By Rajiv Chandrasekaran
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, October 29, 1998; Page A11

In electronic mail messages, the heads of two of Microsoft Corp.'s most important rivals fancied themselves as World War II-era leaders in their fight against the software giant, which they dubbed "Hitler."

Steve Case, chief executive of America Online Inc., claimed the role of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, or "Franklin D."

Case initially gave James Barksdale, head of Netscape Communications Corp., the name "Stalin," but Barksdale objected, saying in one message, "I don't like playing this part. He was not very PC [politically correct]. From now on I want to be Winston C," a reference to former British prime minister Winston Churchill.

The two executives used those monikers in e-mail messages they wrote in late 1995, two of which were displayed to the federal judge presiding over the government's antitrust trial of Microsoft. Both messages were introduced by Microsoft's lawyers, who are arguing that there is plenty of competition in the computer industry.

In one message Barksdale sent to Case in October 1995, he urged the AOL chief to collaborate against Microsoft. "If we fight them together we can win . . . and what a victory it would be," Barksdale wrote. "The enemy of my enemy is my friend (TEOMEIMF)." Barksdale signed the note "Your comrad" [sic].

In the other message, introduced in court yesterday with the label "My Draft -- Not Yet Sent," Case urged "My Dearest Comrade Barksdale" to be more receptive to AOL's requests for a deal in which AOL would promote Netscape's Internet browsing software. He urged Barksdale to start "aligning now" to get "on with the more fundamental imperative of jointly attacking the common enemy."

"My recollection is Stalin teamed with Roosevelt and Churchill and it was that grand alliance -- that unified partnership -- that beat Hitler," Case wrote. "I suspect if instead Stalin just tried to sell Roosevelt a bunch of tanks the course of history would have been different."

Case closed the letter by saying, "Wanting to feel loved, I remain, Steve."