If you are of a certain age no doubt you remember the most infamous political debates of the past generation – the 1968 ABC News debates between political icons William F. Buckley Jr. and Gore Vidal.  During the seventh debate at the Chicago Democratic Convention a notorious and unforgettable exchange took place in which Vidal called Buckley a “crypto-Nazi” and Buckley retorted by calling Vidal a “queer.” 

ABC News has given me exclusive permission to use the transcripts of the debates for a stage production.  I have based this full-length play, Buckley vs. Vidal, entirely upon the transcriptions of the eight debates and a lively evening it is for anyone interested either in the verbal bloodsport of these two political opposites or the contentious politics of 1968, which are astonishingly relevant to today’s political climate. 

These debates are long-anticipated (even Richard Nixon wanted them to be reenacted in his Presidential library) and fully live up to the notoriety.  This is the first time in any form they have been made available to the public.

For additional information on Buckley vs. Vidal please contact me via email at: 

tomgravescrossroads@yahoo.com

To view a rather grainy video of the notorious Nazi/queer exchange between Vidal and Buckley click on the link below: