Gottfried & Blicero

[Paul Mackin]

On Sat, 19 Aug 2000, Dave Monroe wrote:

> the real and only fucking is done on paper...."  (V616/B718, folllowed shortly
> therafter by Richard M. Nixon's epigraphic "What?" (source?))  Comments?  Am curious
> (an interesting word to use in this context) ...

I think that for one thing I might read "the real and only fucking is done
on paper" as some kind of regret over a postmodern loss of
mimesis. However I've had other thoughts on this line--can't quite recall
them at the present instant.

Don't remember if it's been mentioned in the present go around but
"What" is said to have been made the epigraph to part 4 at the
very very last minute (even after the proofs were in circulation) as a
substitute for some lines from Joni Mitchell's "Cactus Tree." I do well
remember that Gravity's Rainbow came out at the time Watergate was at its
high point. So my notion is that "What" is Nixon's reaction to the news
"They know about the tapes."

			P.