Oh some game show on CBS. I don’t know. All I know from now on, a man should never turn down two things. Sex, and appearing on television.
-- Vidal (Act 1 Scene 1 )

Importance: Vidal’s flippant attitude towards the proposed debates reveals his complex relationship with fame and media. By equating television appearances to a "game show," he downplays the serious political implications of the debates, suggesting that they are more about spectacle than substance. His insistence that one should never refuse opportunities for sex and television highlights his prioritization of personal gratification and public visibility over serious discourse. This sentiment reflects the era's growing fascination with media, foreshadowing how television would increasingly shape political narratives.

James Baldwin It’s Bobby, isn’t it? (No response.) I get it. You thought it would be you. After Jack. It’s alright, Gore, a lot of us did. Vidal . . . Flamboyant playwrights don’t lead nations. James...
-- James Baldwin (Act 1 Scene 1)