Fortunately, we were able to catch the documentary “The Best of Enemies,” during its brief stay at Tampa Theatre. It’s a look back at ABC’s presidential convention coverage of 1968 that included an unprecedented series of debates between the conservative commentator William F. Buckley Jr. and the liberal author Gore Vidal. A one-time-only clash of eloquent, ideological and cultural titans who held each other in obvious disdain.
It’s worth renting or streaming. But here’s a spoiler alert. There’s no accounting for editing and what was left on the cutting room floor. But from what was shown, Vidal got the better of the sardonic, mano a mano exchanges. The documentary revealed that while Vidal was doing pre-debate, opposition research, Buckley was cruising around on his sailboat. It showed.
It also hit a sad note at the end, but I’m not revealing any more.