Press Play with Madeleine Brand
Gore Vidal and William F. Buckley, Jr. Spar in 'Best of Enemies'
By the mid-1960s, the presidential conventions had turned into full-fledged TV events, but ABC was dead last in the ratings. In order to spice up their convention coverage, ABC executives invited two towering intellectuals to a series of debates. The fireworks between liberal Gore Vidal and conservative William F. Buckley, Jr.
By the mid-1960s, the presidential conventions had turned into full-fledged TV events, but ABC was dead last in the ratings. In order to spice up their convention coverage, ABC executives invited two towering intellectuals to a series of debates. The fireworks between liberal Gore Vidal and conservative William F. Buckley, Jr. created giant ratings for ABC, and ushered in the age of bellicose cable news commentary.
The full episode
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