Beatles Petition

6215 Calle Redonda
Scottsdale, Arizona
April 24, 1964

Mr. Herman Kenin
President
American Federation of Musicians
New York, New York

Willard Wirtz
United States Sec. of Labor
Washington D.C.

Dear Messrs. Kenin and Wirtz,

In the past few weeks Miss Debbie Page and I have been sponsoring a campaign against a decision made by you. This concerns action you are taking to keep the British groups, especially the Beatles, out of the United States. We have petitions from numerous parts of the country, all stating our extreme dislike and disapproval of your efforts. These aren't just crank petitions, for we have studied the problem carefully, and we realize that we are only minors, and that you hold high and esteemed positions as leaders of the country. But in this case we cannot accept the statement that, "You Can't Fight City Hall". We are going to fight, argue, negotiate, and keep on sending you thousands of names until some action is taken. Please don't just laugh at the petitions and throw them in the wastebasket--- please hear our plea. I'm sure that you had fads when you were teenagers, and just because they are from another country, there is no need to act that way toward the Beatles. We were a little tired of our American singers, and the Beatles are a refreshing change.

We once again ask you to hear our plea, and please let the Beatles perform here--- they're not hurting anybody.

Very Sincerely,

Bonnie Wilkins

[Response]

May 4 – 1964

Miss Bonnie Wilkins
6215 Calle Redonda
Scottsdale, Arizona

Dear Bonnie:

Thank you and Miss Debbie Page for sending me the petitions urging that the Beatles be allowed to come back to the United States.

The determination and ingenuity you demonstrated are very impressive. I also note that thousands of persons have signed your petitions. This is a tremendous showing of interest.

The reports that I am trying to keep out the Beatles are absolutely incorrect. I am sorry that this false impression was created by an erroneous newspaper report.

I do not know whether the Beatles will apply to re-enter the United States under the part of the law governed solely by the Immigration and Naturalization Service or under the rules where the department of Labor gives certain information to the Immigration Service. In either case, I assume the Beatles would be permitted to enter the United States again as they were earlier this year.

You may be relieved to know that, while the Government of the United States is old, it is not run by old fogies.

Yours sincerely,

W. Willard Wirtz

Secretary of Labor

MCass/ah
4-30-64