Vidalotry: A Gore Vidal Podcast

In the tenth and final episode, Vidalotry explores Gore Vidal’s ridicule of George W. Bush and the title ‘Wartime President’ which Bush bestowed upon himself. Host Ryan Breegle looks at the accusations of voting fraud in 2000 and 2004, Gore’s fears during the Bush Presidency, and his thoughts on the politicians that followed, namely Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, and John McCain.

SOURCES:

Open House with Gloria Hunniford, Thames Television, 2000

Ali G, HBO, 2004

State of Things, 2005

Ring of Fire with Robert F. Kennedy Jr, 2006

The Henry Rollins Show, IFC, 2007

HardTalk, BBC, 2008

Dear President Bush, Gore Vidal, 2008

In Episode Nine, Vidalotry explores Gore Vidal’s humorous criticism of the Reagan administration. Host Ryan Breegle looks at Gore’s initial dismissal of Ronald as a convincing politician, his good-natured jabs at Nancy, and his overall concern that the United States was governed for eight years by a talented cue card reader.

SOURCES:

Books:

Ronnie and Nancy: A Life In Pictures, Gore Vidal, The New York Review of Books, September 29, 1983

Audio:

Afternoon Plus, Thames Television, 1981

Merv Griffin Show, Jan 26, 1981

The Tonight Show, Dec 15, 1981

Saturday Matters with Sue Lawley, BBC, 1989

In Episode Eight, Vidalotry explores Gore Vidal’s fascination with the downfall of Richard Nixon. Host Ryan Breegle looks at Gore’s early wariness of Nixon, the play he wrote using words directly from the President’s mouth, and Gore’s suspicions that were finally proven correct.

SOURCES:

Books:

An Evening With Richard Nixon, Gore Vidal, 1971

Palimpsest: A Memoir, Gore Vidal, 1995

Empire Of Self: A Life of Gore Vidal, Jay Parini, 2015

Audio:

Vidal / Buckley debates, ABC, 1968

Laugh-In/em>, Jan 12 1970

The Merv Griffin Show/em>, May 14 1970

Laugh-In/em>, Jan 11 1971

The Dick Cavett Show/em>, Nov 1 1973

In Episode Seven, Vidalotry explores Gore Vidal’s entrance into the Kennedy inner circle. Host Ryan Breegle looks at Gore’s family ties to Jackie, the bad blood between Gore and Bobby, and his thoughts on what really led to the assassination of John F Kennedy.

SOURCES:

Books:

The Best Man 1968, Esquire, March 1963

Palimpsest: A Memoir, Gore Vidal, 1995

Empire Of Self: A Life of Gore Vidal, Jay Parini, 2015

Audio:

60 Minutes, CBS, 1975

Profile of a Writer, 1978

Afternoon Plus, 1981

JFK, A Personal Tribute, 1993

The Clive Anderson Show, Channel 4, 1993

We The People with Jerry Brown, July 8 1996

In Episode Six, Vidalotry explores Gore Vidal’s relationship with two gay authors; one friendly, the other contentious. Host Ryan Breegle looks at Gore’s adventures with Tennessee Williams and their involvement in a film featuring lobotomies and cannibalism. And he examines Gore’s detest for Truman Capote, culminating in lies and lawsuits.

SOURCES:

Books:

Palimpsest: A Memoir, Gore Vidal, 1995

Empire Of Self: A Life of Gore Vidal, Jay Parini, 2015

Audio:

60 Minutes, CBS, 1975

The Dick Cavett Show, 1978

Profile of a Writer, 1978

Omnibus, BBC, 1995

The Celluloid Closet, 1995

The Tim Haigh Show, 1995

An Appreciation, PBS, 1998

Theater Talk, 2000

Interview with Jay Parini, 2006