Can't set xterm resources for root

[Ross Boylan <RossBoylan@stanfordalumni.org>]

For some reason my entries in .Xresources for Xterm seem to be ignored
as root.  The same file works as desired for my regular account.

Is this some security thing? (.Xresources rwx for owner, r for everyone else)

Or perhaps it stems from the fact that I su to root?  I'm running
under gdm.  For example, my USER variable is still set to my original
name after the su.

Or .Xresources never does anything, and I set the resources somewhere
else for my regular account?

Anyway, if anyone can tell me what's going on, and how to fix it, I'd
appreciate it.  Thanks.