Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Aide: Lennon Was Closet Republican

Former Beatle voiced support for Reagan, says last assistant

By Rob Quinn, Newser Staff | Suggested by Guvner

Posted Jun 30, 2011 2:39 AM CDT | Updated Jun 30, 2011 4:01 AM CDT

(Newser) – Hippie icon John Lennon was a secret fan of Ronald Reagan, claims his final personal assistant. Fred Seaman, who worked for the Lennons in the year before the ex-Beatle's death in 1980, says Lennon was embarrassed by his radical past, the Toronto Sun reports. Lennon "made it very clear that if he were an American he would vote for Reagan because he was really sour on Jimmy Carter," Seaman says in the new documentary Beatles Stories.

Lennon biographer Jon Weiner, however, isn't buying Seaman's claim that the star was a closet Republican just because he was disillusioned with Carter. Lennon never abandoned left-wing politics and spoke out in support of striking workers just weeks before his death, Weiner writes in the Nation, noting that Seaman was sentenced to probation after being convicted of stealing some of Lennon's belongings after his death. Click for another skeptic's view.

[Images (2)]

[Quotes (1)]

Photo Credit: Iain Macmillan (C) Yoko Ono -- John Lennon albums remastered and new collections compiled for 'Gimme Some Truth' global catalogue initiative. (PRNewsFoto/EMI Music, Iain Macmillan)

Does this look like a Republican? (PRNewsFoto/Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Annex)

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

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. - Fred Seaman

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

CLICK BELOW TO VOTE

19%

26%

41%

To report an error on this story, notify our editors.

OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

AP Photo

Chef Serves Up … His Own Genitals? (Huff Post)

My Boss Walked in on Me Touching Myself, Now He Won't Stop Flirting (Slate)

This Celebrity May Be the Worst Metrosexual Ever (Bleacher Report)

Has Aston Kutcher Been Sneaking Around with Demi Moore's Daughter? (The Stir)

Which Celebrity Was Attacked By a Former Girlfriend? (NewsOne)

Partner Links

Sponsor Links

A snapshot of the day's best news stories.

View Larger Grid

All Today Yesterday Pick a Date

COMMENTS

Read the comment policy

Showing 3 of 21 comments

yandor

Jun 30, 2011 9:51 PM CDT

Some things are better left dead and just because Mr. Lennon liked some conservative ideas does not mean that he is any one thing. It just goes to show that Mr. Lennon used his mind. I think this is pretty amazing how much the Legend is being talked about. However, I really think John Lennon the Legend would have liked Ada, Legend of a Healer http://www.adaslegend.com it is the story of a girl who has the power to heal and the philosophical and ethical problems that would arise from having this ability.

Jeffrey-Lebowski

Jun 30, 2011 2:03 PM CDT

I am the walrus.

anchower

Jun 30, 2011 1:53 PM CDT

Either way, the Beatles are still the most overrated band in history.

What's Popular Now on Facebook

Rape Conviction Cleared, Thanks to Facebook

80-Year-Old Skydiver Slips Out of Harness

Toronto Sun (Source Grid »)
Salon (Source Grid »)
The Nation (Source Grid »)

Entertainment • Celebrity • Politics

John Lennon • Ronald Reagan • Beatles • Fred Seaman

More Newser Stories

Coming Soon: Beatles 2, Featuring Beatles' Kids?

James McCartney says he, Sean Lennon, Dhani Harrison are up for it

(NEWSER) - Today in Terrible Ideas: The Beatles' offspring just might form a sort of "Beatles 2" band—at least to hear one of Paul McCartney's kids tell it. "I'd be up for it," James McCartney tells the BBC . "Sean [Lennon] seemed to be into it, Dhani [Harrison] seemed to be into it. I'd be happy to do it." Ringo Starr's son Zak, however, was apparently not so keen on the idea, although the younger McCartney noted that Zak's brother Jason might want to join instead. More»

John Lennon Peace Sign Sells for $154K

He made the placard during a 'bed-in' with Yoko Ono

(NEWSER) - A placard that got prominent play during a "bed-in" peace protest by John Lennon and Yoko Ono in 1969 has fetched the handsome price of $154,000, reports Bloomberg . The sign reading "Bed Peace" was on the window behind the couple as they staged their weeklong protest in Montreal's Queen Elizabeth Hotel. A smart sound engineer grabbed it and had the couple sign it. An anonymous telephone bidder had the winning bid at Christie's in London. Impressive, but nowhere near what this diamond got . More»

For Sale: John Lennon's Tooth

It's expected to fetch more than $15K

(NEWSER) - Looking for some incredibly weird and expensive yet vaguely gross memorabilia for the Beatles fan on your Christmas list? Well you’re in luck, because one of John Lennon’s teeth will go up for auction at Omega Auctions in Stockport, England, next month, where it’s expected to fetch more than $15,000, the BBC reports. Lennon gave the tooth to his housekeeper, Dot Jarlett, in the late 1960s, and her family has kept it ever since. More»

Beatles Headed to iTunes?

Fab Four's iconic catalog was noted holdout

(NEWSER) - Fab Four fans, rejoice: Or at least hold your breath, because the Wall Street Journal is reporting that Steve Jobs' pending iTunes news is that Apple is nearing a deal to bring the Beatles' catalog at long last onboard. Apple is readying an announcement, anonymous insiders say, while also warning that plans could still change at the last minute. The Journal notes that an agreement would end decades of tension between the two giants; the Beatles originally sued Apple in 1978 for copyright infringement on their Apple Records and Apple Corp. Ltd. More»

Yoko: It Was Paul Who Saved My Marriage to John

Despite feud, McCartney came to former bandmate's aid

(NEWSER) - Marking what would have been John Lennon’s 70th birthday, his widow Yoko Ono revealed yesterday that it was Paul McCartney who saved their marriage. Despite the bandmates' well-known post-Beatles feud, McCartney came to Lennon’s assistance during the infamous “lost weekend,” when he ran off with his personal assistant, Ono tells the Times in an interview obtained by the Daily Mail . McCartney “was genuinely concerned about his old partner,” Ono recalls, and visited her to ask how Lennon could win her back. More»

NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS

What is Newser?

Face it: there's too much news. At Newser, we choose the most thought-provoking and entertaining stories from hundreds of US and international sources and reduce them to a headline, picture, and two paragraphs. And we do it 24/7—you can come back morning, noon, night (and in between) for something new that matters. Read less, know more.

Learn more »

Partnering with: Slate

View Newser on the mobile website

Aide: Lennon Was Closet Republican

Former Beatle voiced support for Reagan, says last assistant

[Images (2)]

[Quotes (1)]

OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

John Lennon • Ronald Reagan • Beatles • Fred Seaman

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

Coming Soon: Beatles 2, Featuring Beatles' Kids?

James McCartney says he, Sean Lennon, Dhani Harrison are up for it

John Lennon Peace Sign Sells for $154K

He made the placard during a 'bed-in' with Yoko Ono

For Sale: John Lennon's Tooth

It's expected to fetch more than $15K

Beatles Headed to iTunes?

Fab Four's iconic catalog was noted holdout

Yoko: It Was Paul Who Saved My Marriage to John

Despite feud, McCartney came to former bandmate's aid

About Us

Site

Community

Site Maps

Tools

More News

What is Newser?