Beatles Press Conference: Washington D.C. 8/15/66

(as the press conference opens, John is asked about reports that his 'Jesus statement' was purposely timed to stir up controversy and publicity just before their tour.)

JOHN: "Well, that is the... one of the most stupid versions of it. 'Cuz that, I mean... That's not a publicity stunt. We don't need that publicity. Not like that."

TONY BARROW: "Can I add to that, that article was originally published in England last March, so it was nothing to do with, you know, pre-tour."

Q: "The story from the Vatican claimed that the official Vatican newspaper defended your statement. Have you seen this?"

JOHN: "I've seen... uhh... I've seen similar versions of what you're talking about in the paper."

Q: "Do you feel better about the whole thing?"

JOHN: "Well, if it makes other people feel better, it'll make me feel better."

Q: "Do you feel like the whole thing has been over nothing?"

JOHN: "It's not over nothing now, because it IS something. But there weren't as many people upset as I was led to believe, and not so seriously upset."

Q: "Do you figure that this is one of the reasons you haven't been drawing as well on this trip as you..."

JOHN: "Nothing to do with it."

Q: "Pardon?"

JOHN: "I don't think it's anything to do with it. I don't think that we're drawing any less than we expected, whether THIS had started or not. Not really."

PAUL: "The numbers of people 'recepting,' or whatever the word is, is bigger, so I hear."

JOHN: "Who knows."

PAUL: "Yeah."

JOHN: "Who. Who."

PAUL: "Well, Brian knows."

GEORGE: "We're playing for more people on this trip than we have on the last two."