John Lennon: Reaganite
Ernst Blofeld
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John Lennon was a closet Republican, who felt a little embarrassed by
his former radicalism, at the time of his death - according to the
tragic Beatles star's last personal assistant.
Fred Seaman worked alongside the music legend from 1979 to Lennon's
death at the end of 1980 and he reveals the star was a Ronald Reagan
fan who enjoyed arguing with left-wing radicals who reminded him of
his former self.
In new documentary Beatles Stories, 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.
"He'd met Reagan back, I think, in the 70s at some sporting event...
Reagan was the guy who had ordered the National Guard, I believe, to
go after the young (peace) demonstrators in Berkeley, so I think that
John maybe forgot about that... He did express support for Reagan,
which shocked me.
...
"He was a very different person back in 1979 and 80 than he'd been
when he wrote Imagine. By 1979 he looked back on that guy and was
embarrassed by that guy's naivete."
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You may say that I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will be as one