We Are History cover image

The 1968 US Presidential Election: Rotting from the head down

We Are History

00:00

The Power of Anger in Debates

I was able to present those, those sort of quite simplistic right wing racist ideas with an air of intellectualism and a narrative. And that climaxes with Buckley saying to Vidal, stop calling me a crypto Nazi, you queer and go back to your pornography. The ratings went through the roof. Who wants to debate boring? Writers calling each other queer and Nazis and threatening to punch one another in the face. That's what the voters want to see with a friend decide how to vote. I think the point of play I saw was making that it's when we realize that angry conflict is better for the ratings and makes more money than constructive debate. That's really depressing.

Transcript
Play full episode

The AI-powered Podcast Player

Save insights by tapping your headphones, chat with episodes, discover the best highlights - and more!
App store bannerPlay store banner
Get the app