Marketing executives, the corporate spokeswoman and a number of senior editors also either jumped or were pushed overboard.

A marvelous scene describes her audition for the role of corporate spokeswoman for Kmart in 1987.

But Betty Hudson, the corporate spokeswoman for NBC said, "We certainly might go away from the traditional guarantee system."

But Lori Rhodes, a corporate spokeswoman for Saks, said, "talk of renovation is still in the theoretical stages."

Neither Lionel I. Pincus, the firm's chief executive, nor a corporate spokeswoman returned several telephone calls over the last two weeks.

Cassie Kanter, the corporate spokeswoman for NBC, said last night that she could not confirm the decision to initiate layoffs.

Norine Lyons, a corporate spokeswoman, said it was impossible to respond to such a dated charge of political blackmail.

She will live in Milwaukee, her adopted hometown, and she will continue as a corporate spokeswoman.

"We page for potty runs," said Jo Natale, a corporate spokeswoman.

A corporate spokeswoman said a Bronx bookstore might be possible "if we can find the right location," but would not say if anybody was looking.