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Quiz about Gore Vidal Perpetual War for Perpetual Peace

Gore Vidal: "Perpetual War for Perpetual Peace" Quiz

In 2002 Gore Vidal published his book "Perpetual War for Perpetual Peace-How We Got To Be So Hated". Test your knowledge of this book.

A multiple-choice quiz by jstagamtome. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
jstagamtome

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
308,022

Updated
Jul 23 22

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
7 / 10

Plays
162

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. How many U.S. military operations did Gore Vidal chronicle in this book between the Berlin airlift of 1948 to the Kosovo conflict in 1999? Hint

between 100 and 150

between 50 and 100

between 150 and 200

over 200

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Question 2 of 10

2. With which notorious convict did Vidal correspond, who featured in two chapters of the book?

Answer: (First and last name or just surname)

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Question 3 of 10

3. In reference to the Branch Davidian compound incident, Gore Vidal refers to the Posse Comitatus Act. This act includes which of the following? Hint

prevents the assembly of civilians with the intent to use force

commits civilians to organize in the face of civilian threats if no military is present

protects the rights of civilians in resisting government tyranny

forbids the use of force by the military against civilians

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Question 4 of 10

4. What is the meaning of t.w.m.i.p. with reference to the "Wall Street Journal"? Hint

the world's most important newspaper

the world's most inept publication

the world's mouthpiece for incumbent presidents

the worst manuscript in press

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Question 5 of 10

5. Which nation did Gore Vidal accuse of being (since 1947) the "chief and and pioneering perpetrator of "preemptive" world terror"? Hint

Soviet Union

Great Britain

North Korea

United States

6. In the book, Gore Vidal quotes a 1995 CNN-Time poll in which the statement that "the federal government has become so powerful that it poses a threat to the rights of ordinary citizens" was agreed to by what percentage of the population? Hint

45%

25%

75%

55%

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Question 7 of 10

7. From which historian is the phrase "Perpetual War for Perpetual Peace" taken? Hint

J. Toynbee

Edward Luttwak

Stephen Abrose

Charles Beard

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Question 8 of 10

8. According to Gore Vidal, which of these American military men were against President Truman's use of the atomic bombs against Japan? Hint

Dwight D. Eisenhower

all of these

Chester W. Nimitz

Curtis LeMay

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Question 9 of 10

9. Which prominent official did Gore Vidal contend was a member of "Opus Dei", the secretive Catholic organization? Hint

Anthony Scalia

Louis Freeh

Clarence Thomas

J.D. Ashcroft

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Question 10 of 10

10. According to former attorney general Richard Thornburgh, over 90% of America's paper currency contains which of the following? Hint

serial numbers of marked bills

gunpowder residue

radioactivity

illicit drug residue

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. How many U.S. military operations did Gore Vidal chronicle in this book between the Berlin airlift of 1948 to the Kosovo conflict in 1999?

Answer: over 200

Vidal sarcastically called this our "enemy of the month club". He notes the compilers of this list as the Federation of American Scientists.

2. With which notorious convict did Vidal correspond, who featured in two chapters of the book?

Answer: Timothy McVeigh

McVeigh eventually invited Gore Vidal to witness his execution.

3. In reference to the Branch Davidian compound incident, Gore Vidal refers to the Posse Comitatus Act. This act includes which of the following?

Answer: forbids the use of force by the military against civilians

This act of 1878 was a compromise during reconstruction which removed federal troops from southern states in return for their support of Rutherford B. Hayes in the presidential election, one in which he received less electoral votes and lost the popular vote, but nevertheless became president.

4. What is the meaning of t.w.m.i.p. with reference to the "Wall Street Journal"?

Answer: the world's most important newspaper

Vidal fancies the paper thinks of itself in this way, "blissfully unaware of just how unknown this cheery neofascist paper is to the majority of Americans,..".

5. Which nation did Gore Vidal accuse of being (since 1947) the "chief and and pioneering perpetrator of "preemptive" world terror"?

Answer: United States

Vidal alludes (rightly or wrongly) to the execution of Allende in Chile, Lumumba in the Congo, and the attempts on Castro, Khadafi, and Saddam Hussein.

Answer: 55%

After 9/11, in another CNN-Time poll, 74% of the population felt that some loss of personal liberties would be necessary.

7. From which historian is the phrase "Perpetual War for Perpetual Peace" taken?

Answer: Charles Beard

Charles Beard (1874-1946) saw history in terms of economic self-interest, and believed this tendency framed the Constitution and the conduct of foreign policy.

8. According to Gore Vidal, which of these American military men were against President Truman's use of the atomic bombs against Japan?

Answer: all of these

Vidal thought that Truman's purpose for bombing Japanese cities was to intimidate Stalin, rather than to save American lives in an invasion.

9. Which prominent official did Gore Vidal contend was a member of "Opus Dei", the secretive Catholic organization?

Answer: Louis Freeh

Louis Freeh, of course, was FBI director. Justices Scalia and Thomas were noted to be Catholics with very conservative leanings and with Justice Scalia having family ties to the organization. Ashcroft was known to be a Pentecostal Protestant.

10. According to former attorney general Richard Thornburgh, over 90% of America's paper currency contains which of the following?

Answer: illicit drug residue

In one study, 96% of bills had traces of cocaine.

Source: Author jstagamtome

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