. They apparently got along well with each other. Reagan kindly explained the game of football to Lennon.
Sep '10
Re: All You Need Is Love
I'd say this was our first clue Lennon had been turned off by lefties
You say you want a revolution
Well, you know
We all want to change the world
You tell me that it's evolution
Well, you know
We all want to change the world
But when you talk about destruction
Don't you know that you can count me out
Don't you know it's gonna be all right
You say you got a real solution
Well, you know
We'd all love to see the plan
You ask me for a contribution
Well, you know
We're doing what we can
But when you want money
for people with minds that hate
All I can tell is brother you have to wait
Don't you know it's gonna be all right
You say you'll change the constitution
Well, you know
We all want to change your head
You tell me it's the institution
Well, you know
You better free you mind instead
But if you go carrying pictures of chairman Mao
You ain't going to make it with anyone anyhow
Don't you know it's gonna be all right
Jul '10
Re: All You Need Is Love
While Lennon was singing (literally) the praises of domesticity and a simpler lifestyle before his untimely death, I prefer to think of this as a measure of the suckitude reached by President Carter.
"My God, if we've lost John Lennon, we've lost the rich, spoiled, drug-addled, socialist, artistic poseur heart of the country!"
May '11
Re: All You Need Is Love
After a quick Google search. Reagan and Lennon did appear together at halftime on December 9th, 1974 in a matchip between the Washington Redskins and L.A Rams.
Jul '10
Re: All You Need Is Love
I vaguely remember reading that Lennon requested WFB, Jr's help to resolve a visa problem, and that the ever gracious gentleman obliged. Couldn't find a reference, tho Mr. Buckley was one who quietly assisted many people.
Feb '11
Re: All You Need Is Love
Actually, George Harrison took a swipe at Reagan in one verse of a little-known song he wrote around 1980 that wasn't released until maybe 1982, called "That's The Way It Goes"... nice melodic little song that was also performed at that 2002 concert in his honor.At least that's what I made the verse out to be about:
"There's an actor who hopes to foot the bill...
Sees a shining city on a hill.....
Step up close, and see he's blind, wined and dined
All he has is pose
But that's the way it goes."
******
Still, it irks me when we get Euro-entertainment types over here doling out self-righteous proclamations on the state of US politics. Lennon had a go at it in the early 70s... just few years back Elton John was over here saying that Americans who didn't vote for Hillary were stupid..... same applies, just 'shut up and sing.'
Dec '10
Re: All You Need Is Love
Franco, I think the first clue was actually:
Let me tell you how it will be (Taxman)
It's one for you, nineteen for me (Taxman)
'Cause I'm the Taxman
Yeah, I'm the Taxman
Sep '10
Re: All You Need Is Love
Stuart Creque: Franco, I think the first clue was actually:
Let me tell you how it will be (Taxman)
It's one for you, nineteen for me (Taxman)
'Cause I'm the Taxman
Yeah, I'm the Taxman · Jun 29 at 3:00pm
Another good one! But George Harrison wrote that one, and George being a spiritual man was no lefty either.
Oct '10
Re: All You Need Is Love
Wish I'd been paying attention when this thread was active. I was a Lennon fan once-upon-a-time, and I've fantasized more than a few times about the possibility of his becoming conservative had he lived. Being intelligent often isn't enough to do the trick, but it helps and I can definitely see him rebelling against the straight-jacket that modern Liberalism has become. Rebelling against the "Rebels". And of course, Revolution aided my speculations. I didn't know about he and Reagan, I'd give a lot to see that. I was also unaware of his contributions to the NYPD or WFB Jr. helping him. Thanks all.