Gore Vidal facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Gore Vidal
Vidal c. 1948
Born	Eugene Louis Vidal (1925-10-03)October 3, 1925 West Point, New York, U.S.
Died	July 31, 2012(2012-07-31) (aged 86) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Resting place	Rock Creek Cemetery
Other names	Eugene Luther Vidal Jr.
Education	Phillips Exeter Academy
Occupation	Writer novelist essayist playwright screenwriter actor
Known for	The City and the Pillar (1948) Julian (1964) Myra Breckinridge (1968) Burr (1973) Lincoln (1984)
Political party	Democratic People's (affiliated non-member)
Movement	Postmodernism
Partner(s)	Howard Austen (1951–2003)
Parent(s)	Eugene Luther Vidal Nina S. Gore
Relatives	See list Thomas Gore (grandfather) Nina Auchincloss (half-sister) Hugh Steers (half-nephew) Burr Steers (half-nephew) Jimmy Carter (fifth cousin)
Chairman of the People's Party
In office November 27, 1970 – November 7, 1972
Military career
Service/branch	United States Army
Years of service	1943–1946
Rank	Warrant officer
Battles/wars	World War II

Gore Vidal (born Eugene Louis Vidal on October 3, 1925 – died July 31, 2012) was a famous American writer. He was known for his novels, essays, and plays. Vidal was also a well-known social critic who often shared his strong opinions on politics, history, and culture.

Early Life and Education

Gore Vidal was the only child of Eugene Luther Vidal and Nina S. Gore. His father, Eugene Luther Vidal Sr., worked for the government and was involved in starting several airline companies. His parents divorced when Gore was young.

Vidal grew up in Washington, D.C. He went to schools like Sidwell Friends School and St. Albans School. His grandfather, Senator Thomas Pryor Gore, was blind. Young Gore would read aloud to him and even helped him as a Senate page. This experience helped him learn a lot about politics and history from a young age.

Later, he attended Phillips Exeter Academy, a well-known boarding school. He wrote for the school newspaper there.

Military Service During World War II

Instead of going to college, Vidal joined the U.S. Army when he was 17. He worked as an office clerk for the USAAF. He later became a warrant officer in the Transportation Corps. He served as a first mate on a ship in the Aleutian Islands during World War II. After three years, he got sick and was reassigned to a different role.

Gore Vidal's Writing Career

Vidal at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, 2008

Vidal's writing career began with his novel Williwaw. This book was a story about men in the military, based on his own experiences during World War II.

He also wrote mystery novels under the pen name "Edgar Box." These books sold well and helped him earn money. His success in mystery writing encouraged him to try other types of writing. He wrote plays for the stage, like The Best Man: A Play about Politics (1960), and for television, such as Visit to a Small Planet (1957).

Famous Novels and Essays

In the 1960s, Vidal wrote several important novels:

• Julian (1964), which was about a Roman Emperor.
• Washington, D.C. (1967), which explored political life in the United States.
• Myra Breckinridge (1968), a funny story that made fun of the American movie industry.

Vidal also became very well-known for his essays. These are non-fiction writings where he shared his thoughts and opinions on many topics. In 1993, he won the National Book Award for Nonfiction for his collection of essays called United States: Essays 1952–92.

He continued to write essays, including The Last Empire (2000) and Inventing a Nation, about the Founding Fathers. He also wrote two memoirs, Palimpsest (1995) and Point to Point Navigation (2006), which are books about his own life.

In 2009, Vidal received the National Book Award#Medal of Distinguished Contribution to American Letters. This award recognized his important contributions to American writing. He was also named the honorary president of the American Humanist Association.

Working in Hollywood

In 1956, a big movie studio, MGM, hired Vidal as a screenwriter. This meant he wrote scripts for movies.

Some of his plays, like The Best Man and Visit to a Small Planet, were made into successful movies.

Vidal also appeared in some films himself. He had a small role in the Italian film Roma (1972) and appeared in American movies like Bob Roberts (1992), With Honors (1994), Gattaca (1997), and Igby Goes Down (2002).

Involvement in Politics

Beyond his writing, Gore Vidal was very interested in politics. He ran for office twice as a candidate for the Democratic Party. In 1960, he tried to become a member of the United States House of Representatives for New York. Later, in 1982, he ran for the U.S. Senate in California. Although he didn't win, his political involvement showed his strong beliefs and desire to make a difference.

Personal Life

In 1950, Gore Vidal met Howard Austen. They became lifelong partners and were together for 53 years until Howard Austen's death in 2003. Vidal lived in both Italy and the United States during his life.

Death and Legacy

The grave of Gore Vidal in Rock Creek Cemetery.

Gore Vidal passed away on July 31, 2012, at his home in Los Angeles. He was 86 years old. He was buried next to Howard Austen in Rock Creek Cemetery in Washington, D.C. Vidal left his entire estate to Harvard University.

Selected List of Works

• The City and the Pillar (1948)
• The Best Man (1960)
• Julian (1964)
• Myra Breckinridge (1968)
• Burr (1973)
• Lincoln (1984)

Filmography

Images for kids

• 

  Vidal's historical novel 1876 (1976)

• 

  Vidal (second from right) supporting the 1981 Writers Guild of America strike

• 

  The feud between Vidal and Buckley (pictured) lasted until the latter's death in 2008.

• 

  Vidal as a young man

See also

In Spanish: Gore Vidal para niños