Podcast | 'Best of Enemies' Episode Recap

Morgan Neville and Robert Gordon's Best of Enemies documentary showcases a pivotal moment in American media history. The film chronicles the infamous 1968 televised debates between conservative intellectual William F. Buckley Jr. and liberal writer Gore Vidal during ABC's coverage of the Republican and Democratic national conventions.

The documentary transports viewers to 1968 where there are only three major television networks—NBC, CBS, and ABC—with ABC trailing significantly behind the other two. As the film reveals, ABC's convention coverage plans literally collapsed when their tent at the Republican convention fell apart, forcing them to improvise. This disaster ultimately led to the innovative (and cheaper) solution of having Buckley and Vidal debate the political issues of the day rather than providing traditional convention coverage.

What makes this historical moment so compelling is how it reveals the birth of a new kind of political discourse in America. These debates weren't thoughtful exchanges of ideas or attempts to find common ground—they were intellectual blood sport. Both men, highly educated, eloquent, and from privileged backgrounds, approached their televised encounters as theater rather than substantive debate. They understood the power of television and crafted their performances accordingly, smiling through their increasing hostility while delivering devastating verbal attacks.

The documentary brilliantly illustrates how similar these supposed opposites actually were. Both came from elite backgrounds, attended prestigious schools, and possessed enormous self-regard. We discuss how Buckley and Vidal's mutual animosity seems fueled partly by how much they recognized themselves in each other, despite their ideological differences. This mirrors our contemporary political practice, where the performative aspects of debate often overshadow substantive policy discussions.

Perhaps the most relevant aspect of the film is its examination of how these debates marked the beginning of the end for the "Fairness Doctrine," which required broadcast networks to present contrasting viewpoints on issues of public importance. With its elimination in 1985 under the Reagan administration, media fragmentation accelerated, leading to our current environment where audiences can consume news that exclusively reinforces their existing beliefs rather than challenging them.

The documentary concludes with an insightful commentary from Jon Stewart, who points out that what passes for debate in American media is actually theater—a performance designed to entertain rather than inform or persuade. This observation encapsulates the legacy of the Buckley-Vidal confrontations and their lasting impact on political discourse. They demonstrated that conflict and personality drive ratings more effectively than substantive policy discussions.

As we reflect on Best of Enemies, it's worth considering what makes for meaningful debate. True debate should challenge our paradigms and either strengthen our convictions through testing or lead us to reconsider our positions. Instead, much of what we see in political media serves to reinforce existing beliefs and treat opposing viewpoints as not just wrong but morally suspect. The film serves as both a fascinating time capsule of a crucial moment in media history and a cautionary tale about the direction of political discourse in America.

Episode Beverage Pairing

Ingredients

• 2 ounces bourbon
• 1 ounce lemon juice
• ¾ ounce lavender simple syrup prepared separately with 1 cup water, 1 cup sugar and 2 tablespoons dried culinary lavender
• 2 dashes of orange bitters

Shaken well with ice until chilled and served with a lemon twist for garnish.