HOLLYWOOD � The Nixon-era satire of the irreverent new comedy "Dick" isn't lost on actress Michelle Williams, even though she's only 18. Williams, who also co-stars on TV's "Dawson's Creek," is too young to remember "Tricky Dick's" troubled presidency of the early 1970s. Not to fear � political savvy runs in the family. "I grew up in a really political household. My father (staunch Republican Larry Williams) ran for the Senate twice when I was young. He has always sort of stressed the importance of politics and an understanding of the past in the way the government works," she said during an interview at a Beverly Hills hotel. Williams, who also appeared in last summer's "Halloween: H20," is little like Jennifer, the "loose," hard-drinking teen she plays on television. In reality, she is a hard-working young actress who graduated from high school at 15. In the wacky, offbeat political satire "Dick," Williams shares the screen with veteran young actress Kirsten Dunst ("Interview With the Vampire," "Wag the Dog"), who's a year younger. "It's amazing to me that she's been in this for 10 years and she's had such a prolific and really dynamic career. She has really maintained this uncommon and rare innocence and a fresh, optimistic outlook on things," Williams said. Even though they hadn't met before they were cast as best friends, Dunst said she and Williams quickly developed a very close friendship. "We got along so well as soon as we met each other. We hung out off the set also. I think that helped," Dunst said. "We were just so accepting of everything each other did. It was easy to talk to each other and easy to say everything to each other. Nothing felt forced. Our scenes together just flowed." That's just what the script doctor ordered for "Dick." Dunst and Williams play Washington, D.C., best friends Betsy and Arlene. A school tour of the White House ends up in a quirky relationship with the president. Nixon (Dan Hedaya in a wacky, stellar performance) thinks the two snoopy 15-year-olds may know something about dirty dealings within the administration. So he appoints the gum-chewing duo as official walkers of the presidential dog. The Watergate break-in, Washington Post investigative reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein and Nixon staffers such as Henry Kissinger and Bob Haldeman aren't the kind of movie characters most teen movie-goers have dealt with before. According to Williams, though, a firm grasp on political history is not necessary to have fun with this comedy. "I don't think you necessarily have to be in on all the jokes to appreciate the movie. I don't think you need to have grown up in the '70s and actually experienced the Nixon administration to find the movie enjoyable." As for "Dawson's Creek," Williams said the much higher profile that comes with being in living rooms all across the country every week has created a certain awkwardness. That makes things such as going to the grocery store more difficult. Williams said her proudest career achievement thus far was her appearance earlier this summer in the off-Broadway play "Killer Joe" opposite Paul Dillon and Scott Glenn. Set in a Texas trailer park, the high-voltage drama made such an impact on Williams that she still finds herself dreaming about Dottie, her character. "She (Dottie) has grown up her whole life around violence and abuse and emotional neglect," she said. "It was a sort of a crucial time for me. I had to decide what this was really all about. In doing the play, for the first time in my life I feel as though I can say I'm an actor and say it without any sort of second guessing or hesitation."