Gore Vidal on the David Susskind Show (1980)
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- Опубліковано 8 лют 2025
- David Susskind sits down for a lengthy interview with writer, academic, and raconteur Gore Vidal. The pair touch on a variety of topics including Vidal's thoughts about prominent politicians of the day, his opinions about what changes need to come to the United States, and his contention that the Soviet Union would be better off leaving Afghanistan.
Brilliant and fair minded, I love watching these old shows. I learn more about the reality of our current world from minds of the past such as this, than I have the chance to in the present. Productive, non-planned discussion has been dead for so long and everyone is too immature to have healthy discussion with different POVs. You can state a literal fact and if someone just doesn't like it then the fact is falsely labeled a lie and now an argument lol The astute are chastised for using their brain, God forbid you say anything with a shred of intelligence to someone even slightly inept they act as though they are being attacked😂 I'm glad these old shows are posted. I would love to have access to all episodes.
Just an unmitigated joy to listen to intelligent people use the English language properly and without verbal crutches
He was Brilliant ! His intelligence and future predictions are exceptional. He use of word is perfection. I just wish he would of won think of the type of world we world have today.
I forgot what it was like to listen to a speaker that communicates with a calm intelligent tone
I disagree with lots of Gore Vidal's views, but even when he's speaking on issues where I vehemently disagree with him, he's thoughtful, concise and can defend his stance brilliantly.
There's also so much he's dead right on, and with the sole exception of his criticism of the Military-Industral Complex (which a handful of people very occasionally address) nobody discusses any of it anymore.
I grew up in America and now live in Australia - a country whose government runs under the very Parliamentary system Gore is promoting here - and for its flaws it operates *so* much more effectively than America's presidential system with a paralysed, utterly ineffective Congress. The US needs a new constitution worse than Rush Limbaugh needed a triple bypass and a trip to rehab. Stop clinging to an obsolete, half-assed document - it's not sacred.
I agree with much of Vidal's views but am in even more agreement with the accuracy of your comment. The US Constitution was supposed to be a 'living' document by the reckoning of many but now is cited by the very voices who seek to conveniently ignore it while promoting anti-democratic tyranny.
Gore Vidal was basically telling the future of politics those 45 years ago!
Vidal's perspective on the Russian invasion of Afghanistan 42 years ago is absolutely spot on. Nobody back then had no idea just how accurately he foretold of this issues we'd later have there.
There were plenty of anti-Jewish people who got it right. Anti-Jewish people have the most accurate insights and predictions, because they recognize who the real rulers are. Everyone else, including Vidal, has their heads buried in the sand.
spot on
The Great Gore Vidal was always ahead of his time.
Looking back on Vidal is not a pleasant experience since everything he told us was happening has become reality and still...the majority of the people remain asleep......
Can you imagine his nightmare if he was alive to witness America today.
@@nejuwHe’s spinning in his grave right now, observng what’s going on with Trump. 😂
Susskind and his producers were the boldest. They actually let people go onto national TV in the US and express their opposition to the Vietnam War. He also pioneered a number of other issues as legitimate for talk shows.
This was a man with a big imagination and alot of ideas. This was a big man!
Gore Vidal. What wit. 😋
Wonderful voice, vocabulary.
Adept at verbal fencing.
Cross referencing.
“Lincoln. The American Bismarck”
Who speaks like that anymore. 😢
What a brilliant interview and what incite by Gore. All the things we think are terrible about government today, are what he thought was terrible about government 40 years ago. Isn't this what is wrong with society today, 4.2 thousand views and 14 comments on what should be viewed by everyone as an example of how the more things change, the more they stay exactly the same.
in his day, most Americans had no clue who Gore Vidal was; and he was a noted leftist of his day. He might even have been considered a Socialist. "Burr" his novel about Aaron Burr ( Alexander Hamilton's nemesis) has been a favorite historical fiction of mine. Vidal was an intellectual giant with a contrarian nature.
@@rebeccaLV I actually met him back in the mid 80's, in key West. I didn't know who he was, but the way he spoke was unmistakable, and it was only later I realized. He said I said something interesting, or funny, I can't remember, but he jotted it down in a little note book he carried.
Wow that was lucky and especially because his comment was affirming, which, I suspect even in casual conversation for him, would have been counter to type. So congratulations that you received any kind of compliment from him! @@worldadventureman
@@rebeccaLV Well that's not to say he didn't write something along the lines of "met a fool of a young man today, said the most stupid thing and had no clue who I was" 🤣🤣
Vidal once wrote, As we get older, we don't change; we simply get better at selling ourselves (to others).
Insightful interview with Gore Vidal! With views and predictions about American politics that are just… ✨✨✨
What a legend.
gore is the friggin best !
This man was genius.
2024 now. 44 years since this interview, nothing has changed. But it seems like Vidal was still hopeful at this point compared with his later interviews. Also he’s quite giddy in this interview. In a way im glad that he’s passed and not have to live through the shit we’re dealing with now.
Same here, honestly. He would have been so angry, much more than he became later, if he had continued living to now. I would not wish these times on a human I respect like Gore.
Great stuff.
Great!
Clever clever man
He was too bright for this country.
“An extension of the Chase Manhattan bank with offices in Washington.” Wow,spot on.
Very true especially currently with a type of cabinet full of billionaires and TV personalities Trump is proposing right now.
What he said about the education system is spot on, in fact it's probably gotten worse
America even elected a president who never read a book.
Education system ruined by the left-leaning liberal Democrats.
Yes, and then look at all the civilized countries in Europe. They regard Americans as funny, entertaining, and frankly, stupid, with good reason. They love our music and our movies, but they don’t think we know much about the rest of the world, and they happen to be correct in that view.
Yes, and then look at all the civilized countries in Europe. They regard Americans as funny, entertaining, and frankly, stupid, with good reason. They love our music and our movies, but they don’t think we know much about the rest of the world, and they happen to be correct in that view.
The BBC is a left wing garbage dump. @@robertyates9500
A monthly president, what a wonderful idea. A president Vidal would have been an even better prize.
@35:53 is where Gore states exactly why the US is to be feared and not respected. STILL.
God. FORTY years ago
Frightening, is it not?
He says “eliminate the presidency”. Wow. If only.
He could be charming and humorous but at times cruel.
In that sense he reminded me a little of movie critic Rex Reed, the latter of whom I’ve always enjoyed.
Those two are probably responsible for the word snarky.
But Gore was right as rain when he pointed out how inarticulate college students have become.
And that was back in 1980!
Can you imagine his reaction nowadays?
I find myself asking that question a lot these days...Vidal would be appalled at the loss of our civil liberties for sure.
Vidal, as well as Chomsky, predicted the dumbing down of the electorate that will lead to the charismatic candidate that will bring about an existencial crisis to democracy in the USA,.. we got it in 2016..
20:30 35:00 thank you!
John Anderson did end up running as an independent. My first time voting I picked Anderson. But I love Jimmy Carter and his wife in post WH years.
Same, same.
@facilitiesmaintenance thank you for your reply. I'm here hearing country western music. Be well.
and they actually won't hold back criticizing a political party or politician who they may have voted for... This is so foreign to us today, it's just a dream, a myth.
27:22
Susskind: That's good about him (Carter)?
Vidal: Well it beats me.
This man is much missed. I suspect he would not be surprised at all by the current politically dismal situation we find ourselves with. He was born into and he knew the way many of these morons think although trump is certainly on another level with his narcissism, he is an idiot, lacking any social graces and corrupt to the core.
Vidal was great. Suskind was a pompous jerk.
Susskind asks "With 220 million people how do we come down to this miserable choice (,between Carter and Reagan)?" Both Carter and Reagan were giants compared to the choices available in the insane world of today.
Susskind: "You think a collapse is possible? The interest rate is only 19% and there's only a 20% inflation rate." LOL
😂😂😂
Suskind asking a loaded question.
He knows damn well the bankers have done this before in Russia France GERMANY, Ukraine, Poland, Balkan states etc etc.
they have a 2000 year history of bank collapsing and money laundering 🥸
A bit of a "Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman" reunion, in a way...
I didn't agree with their political bent, but loved theses titans. It's criminal how susskind is almost unknown as witty as he was.
It's amusing to this Brit that Bush Sr. already had a reputation as a 'marshmallow.' almost a decade before his presidency.
I noticed that, too.
Bush Sr. was CIA before he was head of CIA. Wasn't he in Dallas when JFK was slaughtered ?
3:15 2024
Watch how the celebration of Jimmy Carter will come upon his death!
@45:00
Best listened to at .75 speed
Or 2.0x. I can’t sit through an hour of anything on the tube
25:25
You are aware that Reagan was 69 years old at the time.
How I wish he had lived to experience Trump.
I give you a thumbs down. No-one should ever have had to be subjected to THAT. However I still agree. Someone would lose, believing he had won. Twice over, maybe.
Vidal would have liked Trump. He didn't have to steal like the Democrats.
@@jackzaccardi1896 no, I think he would've genuinely disliked Trump about as much as he disliked Reagan.
@@tonyduncan9852joe and Kamala. lol.
Ted Kennedy would have become a good president if Chappaquidik had not happened.
It's because of Teddy that the illegals are overrunning the country.
I looked up Pompous in the dictionary and found Gore Vidal's photo.
Vidal was wrong about Reagan….
Reagan effectively destroyed the middle class and created the Oligarchs of 2024
Reagan proved Gore Vidal wrong about Reagan.
Reagan proved Gore right about Reagan.
@33:15 "... then he starts talking (Milton Friedman) about the Invisible Hand of the free market place,.. I see the invisible foot rather more desperate in our affairs, always out in front of you, always tripping you out". 🤣🤣🤣