The FBI Opened a Case File on John Denver in the 1970s. Why?
John Denver appears to have fallen under scrutiny of the FBI after attending a single antiwar rally in Minnesota in 1971 during the Vietnam War.
One of my earliest memories is John Denver—real name Henry John Deutschendorf Jr.—playing his guitar on Sesame Street.
I’m not sure why Denver strumming his guitar with a bunch of Muppets made such an impression on my mind, but I remembered many of these songs and liked them for their simple harmonies and beautiful, happy lyrics. (I remember getting mildly upset when some of my uncles—who were more like big brothers—would make fun of Denver, whom they considered an uncool hippy.)
Later, I’d listen to Denver’s song “Take Me Home, Country Roads,” which I consider one of the great songs of the era. Even today it warms my soul a little to listen it, and makes me miss the country roads of home. (Wisconsin, not West Virginia.)
You might be wondering by now why I’m writing about John Denver, who died tragically in a plane crash in 1997 at age 53. Well, I recently learned that this peaceful, loving soul had an FBI case file, and an extensive one at that.
Here is the description from Reader’s Digest.
“Denver…wracked up a 33-page FBI file from 1977 to 1990. Though no major crimes were named, the Bureau did note Denver’s appearance at a 1971 anti-war rally and his regular drug use.”
In case you doubt Reader’s Digest, here are federal documents discussing the file on Denver, who appears to have fallen under scrutiny after attending a single antiwar rally in Minnesota in 1971 during the Vietnam War.
Perhaps it shouldn’t have come as a surprise to me the FBI had a file on Denver.
The Bureau has a long history of keeping files on famous people—especially “agitators”—including Aretha Franklin, The Monkees, Kiss, George Steinbrenner, Jackie Robinson, the Grateful Dead, and Muhamad Ali.
A government agency opening case files on citizen exercising their constitutional rights seems more fitting for the Stasi than the FBI, yet it’s a practice shockingly common in America’s history.
As the FBI’s popularity sinks as Americans finally become aware of its activities, it invites an important question: is this a proper function of a federal agency?
If not, why is so little done to stop it?
Not surprising to those of us old enough to remember that era, but still shocking that someone who was the antithesis of violent revolution would come under FBI scrutiny.
I wholeheartedly agree with you about Denver’s talent. I recall seeing a video years ago of a stadium of people singing Country Road - and it wasn’t in the US. I also recall thinking at the time that Denver was perfectly cast as the decent grocery store manager in “Oh God!” with George Burns. And I was terribly saddened when he died, far too young, and people around the world grieved Denver’s passing.
The question you ask at the end of this has a simple answer, Jon, though it's an unpalatable one. Simply put, those who are in a position to do something about it are too scared of having all of their dirty laundry that the FBI has in their files being released to public view.