The death of a President means nothing to these people, locked as they are in their religion of Play. But enough meaning is enough. The games are described with loving horror. Tragedy is not really possible in this world, although suffering may be constant. Updike is not a humanist.
Man is too small to fuss over inordinately.
This kind of stoicism is easy enough to fake. And Updike can be quite the virtuoso. But with each book, his position seems a less flashy and more solid. But this goes against his religion.