The three Americans took their job more seriously than the Kremlin schemers. What they offered... was to teach the Russians Politics 101. Baby politics, Mr. Gorton called it shortly after the election...

я правильно понимаю, что это что-то вроде "основ политики"?

Son: "Dad, I have to do a special report for school.Can I ask
you a question?"

Father:"Sure son. What's the question?"

Son: "What is Politics?"

Father:"Well.let's take our home for example. I am the wage earner,
so let's call me Capitalism. Your mother is the administrator
of the money,so let's call her Goverment.We take care of your
needs,so let's call you The People.We'll call the maid The
Working class and your baby brother we can call The Future.
Do you understand son?

Son: "I'm not really sure,dad. I'll have to think about it."

That night awakened by his brother crying,the boy went to see
what was wrong. Discovering that the baby had seriously soiled
his diaper,the boy went to his parents room and found his
mother sound asleep. He went to the maids's room,where,peeking
through the keyhole,he saw his father in bed with the maid.The
boy's knocking went totally unheeded by his father and the maid,
so the boy returned to his room and went back to sleep.

The next morning he reported to his father.

Son: "Dad,now I think I understand what politics is."

Father:"Good son! Can you explain it to me in your own words?"

Son: "Well dad,while Capitalism is screwing The Working Class,
Government is sound asleep,The People are being completelty
ignored and The Future is full of shit.

101 is also:

In universities, sometimes the course number of basic or entry-level courses. Also used in titles of books to indicate the book is meant for a beginner. At universities with four-digit course numbers, the equivalent course number is 1001 or 1010.

В. С. Черномырдин

По-моему, у Довлатова что то типа: *Открываю любую книгу и сразу начинаю смеяться. Потому что первое слово -- "Введение"* За точность цитаты не ручаюсь.