Lenny Bruce (Top Left) was the only person to be mentioned twice in the song. Bruce was a comedian in the time period who specialized in the obscene. He was also influential in politics as a liberal. The lyric “Lenny Bruce is not afraid” comes right after the rapture verse about earthquakes, birds, and snakes, which speaks to Bruce’s obscene nature.

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Leonard Bernstein (Top Right) was an American composer who wrote West Side Story and directed the New York Philharmonic. Bernstein was known for his political commentary which included his call to disarm the nation of nuclear weapons. Comments like these got Bernstein listed as a Communist in Red Channels: The Report of Communist Influence in Radio and Television.

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Leonid Brezhnev (Bottom Left) was a leader of the Soviet Union from 1964 to 1982. His policy of detente during the Cold War was strongly opposed by Reagan and is referred to later in the song. It is interesting how Brezhnev works his way into the dream, the song alludes to  many other political events and people, it gives a good insight into how politicized not only Stipe’s mind but also the nation.

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Lester Bangs (Bottom Right) was a music journalist who wrote for Creem and Rolling Stone. Bangs is often referred to as the greatest rock critic of all time. In his first review of Black Sabbath's first album, he blasted them for being Cream wannabes.