In Vineland, the Presidents of the United States mark the passage of time and form an important motif. The depiction of the 1960s largely occurs under the Nixon administration (1969-74) while the sections of the novel set in 1984 take place under the Reagan administration. References to the then-current president signify the passage of time that takes place across the two eras.

For the characters living in the 1960s and 1970s, the figure of Richard Nixon looms large. The Nixon era coincides with the end of the counterculture movement: A giant sculpture of Nixon towers over the campus where the People’s Republic of Rock and Roll comes to life and then collapses in short order. This collapse, fueled by conspiracies and paranoia, is indicative of the era itself. President Nixon symbolizes this pervasive paranoia, with his statue watching over the students as their movement collapses.

Ronald Reagan took office in 1981. Notably, he was Governor of California before taking office, as well as the President of the Screen Actors Guild. In both these roles, he oversaw the undermining of union power in favor of big businesses. The novel depicts Reagan’s era as one of authoritarian policies such as the anti-drug agenda, and constant budget cuts.