Best of Enemies: Buckley vs. Vidal

This documentary delves into the entangled biographies of liberal author Gore Vidal and conservative William F. Buckley Jr., who engaged in a series of nationally televised debates in 1968 that defined the modern era of public discourse. The film examines the impact of these debates on the beginning of modern American punditry, exploring how profit-seeking capitalism in media incentivizes belligerent content, and how their exchanges during the Democratic National Convention in Chicago remain a powerful commentary on the state of politics today. Through a mix of archive footage, interviews with prominent thinkers, and insightful analysis, Best of Enemies offers a fascinating look back at the dawn of pundit politics, asking what television has done to the way we discuss politics in our democracy.