A short clip from Vice-Precedence: Being Number Two in the White House featuring the Aaron Burr section of our interview with Gore Vidal. More at VicePrecedence.com
I am reading it too right now. Yeah I did reread the first 20:pages but then it picked up progressively. I love how Vidal uses Charlie Schuyler as the narrator- great device
I read it years ago and became such a fan of Aaron Burr. He has been so maligned throughout history because he never had anyone telling his story. I grew up next to Theodosia’s Hohokus house and loved Aaron’s focus on educating his daughter.
Rest In Peace Mr. Vidal. Thank you for doing this interview with us and your endorsement of our film saying we were: "Better interviewers than Ken Burns." The two hours I spent interviewing Mr. Vidal were some of the most extraordinary of my life. I will always be grateful to Mr. Vidal for agreeing to this interview and for my signed copies of BURR and LINCOLN. Saying Thanks doesn't seem enough. He was incredible and a kind and generous man. We are truly grateful to him for this.
Hello I'm a Brit in Manchester England and im so pleased i came across this on youtube as quite frankly I adore Gore Vidal . Can you imagine his reaction to the state of America and the West if he were with us today ? And just what he would have to say about Biden ? Oh my goodness ....So many thanks to all involved . Cheers !
Aaron Burr probably qualifies as America's most unlucky founding father. A soldier, politician, gentleman, and feminist waaaaay ahead of his time, he was undermined by being on the wrong side of power after the revolution. By taking sides against Washington, he earned the ire of men like Hamilton and Jefferson, who destroyed his career and reputation. I really find him fascinating.
Yeah, real great guy. He only tried to overthrow the govt. and he murdered Hamilton. Hamilton may have deserved it but it does not negate the fact that dueling was against the law at the time.
The thing Gore Vidal said that illustrates his brilliance : there is only one political party in the United States, the party of property which has two wings, the republicans and the democrats
The establishment view is that there was no such agreement. Jefferson was very careful to make sure he left no records on certain subjects. This is one reason Burr is demonized - because Jefferson has to be a saint.
@@JasonKlamm =Sorry as forget to credit you for the up/download although just did so. Will be posting excerpts from an essay I wrote about Colonel Burr soon.....
Ever since I read Vidal's novel Burr (back in 1977 or so), I've wondered about GV's novelized account of all the interactions between the founding fathers. What is the establishment view of the claim that Jefferson didn't honor his "agreement" with Burr but instead blocked him? continued
Jefferson, to get the support to be President, agreed to leave the judicial nominations by Adams alone. But in Marbury v. Madison, the Supreme Court - headed by Jefferson's cousin John Marshal, struck down the law forming the Judicial positions. Therefor, Jefferson was the dishonest dealer that made a deal to get the Presidency, and then had his cousin scrap the deal. Burr's problem was that he was a gentleman who lived up to his agreement. Jefferson was considered a coward for never taking part in any military action and needed Burr, who was the first hero in the Revolution.
Do many other historians support this view? Is it documented easily from primary texts? The character of Aaron Burr ib his novel is fascinating, but I've never once in the intervening decades checked on the accuracy of the portrayal. Even before I was wasting my time on youtube I was too lazy to do so. Any of your own ideas on this? Please post!
Funny how Burr did Jefferson such a huge favor by dueling Hamilton. To paraphrase Thomas Fleming, he destroyed Hamilton literally (with a bullet), and destroyed his own political career. Hamilton had fallen out of favour, but his death reestablished his popularity for a time, and Burr was ruined. By his own actions.
@@onesmoothstone5680 Aside from the fact that the Hair trigger was admitted to both on the field and in witness statements, he was hardly hiding the fact it had a hair trigger. They were actually not uncommon on duelling pistols.
@LowBid86 thomas jefferson was a snake, even if one chooses not to believe the evidence regarding sally hemings, jefferson was totally untrustworthy and a show pony---think of gumby, but stoned. and yet he has the best reputation for his ability to propagate; go figure.
Add to that, his writing of the Declaration of Independence was actually co-written by Ben Franklin, who's changes made the Declaration so memorable. Jefferson needed Burr on the ticket with him as Burr was the first hero of the American Revolution for his actions in the attack on Quebec. Jefferson was considered a coward.
In three minutes of speaking here, he stated multiple things as fact that are purely personal opinion. I don't know anything about Gore Vidal, but I can guess he made a habit of choosing talking points based on the amount of controversy and debate they would drum up.
Vidal is a writer whose work I have enjoyed for 45 years. If I have grown tired of his cynicism and many of his generalizations, he still provokes, entertains, and stimulates. I miss him and wish he had turned his attention to Trump.
@rkw576 Well I remember him commenting on Nelson Rockefeller who became Vice President .It goes something like this .” Nelson Rockefeller wanted to be President/Emperor of the United States and the American people wouldn’t give it to him.” Now look how low we have gotten
Then Burr shot and killed Hamilton, who on his side had intentionally wasted his shot, expecting that Burr should do the same, but he didn’t. And because of that, this was the end of Burr’s political career. But who knows why Hamilton, who was an excellent shot, wasted his shot? Burr may have been a career politician, than again he was ambitious for power, tried to instigate a war between Spain and the Union in Florida (that failed) as Florida came to the Union without a shot of a bullet. Then he tried to overthrow the Mexican government, what also failed, to make himself king. Yes right, king, that was how much Aaron Burr believed in the power of the people. He was a libertarian and that was what united him with Jefferson but brought him up against Hamilton, Franklin and even Washington. So here is the postulate: “Hamilton knew that Burr would shoot him, as Burr was full of hate. Because Hamilton saw right through him of what he was. Jefferson probably also got the notion of Burr, hence he blocked him and even accused him of treason. Hamilton and Jefferson had the fear, that Burr would be cunning enough to create a dictatorship with him at the helm. Kind of being a king of the Union, without being a king, thus betraying the intentions of the founding fathers. The only way for Hamilton to stop Burr was to sacrifice his own life, so it would become impossible for Burr to become the President. Hamilton knew to be the only person to get under Burr’s skin and to make Burr lose his cool” It’s just a thought.
Hamilton used pistols owned by his Brother in Law, John Church, that had a secret hair trigger that could be set. When Hamilton lowered his pistol, he just needed to brush the trigger to fire. He did and that is why he fired high, into the branches over Burrs head. Hamilton intended to kill Burr. Bet he was surprised! All your postulating is based on Wilkinson's testimony. But Wilkinson was a Spanish spy, paid by Spain to protect Spanish interests. We did not know this until the Spanish American War ended and documents were found in the Spanish Archives in Havana.
I'm currently reading Gore Vidal's BURR. It's a slow read the first 100 or so pages and then it picks up. Now, it's a hard book to put down.
I read it years ago, it's a good novel. You're right, it starts a little slowly.
I am reading it too right now. Yeah I did reread the first 20:pages but then it picked up progressively. I love how Vidal uses Charlie Schuyler as the narrator- great device
I read it years ago and became such a fan of Aaron Burr. He has been so maligned throughout history because he never had anyone telling his story. I grew up next to Theodosia’s Hohokus house and loved Aaron’s focus on educating his daughter.
Rest In Peace Mr. Vidal. Thank you for doing this interview with us and your endorsement of our film saying we were: "Better interviewers than Ken Burns." The two hours I spent interviewing Mr. Vidal were some of the most extraordinary of my life. I will always be grateful to Mr. Vidal for agreeing to this interview and for my signed copies of BURR and LINCOLN. Saying Thanks doesn't seem enough. He was incredible and a kind and generous man. We are truly grateful to him for this.
Hello I'm a Brit in Manchester England and im so pleased i came across this on youtube as quite frankly I adore Gore Vidal . Can you imagine his reaction to the state of America and the West if he were with us today ? And just what he would have to say about Biden ? Oh my goodness ....So many thanks to all involved . Cheers !
I miss Gore Vidal so damned much. Thanks for this.
Aaron Burr probably qualifies as America's most unlucky founding father. A soldier, politician, gentleman, and feminist waaaaay ahead of his time, he was undermined by being on the wrong side of power after the revolution. By taking sides against Washington, he earned the ire of men like Hamilton and Jefferson, who destroyed his career and reputation. I really find him fascinating.
Burr had a gift for predicting the future but could never profit from it.
@@eschaton2834 -- CORRECT. | Because Aaron Burr proved to be the better man.
@@marianotorrespico2975 That's a good way to look at it. Maybe it's from being the grandson of Johnathan Edwards?
@@eschaton2834 -- Possibly, because Burr applied his education to real life, and proved too tough.
Yeah, real great guy. He only tried to overthrow the govt. and he murdered Hamilton. Hamilton may have deserved it but it does not negate the fact that dueling was against the law at the time.
Gore Vidal was a great writer, but he enjoyed being controversial. Whether you agreed with him or not he is always worth listening to him.
Just finished the book. Vidal was such a great novelist. Im looking forwrd to the rest of his American series.
Vidal is a novelist, so strict historical accuracy is not his objective. But 'Burr' is a great book; I re-read it a few years ago.
Aaron Burr was a gentleman, it was his downfall when dealing with the likes of the treacherous Jefferson and the unsavoury Hamillton.
And now Aaron Burr is considered evil and Hamilton as good because of the musical
@@jetstream9406 I would have LOVED to read Vidal's review of "Hamilton"😂
The thing Gore Vidal said that illustrates his brilliance : there is only one political party in the United States, the party of property which has two wings, the republicans and the democrats
Great piece of historical analysis
I read the book, and plan to send it along to some friends who want a curious read.
The establishment view is that there was no such agreement. Jefferson was very careful to make sure he left no records on certain subjects. This is one reason Burr is demonized - because Jefferson has to be a saint.
thanks so much for the post.
Hey, thanks! Glad to know we helped. Good luck on your project.
An excellent book
Burr and 1876 are great historical fiction books
Thanks and Sharing-Burr was great.......!
Glad you enjoyed it! And we agree about Burr (obviously)!
@@JasonKlamm =Sorry as forget to credit you for the up/download although just did so. Will be posting excerpts from an essay I wrote about Colonel Burr soon.....
@@keithkeller4156 Where can I find it? Did you upload a clip from this? I'd just love to see it! (And thanks for the credit)
Ever since I read Vidal's novel Burr (back in 1977 or so), I've wondered about GV's novelized account of all the interactions between the founding fathers. What is the establishment view of the claim that Jefferson didn't honor his "agreement" with Burr but instead blocked him? continued
Jefferson, to get the support to be President, agreed to leave the judicial nominations by Adams alone. But in Marbury v. Madison, the Supreme Court - headed by Jefferson's cousin John Marshal, struck down the law forming the Judicial positions. Therefor, Jefferson was the dishonest dealer that made a deal to get the Presidency, and then had his cousin scrap the deal. Burr's problem was that he was a gentleman who lived up to his agreement. Jefferson was considered a coward for never taking part in any military action and needed Burr, who was the first hero in the Revolution.
Gore has always fascinated me...a gifted writer and critic...and right about so many things, including his take on Burr.
Very interesting
Interested to know how accurate the characterizations of George Washington were in Burr. They were far from flattery.
Do many other historians support this view? Is it documented easily from primary texts? The character of Aaron Burr ib his novel is fascinating, but I've never once in the intervening decades checked on the accuracy of the portrayal. Even before I was wasting my time on youtube I was too lazy to do so. Any of your own ideas on this? Please post!
Funny how Burr did Jefferson such a huge favor by dueling Hamilton. To paraphrase Thomas Fleming, he destroyed Hamilton literally (with a bullet), and destroyed his own political career. Hamilton had fallen out of favour, but his death reestablished his popularity for a time, and Burr was ruined. By his own actions.
I love Aaron Burr.....
+Jack Stanley (Phonographically Yours) Why don't you marry him then
Obviously you love Jefferson....lovely
Jack Stanley George Jefferson is the best dry cleaner on TV, yes
+southrules :)
Aaron burr didn't murder alexander hammelton it was a duel.
+ Hamilton used a rigged pistol.
"Murder" is relative. What Burr did is "professional life-ending"
@@onesmoothstone5680 Aside from the fact that the Hair trigger was admitted to both on the field and in witness statements, he was hardly hiding the fact it had a hair trigger. They were actually not uncommon on duelling pistols.
Clearly, Hamilton intended to kill Burr.
Read Creation
Novel by Gore Vidal
You’re welcome
@LowBid86 thomas jefferson was a snake, even if one chooses not to believe the evidence regarding sally hemings, jefferson was totally untrustworthy and a show pony---think of gumby, but stoned. and yet he has the best reputation for his ability to propagate; go figure.
Jefferson was young enough to fight in the war but sat it out in Virginia. He seems like he would fit in today's Washington political world. A phoney.
Add to that, his writing of the Declaration of Independence was actually co-written by Ben Franklin, who's changes made the Declaration so memorable. Jefferson needed Burr on the ticket with him as Burr was the first hero of the American Revolution for his actions in the attack on Quebec. Jefferson was considered a coward.
In the final years one had to catch Mr. Vidal before cocktail hour or you got nothing quotable
Interesting to see a photo of Amelia Earhart in the background, a woman who Vidal's father had an affair with . . .
Wow. Really? That is very interesting.
@@eal784 I watch too many biographies on YT. And, yes, it's true.
@@larsjames777 Clearly Vidal admired her. One would think the opposite. But we are talking about Vidal Gore here, so...
In three minutes of speaking here, he stated multiple things as fact that are purely personal opinion. I don't know anything about Gore Vidal, but I can guess he made a habit of choosing talking points based on the amount of controversy and debate they would drum up.
Meet me at Mehawkin
Vidal is a writer whose work I have enjoyed for 45 years. If I have grown tired of his cynicism and many of his generalizations, he still provokes, entertains, and stimulates. I miss him and wish he had turned his attention to Trump.
@rkw576 Well I remember him commenting on Nelson Rockefeller who became Vice President .It goes something like this .” Nelson Rockefeller wanted to be President/Emperor of the United States and the American people wouldn’t give it to him.” Now look how low we have gotten
Aaron Burr would have been the Greatest President in this nation's history.
Based on what?
@@eal784 Based on how he helped Andrew Jackson and his law clerk, Martin Van Buren become Presidents!
Then Burr shot and killed Hamilton, who on his side had intentionally wasted his shot, expecting that Burr should do the same, but he didn’t. And because of that, this was the end of Burr’s political career.
But who knows why Hamilton, who was an excellent shot, wasted his shot?
Burr may have been a career politician, than again he was ambitious for power, tried to instigate a war between Spain and the Union in Florida (that failed) as Florida came to the Union without a shot of a bullet.
Then he tried to overthrow the Mexican government, what also failed, to make himself king. Yes right, king, that was how much Aaron Burr believed in the power of the people.
He was a libertarian and that was what united him with Jefferson but brought him up against Hamilton, Franklin and even Washington.
So here is the postulate: “Hamilton knew that Burr would shoot him, as Burr was full of hate. Because Hamilton saw right through him of what he was. Jefferson probably also got the notion of Burr, hence he blocked him and even accused him of treason. Hamilton and Jefferson had the fear, that Burr would be cunning enough to create a dictatorship with him at the helm. Kind of being a king of the Union, without being a king, thus betraying the intentions of the founding fathers. The only way for Hamilton to stop Burr was to sacrifice his own life, so it would become impossible for Burr to become the President. Hamilton knew to be the only person to get under Burr’s skin and to make Burr lose his cool”
It’s just a thought.
Hamilton used pistols owned by his Brother in Law, John Church, that had a secret hair trigger that could be set. When Hamilton lowered his pistol, he just needed to brush the trigger to fire. He did and that is why he fired high, into the branches over Burrs head. Hamilton intended to kill Burr. Bet he was surprised! All your postulating is based on Wilkinson's testimony. But Wilkinson was a Spanish spy, paid by Spain to protect Spanish interests. We did not know this until the Spanish American War ended and documents were found in the Spanish Archives in Havana.
@mrbrianmccarthy: C'mon, Brian, you think we deserved 9/11, don't you? Admit it.
Hehe... *Takes knife* Hey, do you know if Gore Vidal is still alive, because if he is, I wanna know where he is...
*Hug* Don't worry, you're much nicer **And cuter** than Aaron-kun.
There's a boy in my class named Aaron..... He's an ass too.