Gore Vidal - American Presidency

So much of what we were taught of American history in school is pure propaganda.
Read "A People's History of the United States" by Howard Zinn, and
"The American Revolution: a Grand Mistake" by Leland Stauber.

[@dpf2122]

I can't imagine History producing and airing a program like this today. The '90s was a golden era for quality programming like this.

[@darkcowboyhero]

What an American, such an intellect, a masterful command of the English language, a joy to hear him speak.

[@sanfrancisco1231]

If you have never read the historical novels he wrote, particularly, BURR, you have really missed some great writing. His essays are still brilliant and definitely resound today.

[@ukrandr]

Katherine, Did you find Burr superior to Lincoln?

[@lenovovo]

Hey Keith Maher, you do know that he was GAY. I'm not joking, he really was GAY.

[@davidpierce6452]

wally I’m afraid you are viewing our past with a typical “my party is always right” point of view. It’s clear from your comment that you lay all the blame on republicans for our problems of the past. If we are going to call out faults of the past we should do so regarding leaders and policies of both parties which would include LBJs corrupt handling of the Vietnam war or a Bill Clinton’s three strikes and your out law which placed more minority’s in prison than anything in recent history. I’m a lifelong moderate who leans right on foreign policy and left on social policy, but I refuse to allow my personal political opinions interfere with the facts of history as it was! I hope you know that blaming all the problems of history on one party only places you in the same ignorant camp as Donald trump with the “us vs them” outlook

[@ethos1236]

@@lenovovo So what? You homophobes always out yourselves.

[@RexFatman]

Greatest American novelist of all time. I'm almost done with the Narratives of Empire, would heartily recommend every American to read these excellent books.

[@Bix12]

Gore Vidal was an extraordinary novelist, one of my absolute favorites...that being said, he was certainly America's greatest essayist.

[@kevinbray2603]

the history of any working state is founded on war and bloodshed any civilisation for that matter

[@philgwellington6036]

Thanks Gore you were vidal to a better a merkier, but succeeded in lampooning and satirising a circus performance, bravo, you did your bit better than most.

[@bobkoi1]

Ypiyuh0 9uu

[@philgwellington6036]

@@bobkoi1 so true

[@constancewalsh3646]

How we got to be here, in language clear and uncomplicated. Thank you Gore Vidal, RIP.

[@Oppeldeldoc1]

"But stripped of all the rhetoric, the flag followed the banks." Even though Gore Vidal didn't say that first, it's always very important something to remember.

[@jasoncavitt2043]

Holy s#!t I had no idea the History Channel was once legit. I assumed it was always fodder for sheeple. Can you imagine Disney letting them run content like this today?! Wow!

[@KeybladeMasterAndy]

what does Disney have to do with it?

[@jasoncavitt2043]

Umm: they own it, along with Hearst Corp. A&E serves up propagandistic filth for the sheeple, and nowhere is this better illustrated than with the endless train of pro-West "documentaries" rolling along on the History Channel. It would be laughable if it weren't so effective... but then Edward Bernays and Walter Lippmann already told us nearly a century ago that propaganda could enchant an entire nation.

[@Melatina77]

+Jason Cavitt Yes they were pretty good until they decided to declare the Bible as a History Book! It's all gone downhill from there!

[@jasoncavitt2043]

Melatina77 Amen.

[@KeybladeMasterAndy]

Jason Cavitt wow, okay. I knew they owned ESPN and such, but didn't know they co-owned History. That said, yeah, it really has gone downhill.

[@atomsmolecules5766]

These are some of the greatest history lessons I have ever heard.

[@ambrasargentini2359]

Extraordinary narrative and language. Vidal is a most cultivated and brilliant intellectual. His Narratives of Empire are phenomenal, a must to read!

[@TheDaswilhelm]

Remember when History channel had history ?

[@JoseOliveira-kc4tr]

History now is alien to them.

[@37Dionysos]

"A fool and his money are soon elected." Will Rogers

[@magnusm4]

Funny how a communist propaganda video about a dog inheriting a fortune becomes a senator of high power through his wealth.

[@sethcopeland4362]

Even if they still had history on the History Channel, there's no chance in hell something this honest would air.

[@charleskesner1302]

Should be required viewing in all schools.

[@bf1255]

Never going to happen, no time left after teaching for the standardized tests.

[@thenextrung]

bf1255 Sad but true.

[@winstonsmith478]

+Charles Kesner This documentary is not even available on DVD, only on a used VHS tape on Amazon for $82.00.

[@jojobankz7536]

I watched monsters inc in school 3 times

[@charlesmorocho5897]

Mr. Vidal is a genius. He is a great writer.

[@caroledonovan8654]

Thank you Gore Vidal, you are indeed a TRUE AMERICAN PATRIOT! Someone needs to pick up your torch and continue telling the truth with assurance that truth is the greatest attribute of all without fear. I miss you. Your cousin.

[@williampremo3096]

Carole Donovan look up chris hedges. Written books fleshing out what gore was saying Gor yrs.

[@ricktilmans6243]

@@williampremo3096 do you mean Chris Hitchens perhaps?

[@jeannet.9125]

@@ricktilmans6243 Chris Hedges. Author of Death of The Liberal Class, Empire of Illusion, American Anomie, America, The Farewell Tour, etc. You can find many talks (by the same names) here on YT.

[@CharlieTourniquet]

I was pleasantly surprised to learn that Jimmy Carter and Al Gore were his cousins.

[@egay86292]

you pick up the torch.

[@michaelcolello2735]

The Master hamming it to a degree that would make Welles blush. Love it.

[@arthursegal3925]

Vidal strips away false narratives and leaves us with a piercing revelation about what really happened and the true motives.

[@damirzanne]

I just discovered this guy by accident, been watching his videos the whole evening… great 👍

[@ezandman6804]

Me too dude! 😄

[@curtislemay428]

Turn on the History Channel today and it seems scarcely believable they would broadcast something this fucking real.

[@garywintle8023]

Interestingly, this was originally broadcast in 1996 on the UK Channel 4's arts show Without Walls. I had been looking for it glad the History Channel picked it up and assembled it into one program.

[@paintboy776]

Love this man....and miss his eagle eye when it comes to truth, wisdom and insight of all things political.

[@mariavila8857]

We desperately need a Gore Vidal but the truth is we would ignore this great man just like we ignore Chomsky. The media is a disgusting corporate straw man for the elite. Thank you Mr Vidal.

[@wiltonwarlock918]

And thank you for your excellent comment.

[@AgentRafa]

Like Chomsky says: "If the Nürenberg laws was applied, every American president after WW2 would've been convicted as a war criminal". Something to think about...

[@kymrobinson7986]

Why limit it to WW2 and US presidents? The POTUS is nothing without millions of eager public servants, who often profit more than an elected head of state.

[@paullangton-rogers2390]

How so? What do all the Presidents post 1945 have in common which makes them war criminals? I don't see any connection. The Nürenberg laws primarily dealt with enforcing the Nazi's racial purity ideology.

[@charliemorris2338]

Which came from Lynchburg,Va.,Eugenic's Lynchburg Training School.The lawyer for the German's in the movie tried to use this fact as defense in the movie.

[@ricardocantoral7672]

FDR provoked the Japanese before Pearl Harbor.

[@julianmarsh1378]

@@ricardocantoral7672 He did indeed. but why is it not considered a provocation for Japan to attack China, etc?

[@paintboy776]

Truth, honesty and courage. Mr. VIdal- A willingness to pull the vail from our eyes. A brilliant mind in a sea of fools. This should be shown in all schools. From grammar to college levels. Our forefathers were - men- with faults and human traits.

[@syourke3]

Back in the 1960's and 1970's, Gore Vidal was a very frequent guest on American TV talk shows. Then, in the 1980's, he simply vanished from the TV screen as right wing propaganda came to completely dominate the airwaves. Vidal had become to radical for corporate TV.

[@FortyNineHudson]

He didn’t vanish. His famous quip about the Reagan Library was on Carson in ‘84, and then there’s this gem from Letterman in ‘92: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eXW2lH-QrM6kf5o

[@ultramagahoosierhermit2767]

Bullshit

[@dglenday8705]

Yes. The Overton Window began sliding off-center at that time.

[@egay86292]

homophobia.

[@syourke3]

@@egay86292 No. Nothing to do with that at all. He was clearly gay and nobody cared. He was ostracized from the TV set when he tried to explain Timothy McVeigh and the Oklahoma City federal building bombing. Apparently, he corresponded with McVeigh and said things that threatened the political Establishment in a big way.

[@nicrodrig1]

Looking at the History channel now, I can't imagine this ever airing.

[@mattclaudio2502]

RIGHT?!?!?!? what the fuck happened in the last....8 years???

[@HotTakeHQ]

hack and commandeer FoxNews - put this on loop indefinitely.

[@peterbarrett5402]

Agreed...the "History Channel" is a joke. I mean where are the interesting history documentaries?? It's just littered with garbage. It's another sign of what we've become...shallow people who only want shallow entertainment.

[@TedSilar]

Just for your information, Vidal knew Kennedy very well. His step-sister was married to him.

[@chrisbennett606]

Brilliant ,absolutely brilliant .

[@FiveGunsWest]

I remember when Mr. Vidal ran for president. He refused to take any salary for the job and said that all candidates were so rich they shouldn't either. He later renounced his citizenship in disgust to what b.s. America had become. It's only worse now. He was the last of a breed of heroes. They are all gone now.

[@ari7610]

Ruben Chandler No. Vidal never ran for president. He twice sought elected office; first to the United States House of Representatives (New York State, 1960), then to the U.S. Senate (California, 1982

[@sanfrancisco1231]

I wrote him in in 1972 because I despised George McGovern's platform and Nixon was just evil. It was the first time I voted. Voted straight blue the rest of the ballot.

[@randallanthony1794]

I thought he was a socialist?

[@gtimny]

Ruben Chandler: While I admire Mr. Vidal as you obviously do as well, you are entirely wrong about both claims you make in your comment. Vidal never renounced his American citizenship, although he lived for long periods since the 1950s in Italy (and if you ever saw his house in Ravello you'd understand why). He also never ran for president.

[@OneAdam12Adam]

Wrong! He never ran for president. He lived in Italy but also had homes in the USA. The rest of what you say is just comical.

[@Withnail1969]

been watching a few Gore Vidal videos from past times recently, and he never disappoints

[@djstubbs]

the rare youtube video that lacks a toxic comment section... trolls haven't found this one yet.

[@lakemichigan6598]

@@brutalyzedbytv Unfortunately, Vidal's Presidential/American assessments here ring true - but living with opinion dominated by so much compound cynicism had to be rough on his psyche.

[@brutalyzedbytv]

@@lakemichigan6598 I know the feeling; I don't know the fame. Worse is to be aware of pervasive corruption and hypocrisy, and to say nothing about it. Worse yet is to accept it.

[@lakemichigan6598]

@@brutalyzedbytv And what would nonacceptance mean to you? Are you prepared to join the fray and actually do something in hopes of eradicating systemic hypocrisy & corruption, knowing all the while any significant positive change in these realms is most unlikely? Sticking to only words on the subjects essentially results in noise making, are essentially meaningless, and amount to no more than conversational grousing. I'm unwilling to devote my life to such a heart breaking challenge. I've chosen instead to stay as far away from it all as possible and do what I can to live as an example, truthfully, consistently, and noncorruptively.

[@brutalyzedbytv]

@@lakemichigan6598 ha ha ha ha ha Boy, are you coming across as one pompous, sanctimonious ass. What are you, in prep school? On the debate team? Are you a master debater? I've been in "the fray" all my life, even in the early days when I didn't know I was in it. Since then I've done what I could to expose phonies wherever possible. Words are what we have to communicate with. They may be meaningless to you. Maybe you're using the wrong ones. If you're worried about having your heart broken, then you must be living a sheltered existence indeed. You say you've "chosen instead to stay as far away from" such things "as possible and do what [you] can to live as an example, truthfully, consistently, and noncorruptively (sic)." Are you kidding with this? I see no evidence that any of that is true. In fact, and quite to the contrary, you're on KZbin posting self-aggrandizing comments. Are you in a cult? Trying to start one? I suggest that you confine your expositions to the drawing room, or whatever safe environment you inhabit, and stay away from the real world. I don't think you can handle it.

[@ethos1236]

@@lakemichigan6598 I have often wondered how he made peace intermally with what must have been profound disappointment with his country: perhaps he never did. It is our loss that no interviewer ever probed that line of inquiry (that I'm aware of). He must have found the same well worn questions, asked over and over, quite tiresome, but he never failed to give full value in his replies.

[@raulvasquez2036]

"I was born a writer, and a writer must always tell the truth -- unless he's a journalist."

[@rayr5950]

I liked that line too.

[@lakemichigan6598]

@@rayr5950 And how very very true.

[@DGMUSICisGOOD]

i once had a friend a journalist. he told me journalist is a person who gets you to open up, then betrays you. That stuck with me as a writer.

[@janetmcwilliams1053]

I have jusy discovered this guy hes a god im going to read all his books

[@rodparsons521]

Hopefully you will at least learn spelling and punctuation, which might be a good place to begin.

[@tarnopol]

Try Lincoln, Burr, Julian, and Creation. Four very fine historical novels, the latter two being about, respectively, the late Roman/early Byzantine emperor who tried to roll back Christianity and a story about 5thC BC, from Greece to Persia to India to China. It's probably his single best work: he invents a grandson of Zoroaster who befriends Xerxes and is sent on diplomatic missions where he meets Socrates, the Buddha, Jain scholars, Confucius...and it's done so well. You can't read another novel so chock full of that kind of deep education about our human past. And if you want a really ribald Roman satire, modern version, try Myra Breckenridge. So much stuff.

[@mauritiusdunfagel9473]

Janet Mc Williams Janet, in KZbin watch “The American State if Amnesia”. It’s free and it is eye-opening! Be well!

[@devanman7920]

@@rodparsons521 fuck you

[@studiolargo8320]

@@devanman7920 Why fuck you? He's got a point.

[@chathall574]

Ditto the other comments. Thoroughly enjoyed this gem of a documentary. Isn't it sad how much money, talent and effort has gone into the 'military industrial complex' when just a fraction would have transformed education, health and social causes for the vast majority of America's people. To think of how different, and therefore much better, the world could have been if America had better leaders (both in Congress and the Executive). May the late, and great, Gore Vidal rest in peace...

[@bobbywimsy6741]

Chat Hall May I direct your attention to what Eisenhower actually said, in his written notes, for his famous Farewell Address, Jan.17, 1961? There Eisenhower uses the famous phrase, "military industrial Congressional complex" . Fascinating that for the TV address, Ike used the shorter phrase, out of gentlemanly consideration for the incoming JFK, so JFK would not be hampered with dealing with the Congress. And yet, that is the very crux of why we cannot progress, and continue the crushing burden of world empire- at the same time. Rome couldn't either, and their empire, and even Britain's were miniscule compared to our reach, extending even into space.

[@rickobrien1583]

I remember when the History channel was History to some extent. I recall watching this with my father. Now garbage. Unhooked the Cable some time ago. Miss Vidal and Zinn. Big loses.

[@RoboKestrel]

Yeah I was thinking the same thing. Haven't had cable for six years.

[@brutalyzedbytv]

@Rick O'Brien Yeah and what do you recommend? I'm sure I'd get a real chuckle out of it. I cut cable tv years ago myself, btw. Why pay for the privilege of being brain-washed by right-wing corporate fascists? As you so obviously have been.

[@julianmarsh1378]

I watched this when it first came out and that was when I parted company with the History Channel. All they did was apologize every opportunity, saying it did not represent their point of view, etc. At the end, in a round table discussion, the narrator didn't waste a minute attacking Vidal....if said channel was so upset about it, why put it on in the first place? Shut the hell up and let the viewer decide for themselves what to make of it.

[@kevinbray2603]

you havve to educate yourselves dont wait for your teachers or anyone

[@reidwhitton6248]

@@RoboKestrel I cancelled cable 30 years ago. Anybody who wants to learn and search for some truth needs to read. I love Gore Vidal but you have to recognize his inflammatory rhetoric. Sure, both parties are corrupted by the powerful interests and their money but there are differences between democrats and republicans. The current GOP has no policies or plans to benefit the common good. McConnell's only objective is to further enrich the one percent. It's up to the voting public to put massive pressure on the democrats to get legislation passed that will invest in the country and improve the lives of working people. They've actually introduced bills to accomplish some of these objectives which will be relentlessly resisted by McConnell and the GOP.

[@TheCarablanco]

Mr. Vidal had a unique perspective on the American "Ideal" of political history. I applaud his "even-handedness" sleight of hand, and his turn of vernacular. We'll not soon see his light again. ~ S ~

[@kevinbray2603]

vidal is a gay liberal i love him he is an educator wise. funnny and intelligent

[@DataWaveTaGo]

Gore Vidal - American Presidency: release date 1996 UK

[@rockyfjord4710]

A lot can be learned in an hour from Gore Vidal. They don't tell this true history in Am textbooks.

[@ivst3655]

Simply the best! Miss him so much 😢

[@dragonfly1929]

VIDAL IS A MASTER OF THE TRUTH ,HONESTY !THEY NEVER TEACH YOU THIS IN SCHOOL ROMS !

[@nigellee9824]

The strangest thing is, is that the whole world knows this........the whole world except America..that is.

[@tubbytown6545]

Hi wilton warlock. I just discovered this, 9 yrs later, and wanted to say Thanks :)

[@wiltonwarlock918]

Better late than never. Cheers!

[@allencollins6031]

​@@wiltonwarlock918yes thank you for this upload

[@svenbarlev6243]

over a billion people have seen the gang-nam style video. At this time 14,881 people have seen this. A fact that is almost as wrong as it is sad.

[@bas9841]

@D Stuart 129,000+ views now, so we gettin' there!

[@jataim4197]

I've never seen the gang-nam style video- I hope that is a start!???

[@GingerDrums]

People visit youtube for relief and distraction from the drudgery of their lives. To draw any conclusion from viewing numbers seems silly. Also, people who talk about IQ tend to be either insecure about their value or overestimate their inteligence

[@radman1136]

@@GingerDrums intelligence has two L's

[@lsd938]

Just sad... not wrong...

[@jeremyreagan9085]

One of our last true Intellectuals along Noam Chomsky. We are a sad peoeple really.

[@jrchris1121]

+Jeremy Reagan No longer. He died 3 or so years ago.

[@jeremyreagan9085]

+jrchris1121 I know 2012. Still I stand with Gore Vidal.

[@jrchris1121]

+Jeremy Reagan Hitchens too I didn't discover his existence until he had passed.

[@jeremyreagan9085]

+jrchris1121 Personally I lost all respect for Hitchens when he wrote in Jan-2010 a pack full of lies about Vidal in Vainity Fair. www.vanityfair.com/culture/2010/02/hitchens-201002 I do not forgive men who knowingly lie as Hitchens does here.

[@jrchris1121]

+Jeremy Reagan Thanks I'll check this out when I have a chance

[@pamelahall857]

He moved to Italy to find the peace and solace he needed to write his books As disappointed as he may have been with our political system (like so many of us have found ourselves ) he remained a true and involved citizen!! Al sounds so much like him, great orators !!

[@fetewei83]

How more Americans don't see more of this is a mystery to me ... :)

[@bf1255]

It's part of the American education, its slowly getting better as young people are less and less afraid to learn for themselves and have access to the internet. Also depends on where you were raised, some places are just more educated than others.

[@randallanthony1794]

the young today are all brainwashed.they don't understand that everything America was all died in 1980s.

[@ms9771]

Zionsit need Ignorant Masses not the wise , as american are become absented mind ,slave nation of working bee taxpayer run only profit for zionsit jews , banking system privet fedral reserve , who print money when is tresuary departement responsiblity, or weapans industry, when war are what they are good at the best, when american have to fight and die for it, not the zionsit jews Rothschild USARY,

[@user-di8hm2jl2u]

I have so much love for this man

[@carolinecorman1716]

Miss you Mr. Vidal.

[@reidwhitton6248]

"The United States was founded by the brightest people in the country - and we haven't seen them since." - Gore Vidal

[@cristineashurst6864]

"The whole imperial racket" summarized quite well, I thought.

[@Sailright21]

And here was me thinking America only became rotten after 1949. How wrong could a person be.

[@ricardocantoral7672]

I just finished reading a biography on Theodore Roosevelt by HW Brands and I will say that Vidal's assessment of his character was totally on point. TR, despite his great intelligence, had a adolescence's sense of what masculinity was. He was constantly over stepping his boundaries in just about every political office he occupied and shot everything that walked on four legs. However, he didn't do everything wrong. TR desegregated schools in New York and lifted the ban on Jews and women in the police force while he was the state's governor.

[@kevinbray2603]

all leaders are like this they make. huge errors to get a few thinngs right

[@kevinbray2603]

why did you leave the jews and blacks at the end of your talk

[@kevinbray2603]

and the irish me

[@fumbelstiltskin4250]

Most agree TR is one of the most conservation-minded persons to have served as president (despite his penchant for hunting). From nps.gov: "Conservation increasingly became one of Roosevelt's main concerns. After becoming president in 1901, Roosevelt used his authority to protect wildlife and public lands by creating the United States Forest Service (USFS) and establishing 150 national forests, 51 federal bird reserves, 4 national game preserves, 5 national parks, and 18 national monuments by enabling the 1906 American Antiquities Act. During his presidency, Theodore Roosevelt protected approximately 230 million acres of public land."

[@davehansen9124]

@@kevinbray2603 ¹¹

[@kristinmarieose]

I - being norwegian- JUST discovered Gore Vidal, today, and I really enjoy what I've seen of clips/YT-vids today- smart & funny! Pure joy to listen too! First clip/interview I saw today that turned me on to further exploring this guy's views and standpoints, was an interview w Joy Behar on her HLN-show (REALLY FUNNY, btw- recommended watching!)... I look forward to educating myself on this guy:-)! Any ideas to further my knowledge on Gore Vidal would be VERY greatly appreciated:-)!

[@warrenflood2809]

Mange gode videoer på youtube av han iallefall. Tror det er på tide at vi Nordmenn begynner å tenke mer kritisk på ting også - kjempe bra å se at noen gjør det iallefall!

[@Jelperman]

See if you can find his "Collected Essays 1952-1972". His essay on West Point is brilliant. You might also try a series of posts in the New York Review of Books titled "Death in the Philippines". Then there's his article in Esquire where gives Ayn Rand an elbow from the top rope.

[@Chaoskind386]

Funny, I got hooked on that same video with Joy Behar :) I would recommend his interview on the Great Depression because it gives great insight into some dynamics of WWII.

[@jake105]

His novels are brilliant. His Lincoln & Julian are some of the best I've ever read. All his books are great but the way he brings those two characters to life. Just amazing!

[@ledzep3695]

Kristin Marie Ose I JUST discovered the Gore Vidal recently and I can't get enough of HIS intellectual views on history and beyond. SCORE!

[@callmemurphz]

thanks a million for this upload!! good stuff.

[@originalfunkyfry]

Those who enjoy these shows would also enjoy his "Narratives of Empire" series, which dwell on a lot of the same perspectives in a "fictional" context.

[@yaletownfox]

Outstanding documentary! Vidal absolutely brilliant!

[@jacksutherland846]

A national treasure that provided real truth and courage.

[@d4lep0ro]

I'm so glad I found this.

[@Oppeldeldoc1]

I'm always glad to hear someone tear into the FIRST Iraq War instead of just the SECOND Iraq War. So many people act as if only one of them was incredibly stupid and the other one wasn't, and they act as if only one of them was full of lies and the other one wasn't!

[@ellyhafwen3757]

Dead or alive you are still the master!

[@roypiper581]

If the History Channel dared play this now, the Right would demand a boycott of Disney, its owner. The Left would demand the same for his dislike of Lincoln and Kennedy and Truman.

[@HotTakeHQ]

This is impossibly satisfying to watch. I do so daily. Thanks for availing this to us :)

[@HotTakeHQ]

AntiSocial Atheist that’s awesome and I can see why! I’ve got the paperback too. Also I’m reading Messiah (1954?) by Vidal. It’s cool

[@julianmarsh1378]

Vidal goes too far sometimes but since nearly everyone else never goes far enough, that's no great sin on his part. He was part of the last generation of Americans who thought reading a necessary obligation of every citizen. One could never read too much or learn too much.

[@dogcatparty7371]

This video might help any student taking a required U.S. History course get a better grade (background art work, photos, so you won't 'fall asleep'). Watch this video every day, for every day of the course, to get it into long term memory. Find similar videos for every course you are required to take. Good Luck with your exams! October 2019

[@ircrane3349]

Gore Vidal was far too intelligent to be president.

[@brentshowers741]

ir crane i never knew about this guy

[@ethos1236]

He would never have allowed himself to be manipulated by Wall Street and the Military Industrial Complex.

[@Johnconno]

Most people are.

[@MrJoeybabe25]

The more I read and hear Vidal, the more I love his iconoclastic view of the world. He takes down political deities like no one else! I think there is a libertarian in there, somewhere. A real enemy of crony-capitalism!

[@justmyopinion9883]

Thank you for sharing this great history lesson. RIP, Mr Gore Vidal.

[@uradragon7823]

The Scandinavian's have continued to display their wit in the giving of the Nobel prize much as we Americans have displayed are ability to be conned continuously.

[@RavMan40]

American Masterpiece !! Thanks for the post..

[@ChannelMath]

I didn't knows he was such a great dramatic reader!

[@Bix12]

Upon hearing of Truman Capote's death (In sister-in-law Jackie O's apartment) Gore was heard to say "A wise career move..." What a wit!

[@bobbywimsy6741]

William L. He called Ronald Reagan "that triumph of the embalmer's art."

[@DI-uk9rj]

Gore Vidal has a brilliant perspective on American history, I wish I had seen this sooner!

[@teresapadgett6566]

Here listening in 2024

[@zthetha]

Very entertaining sweep of American history in a little over an hour by a very clever man. By definition History is the art of selecting fact and fantasy from the past to formulate a viable thesis of one's own preference. That being said, Vidal has a preference for former and is, I believe - as far as he goes - a decent and honest man.

[@jason19801980]

excellent, was honored to drive Mr. Vidal a few times and was just as he seems on TV

[@robertwhitson7471]

Chris Hedges and Richard Wolff are two of the few bright spots now that GV and Christopher HItchens are gone.

[@Nicolas-uu3jr]

Awesome, R.I.P. 🕯

[@themediumcheese]

The ending of this gets me choked up

[@Guedingen]

brilliant, many thanks.

[@tomitstube]

"the presidents constitutional role as commander and chief allows him dictatorial powers, if he can prove military necessity."

[@wordscontrolminds]

Gotta respect this great thinker, one of Americas finest minds. To think people are flocking to cult leader Alex Jones, disgusting!

[@randallanthony1794]

this guy would have tooken you down the road to one world socialist government just like Clinton,bush and Obama.

[@octavianprime3124]

@@randallanthony1794 You are 100% delusional. Your comment proves this. Should you choose to reflect on why this is true (I have no reason to believe you will, or that you are anything more than some fucked up troll, but whatever and I digress), you may yet learn to reason for yourself. Gore Vidal's brilliance will shine for as long as people can read, and no one will remember you.

[@neverbeforeseenvideos2249]

2021 #cnn #abcnews #msnbc #ctvnews #foxnews why are you not covering this brilliant man. #gorevidal is brilliant. No wonder every country despise the #USA !!

[@haroldbeck4351]

I've always enjoyed reading Vidal, but I find it somewhat tedious to listen to him read a speech or in this case, narrate his script. The visual gag of having Gore read from a mock presidential podium would have been better if done more sparingly with more relevent historical footage to go with Vidal's trenchant writing.

[@danjameson1572]

"Do I detect a thread of saffron in this otherwise perfect garment?" Rex Harrison, in "Unfaithfully Yours"

[@thomaskirkpatrick1134]

I Miss Him more and more!

[@wiltonwarlock918]

Indeed! Imagine what he would have said about the last 4 years!!

[@loop1221]

I cannot believe that this aired on the History Channel

[@brianarbenz7206]

The U.S. empire has one party, but two factions -- one archetypal and unapologetic nationalism, the other adding a nominal social safety net to keep revolution from happening within.

[@EmeraldAxe2]

Precisely

[@carlsaveus1735]

Thumbs up that the Micky Mouse "set the record straight" lackies at the end of each episode where cut from this mini series upload.

[@wiltonwarlock918]

Interesting. I had no idea there were "commentaries" at the end this. I can just imagine what they said!

[@carlsaveus1735]

@@wiltonwarlock918Indeed, Schlesinger Jr one of them. The responses to each episode were produced only for american audiences. There is an article published on The Nation in 1996 by Gore Vidal about it all: "MICKEY MOUSE, HISTORIAN". It´s included in: "GORE VIDAL: THE LAST EMPIRE, ESSAYS 1992-2000".

[@carlsaveus1735]

@@wiltonwarlock918 Look the essay up,.. it is interesting and a fun read..

[@wiltonwarlock918]

@@carlsaveus1735 Cheers, mate!

[@Relugus]

​@@carlsaveus1735The original Channel 4 UK version had none of that, thankfully.

[@imperialtimes9136]

Clinton's blank look in the "beauty part" montage is haunting

[@bezoozime9170]

This is priceless. Wonder what the history cha up did with this tape

[@rogermiller8708]

So, in the times we are in today, we are faced with a choice of kabuki actors at all levels of government. This does not mean we abdicate our responsibility to engage in the process of voting. Vote we must, but we are also called to remain vigilant and active in the process of governance lest we give up our rights as citizens and members of this human race.

[@jantyszka1036]

The United States, born in hypocrisy from the start: "all men are created equal" should read "all rich white men are created equal", "pursuit of happiness", "pursuit of more land and wealth". I think Vidal was one of the greatest Americans ever.

[@jpstenino]

Wonder if this film can be remastered with the music and sound effects dialed back.

[@tonirose6776]

and subtitles added?

[@Dannycarry]

One can only imagine what Gore would make of the monstrosity in the White House now

[@gipperbanana]

Getting out of wars and not starting new ones....he would have loved trump. Gore was a troll master and would have loved the shits and giggles aspect of trump

[@bobbywimsy6741]

Daniel Carry I think he would lampoon him with names like, Don Trumpeone, Trumpius, Hair Furor, etc. He was and is the master descriptor of our history. I will never forget his description of Ronald Reagan as "that triumph of the embalmer's art", a phrase we might rightly apply to Pence, today. He might describe, if I may take the liberty, of describing Trump, as a triumph of Madame Tussauds- only he speaks, or tries to, but, alas, all we hear are canned word salads, utter incoherency.

[@therealhousewifeofballtown]

@@gipperbanana Gore didn’t suffer fools gladly or otherwise. He would have cut trump to shreds with his tongue. He would have eviscerated him .

[@therealhousewifeofballtown]

@@bobbywimsy6741 on the Tonight Show Gore said “ The Reagan Library burned down today... both books were lost . Reagan was upset because he hadn’t finished coloring one “ lol 😆

[@jsheekey1]

Imagine if he was Alive today !!

[@HypermarketCommodity]

"Income challenged americans" 😂 oh lovely lovely, this movie he made was so far ahead of it's time, just saw the news call hobos "campers".

[@javierharth3647]

Magnificent synopsis of our young Republic but it paints a grim picture, however true. I have known some of it personally, but it was very little compared to what he discloses. Especially SCR68, I am shocked by it. That perpetual war, world war, exist by resolution is astonishing. How can democracy exist under perpetual war? Worst yet, who would want to live in perpetual war? Only the people who believe war will never reach their shores. And the only reasonable way to ensure this outcome, is to take the war to theirs, to pre-emptively attack them, our enemies, whoever they may be! This is our policy for the war on terror!!

[@MrBeeCee]

Ought to be distributed throughout the american education system,the true essence of the American way,one defunct:((

[@vk92007]

Ja na, I coudln't agree with you more

[@pennyo6868]

With Betsy...?

[@vagrantwanderer5810]

What a fantastic show and explanation of the once great Society, that sadly failed........sad really.

[@SedriqMiers]

Many pedants here, deaf to Vidal's message.

[@MRayner59]

Just imagine the daily conniptions Vidal would be having these days with a raving mad buffoon like Trump in office.

[@gipperbanana]

He would have loved Trump. Contrarians usually do...

[@dragonfly1929]

NEVER A KINGDOM ,NOR A DEMOCRACY ...