In the summer of 1968, America was in a critical place. Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King, Jr. had been assassinated, protests surrounding race were proliferating, and the Vietnam War continued, unpopular as ever. Ahead of the Democratic Convention in Chicago, ABC was last in ratings and decided to call in polar opposites Gore Vidal and William F. Buckley, Jr. to debate each other. Vidal was a life-long leftist while Buckley was at the helm of a new conservative movement, and their televised dispute deteriorated into a shouting match filled with personal attacks. Viewers were riveted, and the episode served to alter the way that politics was televised. This short excerpt from the documentary Best of Enemies, which explores this moment that television changed forever, includes clips and commentary from the debate. The full filmhas its broadcast premiere October 3 at 10 p.m on Independent Lens on PBS.
1968 @50
Tet Offensive [January 30]
View Connections02Orangeburg Massacre [February 8]
View Connections031968 @50
Democratic National Convention [Aug. 26-29]
The Moment That Political Debates on TV Turned to Spectacle
A new documentary explores the infamous 1968 dispute between William Buckley and Gore Vidal.In the summer of 1968, America was in a critical place. Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King, Jr. had been assassinated, protests surrounding race were proliferating, and the Vietnam War continued, unpopular as ever. Ahead of the Democratic Convention in Chicago, ABC was last in ratings and decided to call in polar opposites Gore Vidal and William F. Buckley, Jr. to debate each other. Vidal was a life-long leftist while Buckley was at the helm of a new conservative movement, and their televised dispute deteriorated into a shouting match filled with personal attacks. Viewers were riveted, and the episode served to alter the way that politics was televised. This short excerpt from the documentary Best of Enemies, which explores this moment that television changed forever, includes clips and commentary from the debate. The full filmhas its broadcast premiere October 3 at 10 p.m on Independent Lens on PBS.
Kerner Report [February 29]
View Connections141968 @50
Democratic National Convention [Aug. 26-29]
The Moment That Political Debates on TV Turned to Spectacle
A new documentary explores the infamous 1968 dispute between William Buckley and Gore Vidal.In the summer of 1968, America was in a critical place. Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King, Jr. had been assassinated, protests surrounding race were proliferating, and the Vietnam War continued, unpopular as ever. Ahead of the Democratic Convention in Chicago, ABC was last in ratings and decided to call in polar opposites Gore Vidal and William F. Buckley, Jr. to debate each other. Vidal was a life-long leftist while Buckley was at the helm of a new conservative movement, and their televised dispute deteriorated into a shouting match filled with personal attacks. Viewers were riveted, and the episode served to alter the way that politics was televised. This short excerpt from the documentary Best of Enemies, which explores this moment that television changed forever, includes clips and commentary from the debate. The full filmhas its broadcast premiere October 3 at 10 p.m on Independent Lens on PBS.
My Lai Massacre [March 16]
View Connections071968 @50
Democratic National Convention [Aug. 26-29]
The Moment That Political Debates on TV Turned to Spectacle
A new documentary explores the infamous 1968 dispute between William Buckley and Gore Vidal.In the summer of 1968, America was in a critical place. Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King, Jr. had been assassinated, protests surrounding race were proliferating, and the Vietnam War continued, unpopular as ever. Ahead of the Democratic Convention in Chicago, ABC was last in ratings and decided to call in polar opposites Gore Vidal and William F. Buckley, Jr. to debate each other. Vidal was a life-long leftist while Buckley was at the helm of a new conservative movement, and their televised dispute deteriorated into a shouting match filled with personal attacks. Viewers were riveted, and the episode served to alter the way that politics was televised. This short excerpt from the documentary Best of Enemies, which explores this moment that television changed forever, includes clips and commentary from the debate. The full filmhas its broadcast premiere October 3 at 10 p.m on Independent Lens on PBS.
MLK assassination [April 4]
View Connections061968 @50
Democratic National Convention [Aug. 26-29]
The Moment That Political Debates on TV Turned to Spectacle
A new documentary explores the infamous 1968 dispute between William Buckley and Gore Vidal.In the summer of 1968, America was in a critical place. Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King, Jr. had been assassinated, protests surrounding race were proliferating, and the Vietnam War continued, unpopular as ever. Ahead of the Democratic Convention in Chicago, ABC was last in ratings and decided to call in polar opposites Gore Vidal and William F. Buckley, Jr. to debate each other. Vidal was a life-long leftist while Buckley was at the helm of a new conservative movement, and their televised dispute deteriorated into a shouting match filled with personal attacks. Viewers were riveted, and the episode served to alter the way that politics was televised. This short excerpt from the documentary Best of Enemies, which explores this moment that television changed forever, includes clips and commentary from the debate. The full filmhas its broadcast premiere October 3 at 10 p.m on Independent Lens on PBS.
Fair Housing Act [April 11]
View Connections101968 @50
Democratic National Convention [Aug. 26-29]
The Moment That Political Debates on TV Turned to Spectacle
A new documentary explores the infamous 1968 dispute between William Buckley and Gore Vidal.In the summer of 1968, America was in a critical place. Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King, Jr. had been assassinated, protests surrounding race were proliferating, and the Vietnam War continued, unpopular as ever. Ahead of the Democratic Convention in Chicago, ABC was last in ratings and decided to call in polar opposites Gore Vidal and William F. Buckley, Jr. to debate each other. Vidal was a life-long leftist while Buckley was at the helm of a new conservative movement, and their televised dispute deteriorated into a shouting match filled with personal attacks. Viewers were riveted, and the episode served to alter the way that politics was televised. This short excerpt from the documentary Best of Enemies, which explores this moment that television changed forever, includes clips and commentary from the debate. The full filmhas its broadcast premiere October 3 at 10 p.m on Independent Lens on PBS.
Columbia protests [April 23]
View Connections031968 @50
Democratic National Convention [Aug. 26-29]
The Moment That Political Debates on TV Turned to Spectacle
A new documentary explores the infamous 1968 dispute between William Buckley and Gore Vidal.In the summer of 1968, America was in a critical place. Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King, Jr. had been assassinated, protests surrounding race were proliferating, and the Vietnam War continued, unpopular as ever. Ahead of the Democratic Convention in Chicago, ABC was last in ratings and decided to call in polar opposites Gore Vidal and William F. Buckley, Jr. to debate each other. Vidal was a life-long leftist while Buckley was at the helm of a new conservative movement, and their televised dispute deteriorated into a shouting match filled with personal attacks. Viewers were riveted, and the episode served to alter the way that politics was televised. This short excerpt from the documentary Best of Enemies, which explores this moment that television changed forever, includes clips and commentary from the debate. The full filmhas its broadcast premiere October 3 at 10 p.m on Independent Lens on PBS.
RFK Assassination [June 5]
View Connections121968 @50
Democratic National Convention [Aug. 26-29]
The Moment That Political Debates on TV Turned to Spectacle
A new documentary explores the infamous 1968 dispute between William Buckley and Gore Vidal.In the summer of 1968, America was in a critical place. Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King, Jr. had been assassinated, protests surrounding race were proliferating, and the Vietnam War continued, unpopular as ever. Ahead of the Democratic Convention in Chicago, ABC was last in ratings and decided to call in polar opposites Gore Vidal and William F. Buckley, Jr. to debate each other. Vidal was a life-long leftist while Buckley was at the helm of a new conservative movement, and their televised dispute deteriorated into a shouting match filled with personal attacks. Viewers were riveted, and the episode served to alter the way that politics was televised. This short excerpt from the documentary Best of Enemies, which explores this moment that television changed forever, includes clips and commentary from the debate. The full filmhas its broadcast premiere October 3 at 10 p.m on Independent Lens on PBS.
Summer Olympics Protest [Oct. 16]
View Connections131968 @50
Democratic National Convention [Aug. 26-29]
The Moment That Political Debates on TV Turned to Spectacle
A new documentary explores the infamous 1968 dispute between William Buckley and Gore Vidal.In the summer of 1968, America was in a critical place. Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King, Jr. had been assassinated, protests surrounding race were proliferating, and the Vietnam War continued, unpopular as ever. Ahead of the Democratic Convention in Chicago, ABC was last in ratings and decided to call in polar opposites Gore Vidal and William F. Buckley, Jr. to debate each other. Vidal was a life-long leftist while Buckley was at the helm of a new conservative movement, and their televised dispute deteriorated into a shouting match filled with personal attacks. Viewers were riveted, and the episode served to alter the way that politics was televised. This short excerpt from the documentary Best of Enemies, which explores this moment that television changed forever, includes clips and commentary from the debate. The full filmhas its broadcast premiere October 3 at 10 p.m on Independent Lens on PBS.
Presidential Election [Nov. 5]
View Connections191968 @50
Democratic National Convention [Aug. 26-29]
The Moment That Political Debates on TV Turned to Spectacle
A new documentary explores the infamous 1968 dispute between William Buckley and Gore Vidal.In the summer of 1968, America was in a critical place. Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King, Jr. had been assassinated, protests surrounding race were proliferating, and the Vietnam War continued, unpopular as ever. Ahead of the Democratic Convention in Chicago, ABC was last in ratings and decided to call in polar opposites Gore Vidal and William F. Buckley, Jr. to debate each other. Vidal was a life-long leftist while Buckley was at the helm of a new conservative movement, and their televised dispute deteriorated into a shouting match filled with personal attacks. Viewers were riveted, and the episode served to alter the way that politics was televised. This short excerpt from the documentary Best of Enemies, which explores this moment that television changed forever, includes clips and commentary from the debate. The full filmhas its broadcast premiere October 3 at 10 p.m on Independent Lens on PBS.
Democratic National Convention [Aug. 26-29]
View Connections101968 @50
Democratic National Convention [Aug. 26-29]
The Moment That Political Debates on TV Turned to Spectacle
A new documentary explores the infamous 1968 dispute between William Buckley and Gore Vidal.In the summer of 1968, America was in a critical place. Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King, Jr. had been assassinated, protests surrounding race were proliferating, and the Vietnam War continued, unpopular as ever. Ahead of the Democratic Convention in Chicago, ABC was last in ratings and decided to call in polar opposites Gore Vidal and William F. Buckley, Jr. to debate each other. Vidal was a life-long leftist while Buckley was at the helm of a new conservative movement, and their televised dispute deteriorated into a shouting match filled with personal attacks. Viewers were riveted, and the episode served to alter the way that politics was televised. This short excerpt from the documentary Best of Enemies, which explores this moment that television changed forever, includes clips and commentary from the debate. The full filmhas its broadcast premiere October 3 at 10 p.m on Independent Lens on PBS.
Apollo 8 [Dec. 24]
View Connections031968 @50
Democratic National Convention [Aug. 26-29]
The Moment That Political Debates on TV Turned to Spectacle
A new documentary explores the infamous 1968 dispute between William Buckley and Gore Vidal.In the summer of 1968, America was in a critical place. Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King, Jr. had been assassinated, protests surrounding race were proliferating, and the Vietnam War continued, unpopular as ever. Ahead of the Democratic Convention in Chicago, ABC was last in ratings and decided to call in polar opposites Gore Vidal and William F. Buckley, Jr. to debate each other. Vidal was a life-long leftist while Buckley was at the helm of a new conservative movement, and their televised dispute deteriorated into a shouting match filled with personal attacks. Viewers were riveted, and the episode served to alter the way that politics was televised. This short excerpt from the documentary Best of Enemies, which explores this moment that television changed forever, includes clips and commentary from the debate. The full filmhas its broadcast premiere October 3 at 10 p.m on Independent Lens on PBS.