William F. Buckley vs. Gore Vidal: Now listen, you queer, stop calling me a crypto-Nazi

Classic TV Clips ChannelĀ By classic_tv_clips

This is the well know incident between William Buckley and Gore Vidal that occurred during ABC’s coverage of the 1968 Democratic convention in Chicago.

So much class and eloquence as he adds…. or I’ll sock you in you goddamn face and you’ll stay plastered.

OMG!!! That face, he really loses it, jaw going side to side, the lot…

I love Vidal’s glee at Buckley’s incredibly lame threat. A big cheerful grin that morphs into the satisfied smirk of a man who’s taking a moment to size up his opponent and is realizing just how badly he’d messed this guy up.

Man, Fox News isn’t doing anything new at all, is it?

The interruptions, the ad hominem attacks in place of actual debate, the macho posturing… the only real difference is that at least Buckley had some level of military service to exaggerate about.

These are the kind of intelligent conversations we need today.

“Never hate your enemies. It affects your judgment. … “
– Michael Corleone