Discovering that John Boehner made his living as a plastics salesman was not entirely surprising, but telling. Even the most cursory movie-goer in my age group will remember "The Graduate" being given just one word of advice, "plastics," by his wanna-be mentor.
In 1963, when the novel was written, that the artificial was going to dominate American culture really hadn't yet registered. Much less that everything was going to be wrapped in plastic, which is what Boehner was into--packaging, security and advertising in one.
Also telling is that Boehner wasn't into making the stuff. He was just a pusher or promoter. Public persuasion, the ideal background for the modern conservative politician peddling a secure future that's all shiny and bright, was just beginning to take off.