Reagan, again, easy target or not; sorta tidbit from real life

[Mark Kohut]

And I think Pynchon took clear aim at one target he had to.

I heard Nancy Reagan for a few moments on TV about Ted Kennedy. It was
eeerie 'cause she spoke as if Ronnie were still alive and she was merged
with him, so to speak. ....we loved Ted through it all....or somethin' like that....

Like some other women in the Family, so to speak, and in P's books. 

Charisma is a disease. See GR.