CraigParis: You need to go back and watch Season 1. He grew up as "Dick Whitman", but changed identities trying to escape an unhappy past. While in the army in Korea, he switched dogtags when his superior got killed. That guy's name was Don Draper. You need to see all of Season 1 because it's more complex than my explanation here. Are you aware of what happened to his brother Adam?

Hi craigparis!
Could it be someone who knows his secret, and is blackmailing him?
Then I thought maybe it was the man he met on the commuter train early in Season one, he did give Don/Dick his business card, and told him to contact him if he wanted.

Missed detail!!!!!
Don identifies himself as "STEVE WHITMAN" not
Dick Whitman!

Don has done some immoral things but is a decent man. Has anyone thought maybe he has a mental illness and he was calling a doctor? Think about the advice he gave Peggy in the hospital. Maybe a dual diagnosis including sex addiction?

All I know is right now he is lost and extremely vulnerable. I do believe he wants Betty and this life he had, but doesn't know why he can't stop his behavior. He is intrigued by Joy but may instincually know something is wrong. He's walking a dangerous line and is about to fall victim to these people who will make anything immoral he's done look like small potatoes. They certainly targeted him and may swindle him out of loads of money... maybe they're into distributing drugs or something... maybe Don will get addicted.

The show itself to me was about the passing of the old times into the new times - not just from the 50's to the 60's - but the men's lives as they know them are about to unravel. So is the agency. The women will become more empowered. This was an important episode.

I'm guessing you haven't been watching long. We learned in Season 1 that Don Draper switched identifies with a dead soldier during the Korean War. Don's real name is Dick Whitman. That is the short version of a long story. This whole show is wound around the mystery of Don Draper/Dick Whitman - who is he, what does he want, when will he be found out (other than Pete's blackmail), where is he going, and the whole why of everything? This show is utterly fascinating - writing, characters, acting, set decoration, direction, everything has come together to make a terrificly thought provoking and entertaining TV show.

Oh, and if not a doctor, maybe his banker to get money.

I don't think it was anyone he is being blackmailed by. Otherwise, I think the tone of his voice would've been unfriendlier and colder. Don seemed relaxed, and warm on the phone, like "Hi, it's me." So, whoever it is, he's known for a long time and obviously feels comfortable with.

Someone suggested the hobo, but it's been close to 25 years since the hobo was in his life (Dick was 10 when the hobo appeared in his life). If it is the hobo, that guy would have to be around Bert's age by the 1960's.

HELLO!FOR ALL THAT HAVE RESPONED THIS WAY ISAWLAST SEASON OVER AND OVER THAT WASNT MY POINT MY POINT WAS WHAT ABOUT WHAT IS TAKING PLACE BEING IN CA. AROUND STRANGE PEOPLE IS MAKING HIM GO BACK TO AND HE DID SAY DICK WHITMAN

Got it.

CraigParis: In the words of Gilda Radner "Never mind."

CraigParis: In the words of Gilda Radner "Never mind."

I am so sorry, Craigparis, for misunderstanding your question. It is just that so many times new people ask for clarification on things that I went on auto pilot, I guess, and force fed you information you already knew.

I was sitting there getting bored with the whole CA storyline when he made that call, and boy, did I sit up and take notice then. Several people have asked about him being some sort of spy, and while I don't think the storyline is heading that way, at the same time, the old "Manchurian Candidate" movie keeps coming to mind. Lawrence Harvey was a former Korean War prisoner of war who was turned into a spy and kept under deep cover for a number of years. Is Don/Dick something along those lines? Fun to speculate, but we won't know until Mr. Weiner decides it is time.

Qmit: For the love of God will you PLEASE stop posting that Don made the call and said he was Steve Whitman! I suspect you are just attempting to start trouble here. For the umpteenth and final time he said "This is DICK WHITMAN!" If you REALLY think you heard otherwise then you need a hearing check pronto, or perhaps you had better get your hearing aid tuned! I have seen the episode THREE times and each time it was clear that the name he said was DICK WHITMAN. Were you dozing off during that segment or what?! He said DICK WHITMAN! Period! No enough with this subject!