The Documentary "The U.S vs. John Lennon", is a great example how music can affect politics. The documentary tells the story of how, Lennon, an anti-war activist faces deportation, which was part of president Nixon's campaign to win over the people. One effects of Lennons' music was on a poet and anti-war activist named John Sinclaire, who was imprisoned for ten years for selling marijana to two undercover police men. Lennon performed a song at the "Free Sinclaire Concert" entitle"John Sinclaire". There were about 20, 000 people in attendence at the rally in 1971, Ann Abor, Michigan. There were also F.B.I in attendence spying on Lennon who kept him under surveillance, under the orders of President Nixon. 3 days after the rally the state of Michigan released John Sinclaire from prison. There was also information discovered by the F.B.I that Lennon would be joining a tour which aimed to get young people to get involved in politics. Simultaneously Nixon was running for a re-election in 1972 and found it would be in his favor to "silence Lennon" so that there wouldn't be much odds against him. Lennons' goal was to beat Nixon who was president during the United States involvment in the Vietnam War, which cost the lives of many American soldiers. Nixon would attempt to stop Lennon by having him deported from the U.S. Nixon argued that Lennons' misdemeanour in 1968 for possesion of marijuana made him ineligible for admission to the U.S. The immigration and Naturalization Services began deportation proceedings against Lennon which forced him to spend the next 4 years in deportation hearings. Also Lennon was kept under close surveillance by the F.B.I for 12 months to keep watch of his political activities. In November Nixon was re-elected and in 1973 of March Lennon was given 60 days to leave the U.S. Lennon responded by holding a press conference in NYC announcing the formation of a conceptual state of "Nutopia", which was a place of "No land, boundaries, passports, only people. In 1975 the order of deportation was overturned. Lennon was killed 5 years later. The reason I chose this topic was to show how big of an impact music would have on politics. Nixon ordered the F.B.I to spy on Lennon was because he was afraid of what kind of impact music would have on politics. Nixon ordered the F.B.I to spy on Lennon because he was afraid of what ind of impact Lennon would have on his re-election. Being a former Beatles' member, who were superstars in the eyes of young America, gave him enough recognition and power to change the political history of America. This could also have helped Lennon obtain his goal of world wide peace and end war, which was not in Nixons' favor. Basically if it wasn't for John Lennon being an international superstar and musician he would have not had such an impact on American politics in his time. He also helped open the eyes and change the views of many americans. Although he did not accomplish his main goals in defeating Nixon, he helped inspire future musicians to use their fame and stardom to thier advantage to stop war hungry politicians.
