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I Told You So: Gore Vidal Talks Politics: Interviews with Jon Wiener
�I exist to say, �No, that isn’t the way it is,’ or �What you believe to be true is not true for the following reasons.’ I am a master of the obvious. I mean, if there’s a hole in the road, I will, viciously, outrageously, say there’s a hole in the road and if you don’t fill it in you’ll break the axle of your car. One is not loved for being helpful.”
Gore Vidal, one of America’s foremost essayists, screenwriters, and novelists, died July 31, 2012. He was, in addition, a terrific conversationalist. Dick Cavett once described him as �the best talker since Oscar Wilde.” And Vidal was never more eloquent, or caustic, than when let loose on his favorite topic, the history and politics of the United States.
This book is made up from four interviews conducted with his long-time interlocutor, the writer and radio host Jon Wiener, in which Vidal grapples with matters evidently close to his heart: the history of the American Empire, the rise of the National Security State, and his own life in politics, both as a commentator and candidate.
The interviews cover a twenty-year span, from 1988 to 2008, when Vidal was at the height of his powers. His extraordinary facility for developing an argument, tracing connections between past and present, and drawing on an encyclopedic knowledge of America’s place in the world, are all on full display. And, of course, it being Gore Vidal, an ample sprinkling of gloriously acerbic one-liners is also provided.
Gore Vidal, one of America’s foremost essayists, screenwriters, and novelists, died July 31, 2012. He was, in addition, a terrific conversationalist. Dick Cavett once described him as �the best talker since Oscar Wilde.” And Vidal was never more eloquent, or caustic, than when let loose on his favorite topic, the history and politics of the United States.
This book is made up from four interviews conducted with his long-time interlocutor, the writer and radio host Jon Wiener, in which Vidal grapples with matters evidently close to his heart: the history of the American Empire, the rise of the National Security State, and his own life in politics, both as a commentator and candidate.
The interviews cover a twenty-year span, from 1988 to 2008, when Vidal was at the height of his powers. His extraordinary facility for developing an argument, tracing connections between past and present, and drawing on an encyclopedic knowledge of America’s place in the world, are all on full display. And, of course, it being Gore Vidal, an ample sprinkling of gloriously acerbic one-liners is also provided.
- GenresPoliticsNonfiction
144 pages, Paperback
First published October 24, 2012
About the author
Gore Vidal
251 books1,938 followersGore Vidal was an American novelist, essayist, screenwriter, playwright and political commentator known for his sharp wit, provocative opinions and criticism of American society. Raised in Washington, D.C., he attended several preparatory schools before graduating from Phillips Exeter Academy in 1943. His maternal grandfather, Thomas Pryor Gore, a Democratic senator from Oklahoma, profoundly influenced his early interest in politics. During World War II, Vidal served in the United States Army and worked aboard a supply ship in the Aleutian Islands. His experiences inspired his first novel, Williwaw (1946), published shortly after his military service.
Vidal attracted controversy with The City and the Pillar (1948), one of the early American novels to portray male homosexuality openly. Its subject provoked conservative critics and established his reputation as a writer willing to challenge prevailing social conventions. He subsequently explored different genres, writing novels, plays, essays and screenplays. His stage comedy Visit to a Small Planet became a theatrical success, while his work in Hollywood included contributions to the screenplay for Ben-Hur (1959).
His historical novels brought him particular recognition. Julian (1964) examined the Roman emperor's attempt to restore paganism, while Burr (1973) and Lincoln (1984) offered fictional interpretations of American political history. Myra Breckinridge (1968), a provocative satire of Hollywood and gender conventions, further demonstrated his willingness to challenge cultural assumptions. His later historical fiction included 1876, Empire and Hollywood, forming part of his broader exploration of American power and national identity.
Vidal was equally influential as an essayist and public intellectual. His collections addressed American foreign policy, religion, sexuality and the political establishment. United States: Essays 1952-1992 won the National Book Award in 1993. His memoir Palimpsest (1995) offered personal reflections on his family, relationships and literary career. Vidal also became famous for televised confrontations with conservative commentator William F. Buckley Jr. during the 1968 presidential election coverage. Their bitter exchanges made him a prominent figure in American political debate.
His political involvement extended beyond commentary. He ran unsuccessfully for the United States House of Representatives in New York in 1960 and for the United States Senate in California in 1982. He later chaired the People's Party and remained an outspoken critic of American militarism, corporate influence and the expansion of executive power. His views frequently placed him at odds with political leaders and fellow intellectuals, including writer Norman Mailer.
Vidal spent much of his later life in Italy before returning to the United States. He continued writing essays, novels and memoirs into his final years, maintaining his reputation for intellectual independence and irreverence. His work examined the relationship between private ambition and public power, often questioning conventional accounts of American history. He died in 2012, leaving a substantial literary legacy spanning fiction, political criticism and cultural commentary.
Vidal attracted controversy with The City and the Pillar (1948), one of the early American novels to portray male homosexuality openly. Its subject provoked conservative critics and established his reputation as a writer willing to challenge prevailing social conventions. He subsequently explored different genres, writing novels, plays, essays and screenplays. His stage comedy Visit to a Small Planet became a theatrical success, while his work in Hollywood included contributions to the screenplay for Ben-Hur (1959).
His historical novels brought him particular recognition. Julian (1964) examined the Roman emperor's attempt to restore paganism, while Burr (1973) and Lincoln (1984) offered fictional interpretations of American political history. Myra Breckinridge (1968), a provocative satire of Hollywood and gender conventions, further demonstrated his willingness to challenge cultural assumptions. His later historical fiction included 1876, Empire and Hollywood, forming part of his broader exploration of American power and national identity.
Vidal was equally influential as an essayist and public intellectual. His collections addressed American foreign policy, religion, sexuality and the political establishment. United States: Essays 1952-1992 won the National Book Award in 1993. His memoir Palimpsest (1995) offered personal reflections on his family, relationships and literary career. Vidal also became famous for televised confrontations with conservative commentator William F. Buckley Jr. during the 1968 presidential election coverage. Their bitter exchanges made him a prominent figure in American political debate.
His political involvement extended beyond commentary. He ran unsuccessfully for the United States House of Representatives in New York in 1960 and for the United States Senate in California in 1982. He later chaired the People's Party and remained an outspoken critic of American militarism, corporate influence and the expansion of executive power. His views frequently placed him at odds with political leaders and fellow intellectuals, including writer Norman Mailer.
Vidal spent much of his later life in Italy before returning to the United States. He continued writing essays, novels and memoirs into his final years, maintaining his reputation for intellectual independence and irreverence. His work examined the relationship between private ambition and public power, often questioning conventional accounts of American history. He died in 2012, leaving a substantial literary legacy spanning fiction, political criticism and cultural commentary.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
March 7, 2013
I have a confession to make. I am a Gore Vidal fan. For almost 20 years, I have read deeply from his novels and essays, and derived much insight from the TV and radio interviews he had given throughout his career. He was our Oscar Wilde and the gadfly of the American system, or as he often called it, "the American Empire."
Here in this slender book are excerpts from 4 different venues, spanning from 1988 to 2007, where Gore Vidal spoke at length (both publicly and in one-on-one interviews) about: "the history of the American Empire, the rise of the National Security State, and his own life in politics, both as a commentator and candidate."
Vidal led such a rich and varied life. He was one of the first of the Second World War generation to publish a best-selling novel (1946). Hailing from a patrician background, Vidal grew up in Northern Virginia and Washington DC, where his maternal grandfather was the first Senator from Oklahoma and his father (a West Point graduate and one of the U.S. Army's first pilots) was an advisor to FDR on aviation matters in the 1930s.
After his Army service and the publication of his debut, best-selling novel "Williwaw", Vidal reached a crossroads in 1948 with the publication of his third novel, "The City and the Pillar" which dealt directly with the theme of homosexuality. In this book, Vidal admits that he had the opportunity to run in 1948 for national office in New Mexico, where his family had political connections. But in order to pursue what might have been a sure political career in either the House or Senate, Vidal would've had to disavow "The City and the Pillar", which The New York Times roundly condemned. Well, Gore Vidal "took the road less travelled by, and that has made all the difference."
For the reader of this review, I'd like to leave you with these reflections from Gore Vidal: "If you want, let's say, to deny the people certain rights, keep them ignorant of the Bill of Rights. If nobody understands who we were, we won't question why we are what we are. ... [I]t's to the interest of the oligarchs --- the national security statespersons --- keep the people ignorant."
Here in this slender book are excerpts from 4 different venues, spanning from 1988 to 2007, where Gore Vidal spoke at length (both publicly and in one-on-one interviews) about: "the history of the American Empire, the rise of the National Security State, and his own life in politics, both as a commentator and candidate."
Vidal led such a rich and varied life. He was one of the first of the Second World War generation to publish a best-selling novel (1946). Hailing from a patrician background, Vidal grew up in Northern Virginia and Washington DC, where his maternal grandfather was the first Senator from Oklahoma and his father (a West Point graduate and one of the U.S. Army's first pilots) was an advisor to FDR on aviation matters in the 1930s.
After his Army service and the publication of his debut, best-selling novel "Williwaw", Vidal reached a crossroads in 1948 with the publication of his third novel, "The City and the Pillar" which dealt directly with the theme of homosexuality. In this book, Vidal admits that he had the opportunity to run in 1948 for national office in New Mexico, where his family had political connections. But in order to pursue what might have been a sure political career in either the House or Senate, Vidal would've had to disavow "The City and the Pillar", which The New York Times roundly condemned. Well, Gore Vidal "took the road less travelled by, and that has made all the difference."
For the reader of this review, I'd like to leave you with these reflections from Gore Vidal: "If you want, let's say, to deny the people certain rights, keep them ignorant of the Bill of Rights. If nobody understands who we were, we won't question why we are what we are. ... [I]t's to the interest of the oligarchs --- the national security statespersons --- keep the people ignorant."
Read
May 26, 2013Vidal's passing in July 2012 left an unfulfillable void in the "Body Politic." He was the most aggressive opponent to the 'Perpetual War" and "National security State' crew. This book is an excellent introduction to Vidal for those who haven't yet read his marvelous historical novels and his essays.
There is no better path to understanding American history then to read all the novels in his "Empire series:"
Burr
Lincoln
1876
Empire
Hollywood Years
Golden Age
Although all these novels elucidate where we went wrong as a republic, I think his "Golden Age" probably best speaks to those currently alive in the US. 1948 was the year that all hope was lost that we would be a Republic and not an Empire. Truman, was a 3rd rate machine politician, with no vision and who required borrowed ideas to deal with his complete ignorance of foreign affairs. There was another path the US could have taken. Henry Wallace was the candidate with vision. Vidal mentions the conspiracy to block Wallace.
This short book his broken up into 4 public interviews of Vidal. There is much overlap, but sometimes Vidal tailors his answers to identical questions, to the audience on hand.
Vidal is always a joy to read or listen to. He had an instinctive understanding of how American politics worked. There was no doubt much hoopla among the 1% when his death was announced. He was truly a national treasure, and I don't see any replacement any where in sight. Thank God we at least have YouTube to bring him back in little snippets!
There is no better path to understanding American history then to read all the novels in his "Empire series:"
Burr
Lincoln
1876
Empire
Hollywood Years
Golden Age
Although all these novels elucidate where we went wrong as a republic, I think his "Golden Age" probably best speaks to those currently alive in the US. 1948 was the year that all hope was lost that we would be a Republic and not an Empire. Truman, was a 3rd rate machine politician, with no vision and who required borrowed ideas to deal with his complete ignorance of foreign affairs. There was another path the US could have taken. Henry Wallace was the candidate with vision. Vidal mentions the conspiracy to block Wallace.
This short book his broken up into 4 public interviews of Vidal. There is much overlap, but sometimes Vidal tailors his answers to identical questions, to the audience on hand.
Vidal is always a joy to read or listen to. He had an instinctive understanding of how American politics worked. There was no doubt much hoopla among the 1% when his death was announced. He was truly a national treasure, and I don't see any replacement any where in sight. Thank God we at least have YouTube to bring him back in little snippets!
March 13, 2022
Quick read that introduced me to Gore Vidal. Sharp wit rules throughout, and I’ll be reading more of his voluminous work, starting with Myra Breckenridge
January 9, 2023
Having just seen James Graham’s new play Best of Enemies about the ABC discussions between Republican commentator William Buckley and the left wing liberal Gore Vidal during the 1968 political conventions, I was moved to find out more about Vidal and his views.
There was so much literature to choose from, from biographies to Gore’s novels, plays and articles but I thought these interviews were a good introduction to the man.
The book is essentially the transcripts of 4 interviews between Gore Vidal and Jon Wiener from the early 21st century back to the 80s. While his answers sometimes vary to lend humour or incorporate hindsight Vidal stayed true to his liberal, anti war principles throughout and did not shy away from his right wing past. There was much debate about how and why he transitioned from right to left and the background and context to his fiction and historical writing - including his coining the term ‘American empire’ and I learnt a great deal about alternative views on key figures from American history from JFK (a close friend of Gore) to Lincoln!
I now need to delve further but this was, as I hoped, more than a good introduction.
There was so much literature to choose from, from biographies to Gore’s novels, plays and articles but I thought these interviews were a good introduction to the man.
The book is essentially the transcripts of 4 interviews between Gore Vidal and Jon Wiener from the early 21st century back to the 80s. While his answers sometimes vary to lend humour or incorporate hindsight Vidal stayed true to his liberal, anti war principles throughout and did not shy away from his right wing past. There was much debate about how and why he transitioned from right to left and the background and context to his fiction and historical writing - including his coining the term ‘American empire’ and I learnt a great deal about alternative views on key figures from American history from JFK (a close friend of Gore) to Lincoln!
I now need to delve further but this was, as I hoped, more than a good introduction.
February 21, 2015
This is a collection of 4 interviews with Gore Vidal, from 1986 through 2007. They mostly cover the same ground, and he tends to give roughly similar answers to the same questions, with slight variations over time.
Vidal was an immensely intelligent man, and was among the first to recognize and portray the United States as an empire - a term that earned him scorn from the establishment press at the time (the 50s and 60s), but which is now a commonplace. He also coined the term "national security state" back in the early 80s - another term that is now generally recognized as descriptive of our government but which was, then, subjected to derision and contempt.
He was born into a wealthy and politically connected family, which only partly explains his early access to notable politicians and artists in the early postwar period. He wrote his first two books when he was 19 and 20 while in the US army, receiving favorable reviews from the New York Times. But when he published The City and the Pillar, about the life of a gay man, he was placed on the New York Times shitlist, and never again received a favorable review from them. Which tells us a great deal more about the Times than it does about Gore Vidal.
He became left-wing by degrees, after starting as an America Firster while at Exeter. By 1968 he had recognized the American empire for what it was, and his trajectory to the left by then was irreversible. He had access to all the main political players during the 60s, and knew that the trumped-up fears about the USSR were only for public consumption, a way to advance the interests of what he would eventually term the national security state. That sort of knowledge is bound to make anyone a bit cynical. And he early on recognized the criminality and utter pointlessness of the Vietnam war, before opposition to the war was popular. He maintained his principled ant-war stance to the end, even breaking off his friendship with Christopher Hitchens because of the latter's support for the invasion of Iraq.
In short - an interesting read.
Vidal was an immensely intelligent man, and was among the first to recognize and portray the United States as an empire - a term that earned him scorn from the establishment press at the time (the 50s and 60s), but which is now a commonplace. He also coined the term "national security state" back in the early 80s - another term that is now generally recognized as descriptive of our government but which was, then, subjected to derision and contempt.
He was born into a wealthy and politically connected family, which only partly explains his early access to notable politicians and artists in the early postwar period. He wrote his first two books when he was 19 and 20 while in the US army, receiving favorable reviews from the New York Times. But when he published The City and the Pillar, about the life of a gay man, he was placed on the New York Times shitlist, and never again received a favorable review from them. Which tells us a great deal more about the Times than it does about Gore Vidal.
He became left-wing by degrees, after starting as an America Firster while at Exeter. By 1968 he had recognized the American empire for what it was, and his trajectory to the left by then was irreversible. He had access to all the main political players during the 60s, and knew that the trumped-up fears about the USSR were only for public consumption, a way to advance the interests of what he would eventually term the national security state. That sort of knowledge is bound to make anyone a bit cynical. And he early on recognized the criminality and utter pointlessness of the Vietnam war, before opposition to the war was popular. He maintained his principled ant-war stance to the end, even breaking off his friendship with Christopher Hitchens because of the latter's support for the invasion of Iraq.
In short - an interesting read.
November 21, 2019
Never get tired of reading Gore Vidal...I hear his voice in my head.
Gore Vidal, who died at the end of July 2012, is widely acknowledged as one of America’s foremost novelists, essayists and screenwriters. But Vidal was also a terrific conversationalist; indeed Dick Cavett once described him as “the best talker since Oscar Wilde.” Vidal was never more eloquent, or caustic, than when let loose on his favorite the history and politics of the United States.
This book is made up from four interviews conducted with his long-time interlocutor, the writer and radio host Jon Wiener, in which Vidal grapples with matters evidently close to his the history of the American Empire, the rise of the National Security State, and his own life in politics, both as a commentator and candidate.
The interviews cover a twenty-year span, from 1988 to 2008, when Vidal was at the height of his powers. His extraordinary facility for developing an argument, tracing connections between past and present, and drawing on an encyclopedic knowledge of America’s place in the world, are all on full display. And, of course, it being Gore Vidal, an ample sprinkling of gloriously acerbic one-liners is also provided.
Gore Vidal was the author of numerous novels, short stories, plays, screenplays and essays. A winner of the National Book Award, he was also a tireless political activist and, running as Democratic candidate for Congress in upstate New York, received more votes for that district than any Democrat in a half-century.
Gore Vidal, who died at the end of July 2012, is widely acknowledged as one of America’s foremost novelists, essayists and screenwriters. But Vidal was also a terrific conversationalist; indeed Dick Cavett once described him as “the best talker since Oscar Wilde.” Vidal was never more eloquent, or caustic, than when let loose on his favorite the history and politics of the United States.
This book is made up from four interviews conducted with his long-time interlocutor, the writer and radio host Jon Wiener, in which Vidal grapples with matters evidently close to his the history of the American Empire, the rise of the National Security State, and his own life in politics, both as a commentator and candidate.
The interviews cover a twenty-year span, from 1988 to 2008, when Vidal was at the height of his powers. His extraordinary facility for developing an argument, tracing connections between past and present, and drawing on an encyclopedic knowledge of America’s place in the world, are all on full display. And, of course, it being Gore Vidal, an ample sprinkling of gloriously acerbic one-liners is also provided.
Gore Vidal was the author of numerous novels, short stories, plays, screenplays and essays. A winner of the National Book Award, he was also a tireless political activist and, running as Democratic candidate for Congress in upstate New York, received more votes for that district than any Democrat in a half-century.
July 24, 2013
A small book of interviews with Gore Vidal, the novelist, playwright, political activist, etc. It's a little egotistical, but Vidal makes appropriate fun of, and dishes out accurate criticisms of the dangerous conservatives in this country and the way they keep the US from moving forward and making progress.
July 6, 2013
It seemed like a lot of rambling without any coherence to me, but I'm also the first to admit that I'm not familiar with much of the subject matter (early 20th century American politics). There were good moments, but not quite enough for me.
December 4, 2012
Gore Vidal himself is funny and articulate, and these interviews are interesting, but there are better Vidal books out there.
May 25, 2013
Gore Vidal was one our best talkers. My favorite quote of his is: The United States of Amnesia. There will never be another like him.
May 4, 2014
Fantastic. Vidal is as witty and interesting in these conversations as ever.
February 16, 2015
A fascinating lecture on contemporary American history.
April 22, 2017
A fascinating look at the evolution of thought. A delight for Vidal fans.
January 6, 2015
One Of The Best Americans To Have Ever Lived.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews