rj, look again. Pynchon does name Nixon specifically by name in GR, as well as making fun of him with the Richard M. Zhlubb monniker. Demonstrably, TRP is capable of great subtlety in these character name games and allusions, and it would appear he's doing it on purpose. d o u g m i l l i s o n http://www.millison.com http://www.online-journalist.com