best of enemies documentary public square

The Best of Enemies: A Tale of Two Men Who Shaped Our Political Discourse'

In 1964, Gore Vidal and William F. Buckley Jr. were back in action during the Republican National Convention, debating each other as part of ABC's nightly news segment. This marked the beginning of their infamous feud on live television. The two men had first met in 1962 on David Susskind's talk show Open End, but it was clear from that moment on that they were destined to clash.

The Vidal-Buckley debates continued throughout the 1960s, with each man trying to outdo the other in a battle of wits and intellectual firepower. Their disagreements didn't stop at television - they also spilled over into print, with both men publishing lengthy accounts of their debates in Esquire magazine in 1969.

Despite their mutual disdain for each other, Vidal and Buckley brought a level of sophistication to their debates that is sadly lacking in today's cable news landscape. Writer-directors Morgan Neville and Robert Gordon's documentary Best of Enemies captures the essence of their legendary TV battles, which climaxed during the chaos of the Chicago Democratic convention.

In one memorable exchange, Vidal called Buckley a 'crypto-Nazi,' prompting Buckley to retort, 'Now listen, you queer, stop calling me a crypto-Nazi or I'll sock you in your goddamn face and you'll stay plastered.' The two men were determined to drive each other from the public square, and their debates became a defining feature of American political discourse.

The documentary ends with a powerful montage connecting Vidal and Buckley's debates to our current era of cable news opinionators. While they may not possess the same level of wit or erudition as the two men who came before them, there is no denying that Vidal and Buckley left an indelible mark on American politics.

In conclusion, Best of Enemies is a must-see documentary for anyone interested in understanding the roots of our current political polarization. It's a fascinating look at two men who may have hated each other, but who also brought out the best in each other - and in doing so, helped shape the very fabric of our public discourse.

Best of enemies documentary public square