Questions about "Our Gang"
Richard Dickerson, who is Professor Emeritus at UCLA, is working on a project on "Our Gang" and would like help from Society members who are familiar with Roth's take down of the Nixon administration. Prof. Dickerson, writes, "Posting on the Society webpage my questions about identities of the pseudo-named characters in “Our Gang” sounds like an excellent idea. One never can tell just who might have taken an interest in the identities of the characters. Even if the responses disagree, they would be of interest."
If you'd like to respond to contribute to this project please contact Prof. Dickerson at redic392@gmail.com
Here's Prof. Dickerson's Chart:
Characters in Roth’s “Our Gang”
(approximately in order of appearance in book)
Gov. George Wallow of Alabama George Wallace
Trick E. Dixon Richard Nixon
Mr. Asslick
Robert F. Charisma Robert Kennedy
John F. Charisma John F. Kennedy
Mr. Daring
Attorney General Malicious John N. Mitchell
FBI Director J. Edward Heehaw J. Edgar Hoover
Mr. Respectful
Mr. Shrewd
Vice President What’s-his-name Spiro T. Agnew
Secretary of Defence Lard Melvin R. Laird
Secretary Codger William P. Rogers (Sec. of State)
Secretary Fickle Walter J. Hickel (Sec. of Interior)
Miss Charmin’
President Lyin’ B. Johnson Lyndon B. Johnson
Mr. Practical
Mr. Catch-me-in-a-Contradiction
Mr. Fascinated
Mr. Reasonable
Mr. Hardnose
Gov. George Wallow of Alabama George Wallace
Sen. Hubert Hollow of Minnesota Hubert Humphrey
Sen. Joseph McCastrophe Joseph McCarthy
San Dementia, CA San Clemente, CA
General Poppapower General Eisenhower
Jacqueline Charisma Colossus Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis
NY Mayor John Lancelot John Lindsay
Pitter Dixon Pat Nixon
Prissier, CA Whittier, CA
Teddy Charisma Ted Kennedy
President’s Bilge Secretary, Blurb Press Secretary Ronald Ziegler??
Eric Severhead (newsman) Eric Sevareid, CBS news
Roger Rising-to-the Occasion
Morton Momentus (in Chicago)
Peter Pious (Los Angeles)
Ike Ironic (New York)
Brad Bathos (newsman)
Congressman Fraud
Reverend Billy Cupcake Billy Graham
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Italic = Descriptive name; may not refer to any specific real individual
