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

In Episode Five, Vidalotry explores the tumultuous friendship of Gore Vidal and author Norman Mailer. Host Ryan Breegle looks at Mailer’s history of violence toward women and how it took Gore, a legendary female journalist, and a late night TV show to finally put him in his place.

SOURCES:
Books:
Of a Small and Modest Malignancy, Wicked and Bristling with Dots, Norman Mailer, Esquire, 1977
Palimpsest: A Memoir, Gore Vidal, 1995
Snapshots In History’s Glare, Gore Vidal, 2009
Empire Of Self: A Life of Gore Vidal, Jay Parini, 2015

Audio:
The Dick Cavett Show, 1971
Profile of a Writer, 1978

In Episode Four, Vidalotry explores the 1968 televised debates between Gore Vidal and William F Buckley, Jr. Host Ryan Breegle looks at how Gore prepared his witty remarks in advance, the speed at which the debate became nothing more than a war of words, and how both men were greatly affected by the aftermath.

SOURCES:
Books:
On Experiencing Gore Vidal, William F Buckley Jr, Esquire, August 1969
A Distasteful Encounter with William F Buckley Jr, Gore Vidal, Esquire, September 1969
Palimpsest: A Memoir, Gore Vidal, 1995
Snapshots In History’s Glare, Gore Vidal, 2009
Empire Of Self: A Life of Gore Vidal, Jay Parini, 2015
Buckley Vs Vidal: The Historic 1968 ABC News Debates, 2015

Audio:
Buckley / Vidal debates, ABC News, 1968
Braden / Buchanan, 1984

In Episode Three, Vidalotry explores what happens when Gore Vidal is invited to work in Hollywood. Host Ryan Breegle looks at homosexuality’s network television debut, and we meet the man Gore chose to live with for more than half of his life.

SOURCES:
Books:
Palimpsest: A Memoir, Gore Vidal, 1995
Snapshots In History’s Glare, Gore Vidal, 2009
Empire Of Self: A Life of Gore Vidal, Jay Parini, 2015

Audio:
The Homosexuals, CBS News, 1967
The Celluloid Closet, 1995
60 Minutes, CBS, 1975

In Episode Two, Vidalotry explores Gore Vidal’s love/hate relationship with America. Host Ryan Breegle looks at Gore’s two political campaigns, his controversial views on party politics, and the play he wrote about the scandalous secrets candidates dig up to use against each other.

SOURCES:
Books:
The Best Man: A Play About Politics, Gore Vidal, 1960
Palimpsest: A Memoir, Gore Vidal, 1995
Snapshots In History’s Glare, Gore Vidal, 2009
Empire Of Self: A Life of Gore Vidal, Jay Parini, 2015

Audio:
French interview, 1964
Profile of a Writer, 1978
Afternoon Plus, Thames Television, 1981
The Tonight Show With Johnny Carson, 1981
The Merv Griffin Show, 1981
Omnibus, BBC, 1995
Gore Vidal, PBS, 1998
Theater Talk, 2000
The South Bank Show, ITV, 2008

In this debut episode, Vidalotry explores the complex relationship between Gore Vidal and his stance on homosexuality. Host Ryan Breegle looks at Gore’s passion for promiscuity, his first love that would forever haunt him, and how writing a novel about gay sex would affect his career in the years to come.

SOURCES:
Books:
The City And The Pillar, Gore Vidal, 1948
Palimpsest: A Memoir, Gore Vidal, 1995
Empire Of Self: A Life of Gore Vidal, Jay Parini, 2015

Audio:
Omnibus, BBC, 1995
Gore Vidal, An Appreciation, PBS, 1995
The South Bank Show, ITV, 2008

Introducing Vidalotry, a new ten-part series podcast from Ryan Breegle that examines the wit and wisdom of famed intellectual and public persona Gore Vidal. Using a multitude of recordings, interviews and talk show appearances, Breegle examines Gore’s insights on homosexuality, politics, clashing opinions between creatives and much much more. This preview of the show gives you a taste of what to expect with forthcoming episodes.

Coming February 2018.