Interview with Gore Vidal for "The Great Depression"

Interview gathered as part of The Great Depression. Produced by Blackside, Inc. Housed at the Washington University Film and Media Archive, Henry Hampton Collection.
Preferred citation:
Interview with Gore Vidal , conducted by Blackside, Inc. on April 21, 1992, for The Great Depression . Washington University Libraries, Film and Media Archive, Henry Hampton Collection.
This interview is part of the Henry Hampton Collection housed at the Film & Media Archive at Washington University Libraries. Each video represents the entire interview conducted by Blackside, Inc., including portions that did not appear in the final program. For more information, please contact the Film & Media Archive.
library.wustl.edu/spec/contac...
A full list of interviews conducted by Blackside for "The Great Depression" can be found here:
digital.wustl.edu/g/gds/browse...

[@jantyszka1036]

"Huey Long would come over..." said like it's an everyday thing. What a man!

[@garretttedeman]

Jeez - Learn more history in 1 hr of listening to Vidal than in a whole semester at school. ....These interviews are a real treasure.

[@First_Principals]

Read Tragedy and hope by Carrol Quigley.

[@ms9771]

now you know why man in expansive suit like trump, with the poorest mind in US , run white house, as one 14 years old boy in Germany told the reporter,how 350 millions American chose man such stupid run their country , answer , Devil In Details AIPAC zoinist jews children of Rotschild who start war with Nazi to empty german bank and rest of europe to make home in United state, had to sacrefice poor jews, to seat in wall street, open privet Federal Reserve Bank also fool american think is US bank when are privet bank also print money , when it is Treasury Department responsiblity, and most important,chose only chosen one of zionsit run US congress, at the end for cover up, of concentration camp, first do not allow any one have any research on Nazi and holocust , but pay for truman election, so truman requgnize palestinine land as zionsit jews called israel, by zionsit leadership, just to keep eyes on poor jews of german camp, also by US taxpayer, Money,

[@MaryJaneHancock]

Right on!

[@BlueBaron3339]

And, also, instead of Henry Hampton making major documentaries for PBS we instead have scions of the established order like Ken Burns 😂 🤣 Funded by Ford Motor Company.

[@shaztasong1620]

He truly was a treasure.

[@johnnypastrana6727]

Vidal was once described as a national treasure...I can't do better than that. The world is an emptier place without him. What a brilliant man!

[@thenextrung]

Johnny Pastrana Too True!!!

[@larrygoerke9081]

I just basically said the same thing to my daughters, before i read the comments! Cool. CHEERS

[@Mumon010]

A fine and honest intellect. Not a mathematician, musician or philosopher, but a fine and honest intellect, a rare creature.

[@lisad2701]

Actually, Vidal had a very narrow life.

[@bobbywimsy6741]

Greg Thomas The first to focus with sparkling insight, upon the world empire we have become; world policeman, world guarantor of order, and world evangelist of : not Christianity, not Western civilization- but the American model of government- all three of the above, whether the other 194 or so nations of the world like it or not. And he noted the development of the military industrial Congressional complex-National security state. Not what we learned of were inculcated in when I went to school, 1958-1976.

[@MrRobster1234]

I love people who can look at their own class/religion/race and see the most glaring faults.

[@punchcat1234]

constantine exactly magic and pixie dust and 2 thousand years ago you would’ve been the type to send Jesus to the gallows

[@BlueBaron3339]

@@constantine8279 Perhaps you should Google Poe's Law. People can't tell when you're making a sarcastic or ironic remark unless you throw in an emoji or something.

[@DI-uk9rj]

@@constantine8279 Are you being serious? I honestly can't tell, your statement is very ridiculous yet I can't detect any sarcasm

[@douglasmilton2805]

@@constantine8279 Yes, I for one welcome our 2000 year-old zombie overlord.

[@colinmagnier1232]

I agree, all classes should do so;the human race most of all!

[@geico1975]

I'm filled with glee, having listened to Vidal describe our one "corporate political party with two wings." Republican and Democrat:)

[@kenborucke6152]

relevance?

[@bobbywimsy6741]

geico1975 two right wings I believe Mr. V said; one political party with two rt. wings.

[@weightlifting_socialist]

He was correct but I think he also made the distinction that one party was for social and domestic changes that allowed people to be who they want to be or are already, the democratic party. While the other is a close minded, bigoted conservative party with no domestic or societal changes, the republican party. That is the difference between both capitalist parties.

[@crimesofthecentury2714]

We don't have anyone of this man's caliber anymore. His patrician class is long out of the picture and nobody with a solid grasp of history is commenting or at least getting the platform to do it on a national level. Now it's just IT billionaires with no historical context or broad education impacting every aspect. It's a bit scary.

[@elainebruce3050]

Don't you keep up with Professor Chomsky? He is a treasure, as was Gore Vidal

[@OMGAnotherday]

Crimes of the Century - I have JUST discovered him and your comment. Let’s hope the world is changing!

[@marcoantonio-qy7mf]

@@elainebruce3050 ELE E UM ESTORIADOR E SABEDOR . E DEFINIU MUITO BEM O ALTOR DAS ESTORIAS . SIM EU SOU O KEEP DO FEICBOOK E O CONTADOR DAS ESTORIAS . TRUMP E MALANDRO E TRAISOEIRO E TRAIDOR DO POVO AMERICANO

[@songbirdforjesus2381]

They're out there, the media won't give them a voice. Sound bites! Hysteria! Anything that sells the news to make money. It's greed. It's also smoke and mirrors manipulation. That's why KZbin is educating the public. We used to watch things like this in history class. They have dumbed down the masses for their own purposes.

[@one4320]

Chris Hedges. Cornell West.

[@marshallcurrie8391]

I love this man. I know that he is gone and I miss him terribly. Thank God for youtube . I have 12 of his novels , with three of them being first editions.

[@marshallcurrie8391]

Me too . 12 books I mean .

[@CandaceOBriensurrogacy]

one of our great minds no longer with us. such a loss.

[@LarryDahle]

What can I say? I really miss this man, his work and his wonderful stories, essays and caustic words of wisdom.

[@kristinpfanku3927]

I have "Perpetual War for Perpetual Peace: How We Got to Be So Hated" (by GV) and haven't read it. Now I'll have to read it. I've enjoyed Vidal's essays.

[@51MontyPython]

@@kristinpfanku3927 Have you read it yet?

[@dm0065]

Thank you so much for posting this. I hated Gore Vidal . Now, I get him. He was an erudite and good man, ruined by experience. I could listen to him all day.

[@NikoHL]

Gore Vidal was such a brilliant person.

[@somchai9033]

Thanks to Washington University in St Louis for this.

[@dennisrichards4722]

He enlightens us all with his Delphic Indifference. All our petty, partisan strutting and fretting is for nothing. It has always been theatre, and Gore Vidal will show us to our seats. Enjoy the show.

[@robertwilson214]

I've never heard that term...I'll look it up.

[@winonafrog]

👍🏼

[@traceyyeoman8391]

They do not make them like that anymore yes what a incredible conversationalist, brilliant man, love listening to the way he articulates his words.

[@kennetherickson2391]

I so appreciate the archives sharing this. Deep bows.

[@boeingdriver29]

What a man, what a great man !

[@tiffsaver]

Just look at the date of this video, and see how spot-on ACCURATE he was... what a loss to America.

[@kiwitrainguy]

He mentions "the last 8 years" so he must have been referring to 1984-1992.

[@jorgegomez524]

“we were a serious country”. best quote of the interview. summarize everything that has happened in America in the last 80 years.

[@kristinpfanku3927]

Vidal is right. The serious person is just a nerd, unless he/she can also entertain.

[@pjuliano9000]

Yeah WAS ... past tense

[@epic6434]

​@@kristinpfanku3927 his small talk on Woodrow Wilson was abundant he hits on what should be recognized.

[@freeman7296]

I found this and thoroughly enjoyed his presentation - terribly interesting...I couldn't stop watching. Where did all our great speakers go...That generation had Gore Vidal, we have various comedians and talk show hosts - pretty pathetic.

[@kimkhalaj9927]

I love him! How wise he was!

[@nickprohoroff3720]

He came; He saw: He Recontoired. We receive the gift of oral testimony. Lucky us.

[@hib32]

This is priceless...

[@2112bangkok]

Utterly brilliant man

[@dudefromtherock]

A voice of logic and reason who questioned those who would enslave us...sorely missed.

[@colinduk]

Trevor is it possible that the lack of logic and reason has led to a game show host (fish out of water) in the USA and a flip-flop moron in the UK? Why do some believe that the political wing of Capitalism has the answers or solutions.

[@twolegsnotail]

Thanks so much for this upload. Vidal is sorely missed, he was a great raconteur. It's a pity that so many interviewers who were able to get Vidal's time always asked him the same tiresome star struck questions about Jack and Jackie...

[@meidassecondsoprano150]

My guess is that the interviewers were not within the same intellectual bandwidth of Mr. Vidal.

[@DavidJohnson-ce9bx]

He talked about those 2?! What did he say?!?! ...just kidding

[@nilsingbo]

"US have a one-party state with two Right Wings " Brilliant indeed !

[@kiwitrainguy]

It's not the first time that I have heard this but it's worth repeating.

[@woodstock6792]

Love when he talks about his grandfather and childhood

[@chrissscottt]

I like this unedited version, thanks. It adds a kind of authenticity to the script.

[@charliemorris2338]

He said his greatest attribute was that he had never killed anyone.

[@kristinpfanku3927]

I love it! The man was funny.

[@ethos1236]

Or tried to. I wonder if that was a sly reference to Norman Mailer attempting to kill his (Mailer's) wife.

[@charliemorris2338]

Hmm...probally.

[@salvadordalinian1986]

What tremendous intellect-- superb critical thinking, great literary contributions, wishing Gore Vidal could have played a greater role in our nation's political arena.

[@MrJoeybabe25]

All that was needed was to turn on the camera. He was a pro.

[@refinedhayseedappalachian9777]

Wonderful to listen to this man.

[@bigstuff52]

geez i like listening to Gore Vidal...what a wealth of information...

[@thepunadude]

CLASSIC ... FOR THE FUTURE OF OUR NATIONS YOUNG ... AND HUMANITY. GENIUS!

[@johnherbert1203]

The very best of Americans, the world misses you Mr. Vidal.

[@miller4980]

Wow! + Gore is only the second person I've ever heard say the economy is backed by confidence. That's exactly right. The other person who said that was E. Michael Jones who explains Crony Capitalism as Usury. Which of course in why the term financial enslavement is used to describe debt.

[@garymingy8671]

Don't be silly . Inertia ,and tires an bread an whiskey...

[@pfossful]

Fed is printing money. Really

[@CarmenZynger]

I love the people working on this show. They are intelligent, and fastidious, and are only stopping Gore when necessary. Not wasting his time. They are getting the best from Gore, and optimizing his stories. Thank you for posting!

[@ripme6616]

Del Cee for the most part anyway

[@AntonioGarmsci-cy5vt]

The Great Gore Vidal, America's Greatest Writer.

[@rerite2]

Many great works, including, "Visit to a Small Planet."

[@roypiper581]

Wow, he has so many insights and factoids that you NEVER... EVER hear from others. This is fascinating.

[@elizabethhestevold1340]

Gore Vidal , Thank You. I just skimmed my dictionary before your interview. Came across this word, Subject- study topic- discourse/ Objective- person- thing- or oppose/ Odds- difference. You have it all , as I expected. How, we have lost good , analitical discourse discourse over the years. What a pity! Most everything media is prompts, and if all else fail, unrecognizable uncouth language. I so miss, years past East, good conversations, where one walked away enriched. You just made my evening. Thank you again. And perhaps, believe it or not, in the end off this tunnel off redirecting off Cultures,( off course with a heavy price), there is hope for us all.,..🇩🇰🇱🇷 sorry, this system does not allow proper edits, so Usually move on, not to loose train off thought.

[@lynnwood7205]

Uh,well. you know, oh f... bro whatever you know. Like I know the light bulb is, yeah, those electric things it be itching with a be, Tesla. (Conversation with background of dominant vocals of obscene lyrics from an awful quality song? spewing loudly in distortion.) Civil discourse? I dimly remember that.

[@jackjackthompson5771]

Amazing! I miss him SO MUCH!! I can't believe he's simply talking off the cuff! AMAZING mind/man/family... RIP

[@robertdiggins7578]

I enjoyed listening. Interesting per usual. But, something shone through, for me, in this interview, that I hadn't noticed as much before. I began to realize just how much he was formed in the bubble of elitism and that his character and policy deconstruction was limited because of it. To contrast, and I'm not trying to pass judgment with righteous indignation as much as to ask if this personal story does point out any flaws from the scope of his judgment, I'd like to quickly share my grandfather's story. My grandfather was the superintendent of schools in Pennington County, South Dakota. In 1929, he refused orders, from the KKK-INFESTED school board, to fire all the Catholic teachers. The board fired him because of it. The family, with 12 kids, lost their house, owing $500, and literally lived outside and in places with dirt floors. They struggled and everyone who could worked whenever possible. My grandfather finally got some regular work, building infrastructure with a shovel, because of the WPA. Some of the older boys did as well. Eventually, the superintendent position became elected, instead of appointed, and my grandfather got the position again. As my uncles and father went off to Europe, the Pacific, and our East coast, during WWII. I can say that "churches and communities" do not help, when times are tough for everyone. We are better off with a public safety net. (Now, you can go to S. Korea and still see what it looks like when there is none for senior citizens. It's pretty heartless. ) I can also say that we need more attention to our crumbling infrastructure. I was on the bridge in Mpls 24 hours exactly, before it collapsed into the Mississippi. What seems to be omitted from this insular view of human traits is real sacrifice. Instead, real political savvy was praised as the high watermark for character, in this interview. I know that Mr. Vidal was informed by what I'm talking about, from my family history, which has continued, in its character and ethics down to my children. But, I'm not sure that he is able to really "get it", if he's never had the heat turned off in Winter. I stood in line as a child in the 70's for a box of food staples. My mother and brothers worked full time. There are very hard working, ethical poor people in this country, who might have a visceral understanding of the new deal's effects, which is outside of the speaker's range of experience. I'm very sure he's read about it. I'm in agreement with what he said about the Uniparty and the Empire and respect his knowledge and experience. I just wanted to express something that I noticed in this particular interview. I'll finish by saying that, personally, I think the false dichotomy between Collectivism and Individualism is the most powerful divide-and-conquer psyop I've known to exist, and I have zero room left for incompetence theories. Thanks for publishing this and hearing me out.

[@suzclayton783]

Excellent comment. I'm from Minneapolis

[@azmodanpc]

Indeed, Vidal was very much part and parcel of the American "elite". His grandfather being a Senator and his family pretty well off. I'm sure his upbringing wasn't affected by the depression like most of the country in those times. Even if FDR's New Deal wasn't planned and executed admirably, it nonetheless created the basis for the meager welfare state still barely existing in the USA, were paid sick leave or paid parental leave is almost nonexistant (unheard of in any first world country).

[@yvonnepeters1914]

Robert Diggins, ALL individuals is what the Collective is made up of. We are all ONE collectively. From that, it trickles down into "so-called" individuation. In REALITY, with a capital R, there is no individual. Aside from that......my sister was on that bridge an hour before its collapse!!! Scary huh? But I heard of another Gore Vidal speech (can't find it on KZbin), and it was great!! His last line I remember said, "Article 5 of the Constitution.....let's use it!!!" 👍😊

[@martinarreguy7789]

You sir in your closing paragraph summed it up nicely and are precisely on the mark. Well done and excellent form!

[@johnryan3913]

Much of Vidal's sensibility was fprmed by being an outsider - gay - which prohibited avenues in life that might seem natural to one of his background. This alsowas connected to his rage against religion.

[@davemojarra4734]

Julian the Apostate. Another great book by Mr Vidal.

[@lawrencecerf4986]

Agreed: But Lincoln was his masterpiece.

[@bobbywimsy6741]

Lawrence Cerf I heartily agree; love his audio excerpted version of it. Are you related to the late great Bennett Cerf, of To Tell the Truth, puns-world, and Random House, of course?

[@nickjohnson6368]

Burr was my favorite

[@louisgonzalez8846]

Read "Julian" many times and it still manages me to cry towards the end. A true connoiseur of the English language!!!!!

[@TJS2154]

Mr. Vidal we miss you!

[@krassigor]

What a memory! Amazing!

[@mikekennedy5470]

What a fascinating man .

[@nilsingbo]

Gore Vidal was something of a political child that saw the powerplay from the inside ! Absolutly brilliant brain and with a very independent mind ! He really understood his history and people aiming for power . The quest of power is always a quest for total power . The US was early on aiming toward Empire ! He understood the Roosewelt presidencys path toward fascism . And Gore Vidal was a brilliant man on the stager and his analysis was always very claryfing . To understand US history you have to get to know this brilliant figure .

[@tarnopol]

Thanks for putting this up! :)

[@tarnopol]

Starts at 0:43. :)

[@josephdorenbos2633]

A national treasure :)

[@misterdonwaters]

Just love his take (c. 37 mins in) on the effects of the advent of air conditioning on the nation.

[@kiwitrainguy]

We all need a break from politics, even the politicians do as well.

[@bobc3895]

My political education started when I watched the debates between Vidal and Buckley, sadly once they departed you were left to your own devices.

[@juliejensen7370]

Thank you for this fascinating take on history by one who experienced it. We miss you, Gore! R.I.P..

[@leninstreet]

Wonderful. This explains a lot.

[@christopherspavins9250]

The only difference between the dems and republicans is one is in the other out. Both wings of the same corporate entity. Great insight into real American politics.

[@mrswimmyboy]

You are so wrong. They are very different in political philosophy which translates to: Taxes Gun laws Voter ID laws Abortion Same-sex marriages Limits of the government Immigration Death penalty Health care Military budgets Individual vs collective rights

[@weightlifting_socialist]

Their is differences and the comment above mine shows it, mainly domestic and societal issues and Gore Vidal spoke on this, right wingers like to only use his line of two corporate parties while omitting what he said about the bigoted right wing. Also the right wing loves corporate parties, they are the party of the morbidly wealthy after all.

[@rogerparis]

Wonderful, there is no other that comes even close.

[@mattsharkey8437]

The more you hate government, the more you love Mr. Vidal.

[@highvibee]

Grate footage, thanks for sharing!

[@BlueBaron3339]

The Great Depression was Henry Hampton's magnum opus for PBS. His Boston production company, Blackside, had previously, among other things, created episodes of The American Experience for PBS. I originally met him through an unusual venue. We played wheelchair basketball together. He'd had polio as a child and marched in Selma on two leg braces. Many of us playing that sport could walk but not run. Brilliant man. Died far too young, alas.

[@robertjean7705]

This is not only a great lesson on us history but overall a fantastic interview!!!! What a brilliant man.

[@gcymous9160]

One of the most important things FDR ever said , perhaps his speech writer wrote it , we need "a more equitable [ fairer ] distribution of wealth " . That applies now more than ever .

[@bobbywimsy6741]

GC Ymous Read FDR's 1944 State of the Union speech: An Economic Bill of Rights. While you are about it, read The Universal Declaration of Human Rights it partly inspired, heavily contributed to by Eleanor Roosevelt, in 1948, after FDR's death, for the newly created United Nations.

[@jakecompton8733]

7:34 "Politicians lie in the same way that birds sing, so in the long run you have to watch what they do." Accurate.

[@kiwitrainguy]

The conclusion I've come to is that it's not what they say, but what they don't say (in other words, you have to read between the lines).

[@DBEdwards]

Always a joy to listen to this most articulate, witty and honest man

[@123rosebuds]

Thank You.

[@beyamama]

We miss him.

[@dennischallinor8497]

That was an excellent documentary. Too bad there wasn't a cameraman available.

[@tyleranyways]

An under appreciated man and raconteur. 25:00 37:20 30:07 44:00. 5:54 his Roosevelt impersonation is hilarious

[@quintinfranklin9168]

Mr. Vidal is a national treasure! Wow

[@donaldreed2351]

Oh, the days when one could sit and listen to great men and women talk about the realities of our "republic."

[@Marxist2]

This mus be mandatory watching so people can learn about the history of this country, especially now, because things have not changed. I feel so ignorant. Thank you for having the great Gore Vidal!

[@geolloyd1351]

top of th line interview --- vidal nails it

[@todshopov8727]

17:30 to 18:00 That is a priceless revelation.

[@marinedrive5484]

Even though this is raw footage, it was wonderful to hear Gore Vidal's thoughts on the great moments of history, from the perspective of a first-hand account. His patrician manner seems to give him a sort of impartiality, or perhaps indifference? - if that is at all possible? His insights are probably worth more than a dozen other documentaries on The Great Depression. His accounts of Roosevelt were most enlightening - the good and bad sides of the man.

[@wally1452]

I can listen to this man anytime. He was brilliant and if we did not have such a foolish, uninformed and stupid voting populace, this man should have been president and a great one he would have made...one of the greatest Americans for sure and that at least makes me proud he was ours. With all his publicity and the many who loved this fine writer...on history and America's problems he was genius but he was too honest, he was a good man and to my knowledge loved life, loved people and all that notoriety he was not egotistical as so many, far, far less than he, was.

[@kristinpfanku3927]

Vidal wasn't a politician. Didn't have it in him.

[@kiwitrainguy]

People in the US are dumbed-down by their mass media. It's known as being treated like mushrooms: kept in the dark and fed on BS. Most other countries (including my own) are the same to varying degrees.

[@louisgonzalez8846]

An unequal tribute to this man !!!!!!!

[@jaybone23]

If you enjoy listening to Vidal, you'll enjoy reading his memoirs and essays even more. I've never read any of his novels. My fave lit professor said they weren't worth the time.

[@kategowen1156]

Your fave lit professor has done you a grave disservice. “Lincoln” will turn your sense of history inside-out and upside-down, and you will look around at the present day with open eyes.

[@garymingy8671]

I agree , Lincoln is a fun romp , really a fun book , I never checked the details ,but lincon comes alive , it's a novel ! I loved it. A good to great wrighter..

[@garysouza772]

Give his American history series a chance. Burr, Lincoln, 1876, Empire, Hollywood, Washington DC, The Golden Age.

[@tatuloa]

SILENCE, from extreme right or left , the middle is driving the bus high on righteousness.. .

[@37Dionysos]

THANKS----Worth every minute. You come out of this hour with more than from a half-year in graduate school. Too bad imperial America became so resolved to assassinate anybody like Vidal by any means possible: here for ex. he concludes that the Pentagon (symbol of empire) "should be torn down." Amen. A born observer and listener---one of the last flowers in the American desert. But, 48:00---"There's a lot to be said for outliving your enemies." Gore Vidal will.

[@ripme6616]

Not USA but the other mob he said at very end

[@alexcarter8807]

Hot damn Roosevelt built the beautiful downtown post office in my town, San Jose California.

[@gcymous9160]

Wow ! humble fella that Gore Vidal .

[@davidmdyer838]

The Robert Moses story is interesting, there's a great biography The Power Broker.

[@marshallcurrie8391]

I agree. He his my favorite AMERICAN author. I loved E.A. Poe too , but with Vidal , his books would just suck you in to them .

[@signore1043]

Regardless of his political views, I miss individuals like Vidal who are filled with so many interesting stories about their personal history. There are so many shallow conversationalist appearing on interview shows we seem to forget there was a time when writers and artists - in short, a variety of individuals who had substance of thought-could often be seen on television and radio. Lillian Hellman, Truman Capote, W. H. Auden -the list is long but they were interesting people who had "thoughts" about the culture. Today we're stuck with vapid celebrities who talk about very little except themselves. They are semi-literate and seem to not know anyone but themselves. Also, I read Vidal's history novels, enjoyed Burr and Lincoln, was bored with his Washington DC and loved Julian. However, note the different topics he wrote about. Who is there today that explores so many different topics? The Clinton(s)? Bush(es)? Rock stars? Harry Potter's mother? Who?????

[@ryan12101954]

Richard Signore I could not agree more, Mr. Signore. That is why I search the U-tube archives for those such as Vidal, Capote, and Buckley. Sadly, I find very little of Capote anywhere. The bottom line is, I suppose, that I cannot watch television for longer then thirty seconds without cringing at its pathetic banality. I do not think there is anything in the world that approaches its level of mediocrity. Of course the Internet is trying its damnedest to get there.

[@signore1043]

ryan12101954 I understand your response quite well. The internet is pretty vast for a lot of these videos to disappear, although I do worry about banning access. Note what recently happened in Australia regarding downloading-it may creep into our country. Have you seen any of Adam Curtis' videos? Or Richard Wolff? Interesting people you may be interested in.

[@ryan12101954]

Richard Signore I have not seen anything from Wolff or Curtis, but I will definitely look for them. Thanks. Also, I am right there with you on Vidal's work. I absolutely loved Julian. It was the first thing I ever read of Vidal's, and never read anything else of his as good, although I feel Lincoln came closest. I tried getting through Washington, DC, but failed miserably.

[@louisgonzalez8846]

Julian i also think has to be his masterpiece.!!!! (read it 3 times)

[@wanderer482]

Viva Vidal ! I believe he tells the truth!

[@davidjohnson-pz2df]

WOW !!!!!

[@reidwhitton6248]

Things were more interesting and slightly more hopeful 15-20 years ago when characters like Gore Vidal, and Christopher Hitchens were alive. Public intellectuals who were well versed in history and actually gave a damn about society. They spoke their minds and didn't give a damn what anyone thought of them. They are sorely missed and the country is much bleaker without their presence and voices of integrity.

[@cheri238]

❤️

[@brainsareus]

the cat knew his shit!!

[@michaelsix9684]

so bright and witty--miss his commentary and analysis of politics and our leaders

[@autumnforest8216]

This man would have made a fine president.

[@arriuscalpurniuspiso]

This wonderful man

[@ruleten9575]

Great man. I'm proud he spent some time in Alaska.

[@Robespierre1758X]

what a great loss

[@pepperco100]

A very interesting video!

[@MBBurchette]

“Politicians lie in the same way that birds sing” 😂 Almost as good as: “Never lose an opportunity to have sex or be on television”

[@kiwitrainguy]

When I heard him say that I was reminded of the Benny Hill quote: "You can tell which politician is lying because theirs are the ones whose lips are moving."

[@brentshowers741]

He’s speaking of bernie sanders the new fdr of our time. Quite the prediction

[@amandaharig1978]

If only Bernie had fought.

[@brentshowers741]

Amanda Harig if only he had the guts to

[@amandaharig1978]

@@brentshowers741 Amen. I can't imagine that at 78-years-old, with a lifetime of good deeds and political notoriety to one's name -- that a senate seat/ranking committee position could mean so much. Wouldn't the legacy of Debs more more important? I dunno. His yellow-bellied kowtow really deflated me and the possible movement.

[@brentshowers741]

Amanda Harig there is still hope in the next generation. Many including myself have been democratic socialists all our lives and were molded by the Iraq war and the war on terror. Many including myself went to college to get into politics for this very moment even before hearing of bernie sanders in 2015

[@theciakilledjfk5973]

"I'm giving you endings."

[@ripme6616]

At the very end, what he said about the Pentagon and the empire it represents

[@charlesjames888]

I am old enough to remember Vidal when he was in top form and was able to get air time on network television. I did not particularly like him but I respected his intelligence. Sadly there are no longer any people like him in the public forum any more. I am glad that this film exists but... It would have been so much better if they had used two cameras and not burdened him with some distant woman's voice trying to guide him or whatever. I believe these interruptions threw him off balance a bit.

[@Bix12]

I'm a big GV fan.... He was a pretty good writer, and an excellent essayist. He also possessed an acerbic wit he often used to deadly effect. He was also an insufferable snob Lol! Anyone who hasn't seen the exchanges between him & William Buckley during the 1968 Democratic Convention should use the search engine above to find it and then watch it - it is a scream!

[@margaretpocock2249]

wow!

[@uttaradit2]

Powerful

[@markjohnson5276]

An edit that would help is if you subtitle the questions, they are unintelligible on this copy.

[@markchristopher9203]

@01:10 - “He was the blind senator. He was blind from the age of 10; a very colorful figure.”