The FBI: Watching The Mike Douglas Show

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION

New York, New York
February 25, 1972

Jerry Clyde Rubin

On February 22, 1972, Jerry Rubin appeared on the Mike Douglas Television Show which was aired on Channel II, Columbia Broadcasting System, from 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. John Lennon, formerly with the Beatles musical group, and his wife were co-hosts on this show. This program was tape recorded and pertinent statements made by Rubin are included in this memorandum.

Mike Douglas introduced Jerry Rubin stating his feelings were quite negative concerning Rubin but that John Lennon wanted him on the show.

John Lennon stated that Rubin was not at all like his image as he and his wife were not like their image. He stated he found something in Rubin that was artistic.

Mike Douglas asked, "What is Jerry Rubin thinking about these days?"

Rubin stated, "Glad you asked that! We're going to support Nixon for President, because by going to China he is furthering communist revolution throughout the world, and also encouraging communism at home. Anything to get elected! Even though it's not appreciated by the right wing, it's appreciated by the left. I'm just kidding! What he has really done is automate the war in Vietnam so that its machines killing people create a situation where 43 people can be murdered at Attica, create a situation where four kids can be killed at Kent State and people are afraid. The atmosphere of the country is one of his debts. I think the administration did this, and he is the symbol of it. And so I'm working very hard with people all over the country to defeat Nixon."

When questioned about the "Movement," Rubin stated that "the way the movement has changed is the pressure is so heavy that if anybody does anything, gets arrested, jailed, killed, that people are very pessimistic."

Douglas stated he had heard that Rubin was against drugs and this was the reason he was in favor of having him on the program. Rubin stated he was not against drugs but against heroin. Rubin stated, "the police are the protectors of the heroin trade, and heroin is used against Black people and against some white people right now, as a killer drug. Too many young kids are taking downers and heroin, because they see no future for themselves in this country, they see no hope in changing the country, they see no decent life in which they can be creative and express themselves, so they shoot into their veins and take a pill. And that's the society's fault, as it offers no alternative. As a revolutionary movement, we've got to give an alternative."

When questioned about voting, Rubin stated that all young people should vote as a block, just like women should vote as a block. "We've got to get Nixon out of the White House because we've got to stop the automated war in Vietnam. It's power if we vote together. We shouldn't vote for any candidate that doesn't automatically withdraw everything from Vietnam. And we ought to go to both Conventions in Miami and San Diego and non-violently make our presence felt and stand on the issues. If we do anything any other way, we'll be killed."

When questioned as to what he thinks is right in this country, Rubin stated that what's right is the fact that there are people in the country who want to change it. He stated that what he thought was beautiful about it, is that the children of America want to change the country and are going to.

Election Year Strategy Information Center (EYSIC)

FBI Current Intelligence Analysis

Volume II, Number 3

February 11, 1972

New "New Left" Group Formed

Operating under the cumbersome title of Election Year Strategy Information Center is a new organization which has been formed to direct New Left protest activities during the 1972 election year, with these efforts geared to culminate in massive demonstrations at the Republic National Convention in San Diego in August. Before finally settling on this name, EYSIC was known both as the Allamuchy Tribe and the International News Service, names which some members of the group still occasionally use. Organizers of this band of activists are seasoned veterans of protest: Rennie Davis, Jerry Rubin, Stewart Albert, and Jay Craven. (CONFIDENTIAL)

Finances do not seem to be an immediate problem for EYSIC since John Lennon, formerly with The Beatles musical group, has reportedly contributed $75,000 to this embryonic organization. Lennon's money and name have placed him in a position of considerable influence in EYSIC--no key planning sessions are being held without Lennon (pictured at left). Lennon, a British subject, has also taken steps to acquire American citizenship. (CONFIDENTIAL)

EYSIC is headquartered in New York City in space rented in a warehouse on Hudson Street. Plans are being generated there to get EYSIC members to appear at major primary elections in 1972 to confront the candidates with the "New Left message" and to additionally encourage individuals to travel to San Diego to demonstrate in August against the Republican Party. (CONFIDENTIAL)

RE: Electronic Surveillance of John Lennon

UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

Memorandum

DATE: September 18, 1973

TO: Director, Federal Bureau of Investigation

FROM: Henry E. Petersen, Assistant Attorney General, Criminal Division

SUBJECT: In re John Winston Ono Lennon, Board of Immigration Appeals

The individual named on the attached list is the subject of a deportation proceeding before the Board of Immigration Appeals scheduled for October 29, 1973, at 2:00 p.m.

Would you please supply us with electronic surveillance information pertaining to the individual named on the attached list, following the form set forth in our memorandum to you dated April 16, 1969.

In addition, should your files reveal that the individual or the premises in which he had a proprietary interest were subjected to electronic surveillance, we would appreciate your furnishing Mr. Robert P. Weidner, Government Regulations Section, Criminal Division, with the following:

1. Logs disclosing the conversation of the individual and logs of any of the premises in which the individual and logs of any of the premises in which the individual is or was the owner, leasee, or licensee.

2. Any airtels which expand or summarize the portions of the logs disclosed unless fully reflected in the logs themselves.

3. Any memoranda, including reports to the Department of Justice, which expand or summarize the portions of the logs mentioned above or which demonstrate pertinent leads which may have come from the illegal electronic surveillance.

It is also requested that you advise us whether the individual has been subjected to any lawful electronic surveillance, including such surveillance where one of the parties may have consented to the surveillance, as well as such surveillance conducted pursuant to the provisions of Title III of Public Law 90-351.

If your records indicate that the individual has used names other than that given, please check your electronic surveillance indices with respect to the additional names.

Attachment

Name: John Winston Ono Lennon

Wife: Alien Citizen of Japan, age 40

Entry: Entered U.S. at New York 8/13/71

Present Address: Dakota House, Central Park West, New York City (most recent)

Prior Address: 105 Bank Street, New York City

Aliases: None Known

Date of Birth: October 9, 1940

Place of Birth: Liverpool, England

Citizenship: English Citizen

Employment: Entertainer

Last Place of Employment:

Attorney: Leon Wildes, 515 Madison, New York, New York 10022

Proceeding Date: October 29, 1973, 2:00 p.m.



NR023 NY CODED
805PM NITEL 9-21-73 NFM
TO DIRECTOR
FROM NEW YORK (92-4564) 1 P

ELSUR, JOHN WINSTON ONO LENNON, BUDED: 9-24 73.

REBUAIRTEL TO NEW YORK, 9-19-73.

THE SPECIAL INDICES OF THE NYO AND CORRESPONDING RECORDS WERE REVIEWED IN ACCORDANCE WITH CRIMINAL DIVISION MEMORANDUM DATE 4-16-69, CONCERNING CAPTIONED INDIVIDUAL, WITH THE FOLLOWING RESULTS:

(A) NO
(B) NO
(C-F) NOT APPLICABLE

SUCH A REVIEW FAILED TO INDICATE THAT LENNON OR PREMISES IN WHICH HE HAD PROPRIETARY INTEREST HAVE BEEN SUBJECTED TO ANY LAWFUL ELECTRONIC SURVEILLANCE.

END


September 25, 1973

Assistant Attorney General
Criminal Division
Director, FBI

1- Mr. Keith

JOHN WINSTON ONO LENNON

ELECTRONIC SURVEILLANCE

Reference is made to your memorandum dated September 18, 1973, requesting electronic surveillance information on captioned individual.

On the basis of identifying data provided by the Department concerning captioned individual, a review has been made of appropriate records. He was not the subject of a direct electronic surveillance nor were any of his conversations monitored by an electronic device of the FBI. Further, this Bureau did not maintain any electronic surveillance on premises which were known to have been owned, leased, or licensed by the above individual.

It is suggested that other Federal investigative agencies be contacted to determine if they had coverage of the subject.

Following Lennon

Airtel

4/10/72

CONFIDENTIAL

To: SAC, New York (100-175319) (Enclosures - 2)

From: Director, FBI (100-469910)

1 - Mr. Horner
1 - Mr. Prousse
1 - Mr. Shackelford
1 - Mr. Pence

JOHN WINSTON LENNON
SM - NEW LEFT

ReNYtel 3/16/72.

Enclosed for information of New York are two copies of Alexandria airtel dated 3/31/72 captioned "White Panther Party, IS - WPP; CALREP; MIDEM," which contains information from Alexandria source relating to current activities of subject.

It appears from referenced New York teletype that subject and wife might be preparing for lengthy delaying tactics to avert their deportation in the near future. In the interim, very real possibility exists that subject, as indicated in enclosed airtel, might engage in activities in U.S. leading toward disruption of Republican National Convention (RNC), San Diego, 8/72. For this reason New York promptly initiate discreet efforts to locate subject and remain aware of his activities and movements. Handle inquiries only through established sources and discreet pretext inquiries. Careful attention should be given to reports that subject is heavy narcotics user and any information developed in this regard should be furnished to narcotics authorities and immediately furnished to Bureau in form suitable for dissemination.

In view of subject's avowed intention to engage in disruptive activities surrounding RNC, New York Office will be responsible for closely following his activities until time of actual deportation. Afford this matter close supervision and keep Bureau fully advised by most expeditious means warranted.

NOTE:
John Lennon, former member of Beatles singing group, is allegedly in U.S. to assist in organizing disruption of RNC. Due to narcotics conviction in England, he is being deported along with wife Yoko Ono. They appeared at Immigration and Naturalization Service, New York, 3/16/72, for deportation proceedings but won delay until 4/18/72 because subject fighting narcotics conviction and wife fighting custody child case in U.S. Strong possibility looms that subject will not be deported any time soon and will probably be in U.S. at least until RNC. Information developed by Alexandria source that subject continues to plan activities directed toward RNC and will soon initiate series of "rock concerts" to develop financial support with first concert to be hld Ann Arbor, Michigan, in near future. New York Office covering subject's temporary residence and being instructed to intensify discreet investigation of subject to determine activiteis vis a vis RNC.

Election Year Strategy Information Center

March 8, 1972

On March 1, 1972, a confidential source of the Federal Bureau of Investigation who has provided reliable information in the past, advised that Thomas Hayden, a convicted Chicago Seven conspiracy trial defendant, flew to the Washington, D.C. area on February 26, 1972, and met with Rennard Cordon Davis, another convicted Chicago Seven conspiracy trial defendant. These two individuals discussed the possibility of forming a group calling itself the "anti-war union". This was described as a coalition of individuals who, in the past, had shown leadership in various new left oriented organizations. The projected purpose of the anti-war union would be to formulate tactics in regard to movement actions during the 1972 election year primary elections, including confrontations with candidates during their speaking tours, and as a support base for the "arena stage" a recently coined description of the new left oriented "entertainment group" that would include John Winston Lennon, former Beatles rock singer, and his wife, Yoko Ono, and function as a stimulus to encourage youths to be in the vicinity of election candidates when they are on tour.

The source indicated that currently the following organizational titles coined by Rennard Davis and his followers appears to be synonymous, and will be functioning toward the general goal of candidate harrassment and general disruption during the 1972 election year: arena stage, Internatioanl News Service, Election Year Strategy Information Center (Office), the youth contingent of the Peopl's Coalition for Peace and Justice.

Queen Says "No" To Pot-Smoking FBI Members

4/23/70

airtel

To: SACs, New York, Los Angeles

From: Director, FBI

JOHN LENNON
GEORGE HARRISON
PATRICIA HARRISON
INFORMATION CONCERNING

On 4/22/70 a representative of the Department of State advised that the American Embassy in London had submitted information showing the captioned individuals planned to depart from London, England, on 4/23/70 via TWA Flight 761 which will arrive in Los Angeles at 7:15 local time. These individuals are affiliated with the Beatles musical group and Lennon will be traveling under the name Chambers while the Harrisons are using the name Masters.

Lennon and the Harrisons will remain in Los Angeles until 5/6/70 for business discussions with Capitol Records and other enterprises. They will travel to New York City on 5/7/70 for further business discussions and will return to London on or about 5/16/70.

Waivers were granted by the Immigration and Naturalization Service and the Embassy was to issue visas on 4/22/70. In this case waivers were necessary in view of the ineligbility of these three individuals to enter the U.S. due to their reputations in England as narcotic users.

While Lennon and the Harrisons have shown no propensity to become involved in violent antiwar demonstrations, each recipient remain alert for any information of such activity on their part or for information indicating they are using narcotics. Submit any pertinent information obtained in form suitable for dissemination.

Lennon, the INS, and the RNC

SECRET

New York, New York
March 16, 1972

John Winston Lennon

On January 21, 1972, [...] advised that a group of individuals calling themselves the Allamuchy Tribe were to open an office in New York City within the next two weeks. The leaders of the Tribe initially were Rennard Cordon David and Steward Albert. The main purpose of the group was to coordinate New Left movement activities during this election year to culminate with demonstrations at the Republican National Convention in San Diego, California during August 1972.

Rennard Cordon Davis is a convicted defendent of the so-called Conspiracy Seven Trial, Chicago, Illinois, in the period September 1969 through February 1970, involving those persons earlier indicted for violation of the Federal Anti-Riot Statute.

Stewart Albert: [...] on April 25, 1966 advised that Albert was arrested on April 12, 1966 at Berkeley, California along with other members of the Progressive Labor Party (PLP) while demonstrating in front of the Berkeley City Hall.

Progressive Labor Party
The PLP was founded in 1962 by individuals expelled from the Communist Party, USA, for following the Chinese communist line. Its objective is the establishment of a militant working class movement based on Marxism-Leninism and Mao-Tse-tung thought.

On January 24, 1972, [...] advised that John Winston Lennon, who was formerly associated with the Beatles Music Group, donated seventy-five thousand dollars to the Allamuchy Tribe, to further their cause of New-Left activities.

On January 28, 1972, [...] advised that the Allamuchy Tribe had changed its name to the Election Year Strategy Information Center (EYSIC), so as to be more effectively known to the general public.

On February 2, 1972, [...] advised that several members of the Peoples Coalition for Peace and Justice from Washington, DC transferred to the PCPJ office in New York City to work on EYSIC.

Peoples Coalition for Peace and Justice (PCPJ)
The PCPJ is self-described as an organization consisting of over 100 organizations using massive civil disobedience to combat war, racisim, poverty and repression. Its National Office is located at 156 5th Avenue, New York City, Room 527.

On February 15, 1972, [...] advised that John Lennon on November 28, 1969, pled guilty in Marylebone Magistrates Court, London, England to possession of dangerous drugs (Cannabis). He was fined L150 and ordered to pay L21 in court costs.

John Winston Lennon. On February 2, 1972, [...], Immigration Officer, Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS), New York City, advised that Lennon, Alien Registration Number A-17597321, first arrived in New York City on August 11, 1968 under a B-2 visitors visa. He subsequently departed the United States, and during his 1971 re-entry was granted another B-2 visa. His latest visa was due to expire on February 29, 1972.

Yoko Ono. [...] advised that Ono, Alien Registration Number A-19489154 was born on February 18, 1933 in Japan. She entered the United States on August 13, 1971 along with Lennon after being granted a B-2 visa.

INS has a current address of the Saint Regis Hotel, 150 Bank Street, New York City for both Lennon and his wife.

During Lennon and his wife's current stay in the United States they made a public appearance along with Jerry Rubin, on the Mike Douglas Television Show which was aired on February 22, 1972 on Channel II, Columbia Broadcasting System, in New York City.

During February 1972, [...] advised that Rennard Davis, Stewart Albert, Jerry Rubin and John Lennon are heavy users of narcotics. Source advised that Rubin and Davis are apparently at odds with Lennon due to his excessive use of drugs, which are referred to in the vernacular as "downers." Source advised that Lennon appears to be radically orientated, however he does not give the impression he is a true revolutionist since he is constantly under the influence of narcotics.

Jerry Rubin is a convicted defendent of the so-called Conspiracy Seven Trial, Chicago, Illinois, in the period September 1969 through February 1970, involving those persons earlier indicted for violation of the Federal Anti-Riot Statute.

On March 14, 1972, Mr. Vincent Schiano, Chief Trial Attorney, INS, New York City, advised that Lennon and his wife Yoko Ono on March 6, 1972 were served with an INS order to show cause as to why they should not be deported from the United States as over-stayed visitors. Mr. Schiano advised that Lennon and his wife are scheduled to appear at INS, New York City on March 16, 1972 to answer the show cause order.

They gave him ten for two

CONFIDENTIAL

Re: Freedom Rally, University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, Michigan, December 10, 1971
Sponsored by Committee to Free John Sinclair

Source six advised December 13, 1971, University of Michigan facilities for captioned rally were obtained by unknown persons on or about November 30, 1971, at a cost of $4,000.00, which was paid for in cash and in advance. Source advised approximately five well known rock bands and/or singers performed at the rally, including John Lennon and wife Yoko Ono. Lennon formerly with group known as the Beatles. Source advised Lennon prior to rally composed the following song entitled, "John Sinclair", which song Lennon sang at the rally. Source advised this song was composed by Lennon especially for this event:

It ain't fair, John Sinclair
In the stir for breathing air
Won't you care, for John Sinclair
In the stir for breathing air.
Let him be, let him free
Let him be like you and me

They gave him 10 for 2
What more can the judges do
Gotta, gotta, gotta, gotta, gotta
Gotta, gotta, set him free.

If he'd been a soldier man
Shooting gooks in Vietnam
If he was a flying man
Dropping dope in old Siam
He'd be free, they'd let him be,
Breathing air, like you and me.

They gave him 10 for 2
What more can Judge Colombo do
Gotta, gotta, gotta, gotta, gotta
Gotta, gotta, set him free.

Was he jailed for what he done
Representing everyone
Free John Now if we can
From the clutches of the man
Let him free, lift the lid
Bring him to his wife and kids

They gave him 10 for 2
What more can Colombo, Nixon, Rockefeller, Agnew do
Gotta, gotta, gotta, gotta, gotta
Gotta, gotta, set him free.

On December 13, 1971, source six advised he learned from Lennie Sinclair, Officer WPP, that the Detroit Committee to Free John Sinclair netted a total of $26,000.00 from the rally.

Following are verbatim speeches of William Kunstler, Rennie Davis, Jerry Rubin and others as indicated:

BOB RUDNICK - MC

People have come from various parts of the planet to help get JOHN out. All right, BOBBY SEALE will be here, PHIL OCHS, JERRY RUBIN, SHEILA MURPHY, the UP, ED SANDERS, Commander CODY, RENNIE DAVIS, LENI SINCLAIR, ARCHIE SHEPP (phonetic), Father GROPI, a special guest and then DAVID PEEL with JOHN LENNON and YOKO ONO.

The lost and found and drug help is in the north west, I think that's over there if you need it. Right now we're gonna have a tape. OK, this is gonna be an all night long hassle, we gotta keep the aisles clear, the firemen are running around so if possible we're gonna have to keep announcing, just keep the lanes as clear as you can.

WILLIAM KUNSTLER is a little busy with a new case. He's trying to get someone else out of jail and couldn't be here, so to send a message he put it on tape and we're gonna have that in about ten seconds.

WILLIAM KUNSTLER (taped message)

I have tried everything I could to be in Ann Arbor tonight but it is impossible. But I know that so many of JOHN SINCLAIR's friends will be with you that my absence will be more keenly felt by me than by anyone else. Yet I could not let the night go by without at least making this tape, unsatisfactory as it is, to give some concrete form to my devotion to JOHN and the cause which he symbolizes and represents.

JOHN is in jail for two essential reasons; first of all he is a political person who calls into question the validity of the super state which seeks to control all of us and destroys those it cannot readily dominate. Secondly, his harsh sentence dramatizes the absurdity of our marijuana laws which are irrational, unjust and indefensible. Recently, the National Institute of Mental Health submitted to the Congress its hundred and seventy six page report "Marijuana and Health" which comes to the conclusion that quote For the bulk of smokers, marijuana does not seem to be harmful, end quote. Yet it is made a crime in every state with penalties ranging in severity frmo life to six months in jail. On the other hand, conventional cigarettes can be legally sold as long as they bear a legend on the package that they can cause serious illness or death.

Bobby Seale

...We will have 20 in the next 8 months and we might have 30 in the next two years. At the same time we are going to have a quantitative increase in every major oppressed community in the country. Got to happen! It's the only way we are going to attack capitalism. To exappropriate from that capitalistic system the goods, the technology, etc. put it down in the poor oppressed communities all of us the people that are oppressed and us too and everybody processing it and giving it away free. It's the only way I know to start attacking the monster of capitalism. A monster of charging people money for everything they get, we're saying the music is free, the life is free, the world is free and if it ain't free, let's start getting out chains off now. The psychology chains and the chains of oppression. Let's get it off now. Let's have the chains off of us now, 'cause if we don't have the chains off of us they are going to annihilate us. They are going to anniliate us by polluting this earth, the capitalists and the fascists they are going to do this here. We saying the universe belongs to the people. Mars belongs to the people, and the people belong to the people, all power to the people. Thank you very much. Right on, power to the people.

JERRY RUBIN
(first part not recorded)

. . . . also, PUN PLAMONDON is in jail, he is also with the Rainbow Peoples Party, he was the first person to become a fugitive and go underground in this country, and then he was caught and now he's in jail and we ought to have this rally to free PUN PLAMONDON and to free the 2,000 people who are now in jail for smoking dope, most of whom are black, and you see what people are going to feel most across the country, when they hear about this rally. Think of all the prisoners behind bars, how they are going to feel, fed shit food, isolated, treated like animals and if they do anything courageous they lose their good time, and they have to stay in jail longer and longer this rally is going to be the first prison rally all across the country demanding that they lay down the bars and let all the prisoners out. And while letting all the prisoners out, they ought to jail the judges, 'cause every judge, every judge should spend six months in a jail to see what it's like. To see what the feeling is of being locked up, and see whether that makes you feel any more human. This is the first event of the Rock Liberation Front and it's really incredible that JOHN LENNON and YOKO ONO are going to be here, here tonight, and should really think of what the meaning of that is. 'Cause it's really a committed act by people who are very involved in music, who are identifying to the culture you and I are part of. The family that you and I are part of and for them to come on this stage, and for JOHN to sing his song it ain't far JOHN SINCLAIR and for JOHN and YOKO to sing a song about the IRA and Attica State. It's really incredible. It shows that right now we can really unite music and revolutionary politics and really build the movement all across the country. (applause). It's like a whole, it's like a whole cultural renaissance, is about to begin and if JOHN and YOKO can come here we really haev to go back to high school and colleges and communities and rebuild the movement to rebuild the revolution because all the people who say the movement and the revolution is over should see what's going on right here, because it doesn't look over to me. But there are, there are a lot of problems, for example the amount of heroin and dope that is smoked in the black and white youth communities is really serious. So many young, 15, 16, 17-year-old kids who are totally wiped out on downers, 'cause they have to find some way to get through the prison of high school and college and some way out of the prison of America, instead of building a revolutionary movement. The amount of heroin that is floating around our communities, we have to drive the heroin pushers out of our communities and build (applause). So heroin is poison and you know it gets its source from Southeast Asia, Laos, and then, it's shipped by the CIA back to the U.S. as a poison to poison us so we don't make a revolution, that's why they are pushing all this heroin into us. (applause). Also, there is like a very strange spirit among young people today, a spirit of tremendous mistrust, a spirit of which anybody who takes an action, calls a demonstration, comes forward with something is attacked by someone else, in the movement for being an ego-tripper or media freak or doing something wrong. It's a total anti-leadership spirit, so the people are afraid to take the initiative or afraid to take actions, not because of what the pig might do, but afraid to take, take action because of what their own brothers and sisters might say to them. It's a very strange thing that people are afraid to speak out and that's why there's such a quiet across the country, 'cause the moment somebody does something, someone else right next to him says, I didn't like what you did. We have to give each other a chance to make mistakes, we have to give each other a chance (inaudible) because if we are our own worst critics, no one is going to do anything, we are going to be paralyzed in fear, and all the violence and hostilities that we felt against [...]

And JOHN SINCLAIR is a key person in the liberation struggle, the struggle to liberate all the people from the overt and the covert prisons, from the prisons behind bars and outside bars, and we need JOHN SINCLAIR out of prison not only for his own sake but to help in that struggle. JOHN SINCLAIR has united rock and revolution. He has united a position to political repression and to economic exploitation. His united opposition from domestic oppression and foreign aggression and we want JOHN SINCLAIR out of prison, we want him out of prison to help us organize the music at San Diego. (applause). And we want him out of prison to organize the music in a lot of events like this one, that will take place up and down the country between now and San Diego to get those other prisoners out of jail, out of the jail of the factories that they are in, out of the jail of the money system, out of the jail of the factories that they are in, out of the jail of the money system, out of the jail of the foreign policy. Now I'm just going to say one sentence about the war and I think RENNIE indicated already that NIXON's program is not for winding down the war but for winding down the anti-war movement. It's the most cynical appeal to us, to say it doesn't matter that more people are being killed today than there were last month, it doesn't matter that there were more people killed last month, it doesn't matter that there were more people killed last month than there were under JOHNSON, as long as they are Asians, as long as they are not Americans. But you want a real clue to that kind of cynicism, I'll quote one of my political advisors, GEORGE WALLACE. GEORGE WALLACE came up with a shadow cabinet yesterday and who do you suppose was his secretary of state: Ambassador WILLIAM PORTER who is NIXON's Ambassador to the Vietnamese peace talks. That tells you what's happening to the Vietnamese peace talks. That tells you what's happening to the war under the Nixon program. Now one last point, I also came here tonight to hear JOHN and YOKO, and so did a lot of other people, but I came here to hear JOHN and YOKO sing a song to the Liberation of JOHN SINCLAIR and the other prisoners. We have the power, we have the strength if like the Vietnamese and the Cambodian and the Laotians, we do not allow the government, visible or invisible, to pacify us, if we do not allow them to convince them that we are weak and impotent and that nothing we do will matter. Ever since 1964, the press, the dove press, mind you, and the government has been saying that the war is ending and the anti-war movement is dead, but it has never been through, and it is not through today.

It Ain't Fair, John Sinclair

TO: SAC, DETROIT
FROM: SA [...]
DATE: 12/23/71

Dates of Contact: 12/14/71

Informant advised that he attended the rally held in Ann Arbor on 12/10/71 to raise funds for the release of JOHN SINCLAIR from prison. Informant drove to Ann Arbor with [...] (name unknown). Upon arriving at Ann Arbor, they met three white males and two white females (names not recalled). The individuals whom they met seemed to know a lot of people and took informant behind the podium to meet BOBBY SEALE, as he was finishing his speech.

SEALE greeted them as "brothers in the movement". Informant advised that SEALE was wearing a very expensive diamond ring and a watch that he estimated as costing at least $1,000.00. When SEALE gave his public speech or met the public, he turned the diamond ring around so that the stones could not be seen. SEALE told the informant and others in the group with him that the BPP is opening three food clinics and that "If the pigs interfere with him in any way, he will open free gun clinics and distribute free guns." SEALE elaborated on this point and said "We have access to all the guns we want, and we'll kill any 'pig' that gives us trouble."

Informant noticed that SEALE had several body guards standing immediately behind him while SEALE was talking with informant and others in informant's group behind the podium. All of these body guards were carrying guns and their actions were disciplined such as that used in the military.

Informant was present for the last part of SEALE's public speech when he spoke of the Black Panter factory which produces food and clothing and the Black Panther farms. SEALE also made the following public statement: "You FBI m_____ f_____, we know you're here."

While behind the podium, informant also personally met JOHN LENNON (former member of the Beatles Band). LENNON spoke in definite anti-law enforcement tones and is a strong believer in the movement and the overthrow of the present society in American today.

Informant advised that STEVIE WONDER was present, that he entertained and made a plea for peace. Informant also saw Reverend DENNIS MOLONEY, Reverend JAMES BLAKESLIE (associate of MOLONEY), and JOHN SINCLAIR's wife (who appeared to be "stoned").

Report on John Winston Ono LENNON

1. I attach a copy of a note prepared by our Head Office on the above-named, together with a copy of his vetting form. We previously corresponded with you about LENNON and ca 17 February 1972 sent you a five paragraph report, a copy of which is attached also for ease of reference. At the time you were told that the 1972 report could be disseminated to the INS.

2. The information in these notes may be made available to the INS only on the understanding that under no circumstances will it, or the identity of the originating agency, be disclosed to the public or to the subject of the report, or to his representative or employer, in any administrative or judicial proceedings without the written consent of the originating agency.

John LENNON

Since 1972, LENNON has continued from time to time to lend his support to various extremist causes, but does not appear to owe allegiance to any one faction.

John Winston / John Ono LENNON
Born: 9.10.40 at Liverpool
Add: Tittenhurst Park,
London Road,
Sunningdale,
Ascot, Berks.

1. In February 1971 John LENNON, who was already well known as a musician, gave an interview to Tariq ALI and Robin BLACKBURN who were members of the Editorial Board of the International Marxist Group paper "Red Mole". In this he implied that he was sympathetic towards I.M.G., which is a small Trotskyist group which owes allegiance to the United Secretariat of the Fourth International. LENNON emphasised his proletarian background and his sympathy with the oppressed and underprivileged people of Britain and the world. Immediately after it was published in "Red Mole", ALI and BLACKBURN set about selling the interview to papers in Western Europe, and about £700 was realised from the sale of the rights of reproduction and these were retained by the International Marxist Group, presumably with LENNON's agreement. It is believed that LENNON promised to advance sums of money to I.M.G. in order to finance the establishment of a left wing bookshop and reading room in London. Despite a long courtship by BLACKBURN and ALI, as far as we know, no sum has been paid by LENNON for this purpose to them. LENNON has put it about that his tangible assets are committed to his efforts to recover the custody of his wife's child, who is in the care of her former husband in the United States.

2. Under the influence of BLACKBURN and ALI, LENNON has taken an interest in extreme left wing activities in Britain, and we know [...] that in June 1971 he was introduced to Regis DEBRAY, the French revolutionary journalist, after his release from prison in Bolivia. In April 1971 John LENNON and Yoko ONO were signatories to an appeal to "all progressive governments to support the government of Prince Sihanouk in the face of the extension of the Vietnam War into Cambodia."

3. LENNON has encouraged the belief that he holds revolutionary views, not only by means of his formal interviews with Marxists, but by the content of some of his songs and other publications.

4. He has, however, apparently resisted the attempts of any particular group to secure any hold over him. His contacts with a number of radical groups engaged in publishing "underground" newspapers have led them to believe that he might be willing to finance their efforts. We have no certain proof that these expectations have been fulfilled. The latest in this series of allegations that he is willing to finance such activity is the suggestion in November 1971 that he was advancing £5,000 to make a film about the political situation in Northern Ireland, and that he also sponsored a film made about the same time which dealt with a notorious murder which has been, according to the radical press, to an innocent person who was wrongly convicted and executed some years ago.

5. LENNON is director of a number of public companies in Britain, and any money which is advanced for subversive purposes might well be made from their funds rather than as a direct payment from LENNON. The largest company in which he is interested is the Apple Corporation Limited; another company is Maclen Music Limited, but these do not probably exhaust the number of firms over which he has dominant influence.