John Lennon famously opted not to have security for a variety of
reasons, but primarily because he wanted to maintain a sense of normalcy
and freedom in his life. He was known for his belief in peace and love
and often expressed a desire to connect with people on a personal level.
Additionally, he may have felt that having security would create a
barrier between himself and his fans, which went against his desire for
openness and accessibility. Unfortunately, this decision left him
vulnerable, and tragically, he was fatally shot by a fan outside his
apartment building in New York City in 1980.
One afternoon I entered the room while John entertained a guest. My sudden appearance took him by surprise but rather than sending me away, he introduced us.
“Michael, this is Doug MacDougall.”
“Doug, this is Michael . . .” John said. Then he couldn't recall my last name. He gave me a look and blurted, “This is Michael Tree.” My Portuguese family name always got him confused.The next day, John told me Doug was a retired FBI agent hired to be Sean's bodyguard. He worried that his son could be the target of kidnappers.
According to Fred Seaman: "The bodyguard, an ex-FBI agent named Doug MacDougall, was originally hired in spring 1979 as Sean’s bodyguard. After John and Yoko went public in September 1980 MacDougall urged Yoko to beef up security. He was particularly alarmed by an interview Yoko gave to the Daily News in which she indiscreetly talked about their recording schedule and even the route their limo took. On September 25 Doug had a stormy meeting with Yoko in which he suggested that they have an armed guard ride with John and Yoko in their limo, or that a guard meet their limo at the entrance to the recording studio and Dakota. Yoko rejected both suggestions. Frustrated by Yoko’s lackadaisical attitude regarding security Doug then went on a 'leave of absence.' He was scheduled to meet with Yoko on December 9 to review the security issue, but by then it was too late."
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