President Nixon (in office from 1969 to 1974) couldn’t stand Lennon because of his open criticism of the Vietnam War, according to Harris. Presley, on the other hand, was a close friend of the US head of government and was therefore also asked by him if he wanted to spy on Lennon and “gather as much information about him as possible”.
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“It seemed like Lennon saw them flying at the time when he said his phone was tapped and he felt like he was being followed everywhere. But it was true, he was really followed,” Harris said. “Nixon was after him and that’s why Lennon was imprisoned in the US. He knew he would never enter America again if he went back to the UK. Not while Nixon was in the White House.”
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Incidentally, Lennon and Presley also did not click, according to Harris. “It was hate at first sight” when they met in the mid-1960s. “It was a big disappointment for John, because he loved Elvis’ music. It was also a big shock when he found out that Elvis was a right-wing southern fanatic. At the same time, Elvis saw John as a know-it-all from Liverpool who had dethroned him.” Lennon had surpassed Presley according to Harris and The King was “extremely bitter” about that.
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