Richard Nixon did not want John Lennon in America during Nixon’s second run for the office of president. He was too afraid that John, who was a very vocal proponent of peace and love, would sway the election in favor of the Democrats. Nixon’s administration used the INS and the FBI to try to get John deported, citing a previous marijuana charge, which, by today’s standards, would be ridiculous and was found not to be a substantial enough reason not to grant John permanent residency in 1976. Four years later, an assassin ended John’s life in the entranceway to the Dakota where he lived with his wife Yoko and son Sean. I often think that, had he been deported, John might still be with us, but I also think his killer would have followed him anywhere because that’s how crazy he was.

Two years prior to John’s residency, Nixon had to step down from office, after winning in a landslide, due to his involvement with the Watergate break in. In those days it was seen as unconstitutional to try and rig an election in your favor.

I bring this up now not only because John would have been 85 this past Oct. 9, the same age as Ringo, but because these current times seem familiar and, in a way, much worse.

America has always tried to kick somebody out of the country. We started with the English, moved on to people of color, were........

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