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Quiz about Gore Vidal Author Turned Celebrity

Gore Vidal: Author Turned Celebrity Quiz

Gore Vidal has been a prolific author, but he has become equally well known for his keen intelligence, wit, and associations with celebrities. He is a polarizing figure to many, but his impact on our society and political discourse cannot be denied.

A multiple-choice quiz by jstagamtome. Estimated time: 6 mins.

Author
jstagamtome

Time
6 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
307,142

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Difficult

Avg Score
5 / 10

Plays
245

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Gore Vidal hosted a documentary in which he investigated his ancestry, based on hearsay from relatives. To whom did he think he might be related? Hint

the counts of Mantua

the princes of Florence

the doges of Venice

the popes of Rome

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Question 2 of 10

2. To which famous personage did Gore Vidal claim to be related? Hint

Andrew Jackson

Franklin D. Roosevelt

Aaron Burr

Al Gore

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Question 3 of 10

3. Although he retained his American citizenship, where did Gore Vidal reside for years before moving back to California? Hint

Cinque Terre on the Italian Riviera

Reggio Calabria, on the Italian straits of Messina

Trieste on the Italian Adriatic coast

The Amalfi coast in Italy

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Question 4 of 10

4. With which commentator did Gore Vidal have a long running feud, and on learning of his death, remarked, "rest in peace - in hell"?

Answer: (Three Words)

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Question 5 of 10

5. Gore Vidal said there is only one political party in the United States. What did he call it? Hint

the Democratic party

the War party

the Business party

the Property party

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Question 6 of 10

6. Who was NOT a guest at Gore Vidal's Italian villa? Hint

Barbra Streisand

Tennessee Williams

Hillary Clinton

Rudolf Nureyev

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Question 7 of 10

7. Which of the following is NOT a Gore Vidal quote? Hint

A narcissist is someone better looking than you are.

A good deed never goes unpunished.

Andy Warhol is the only genius I've known with an I.Q. of 60.

The longer the title, the less important the job.

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Question 8 of 10

8. How many times did Gore Vidal run for public office? Hint

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Question 9 of 10

9. In "The Nation", Gore Vidal once suggested that the white race of the U.S., Russia, Canada and Europe form a defensive alliance against which group? Hint

Muslims

Asiatics

the Black races

the White races

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Question 10 of 10

10. Gore Vidal contributed to the screenplay of what movie? Hint

Roma

Spartacus

Three Coins in a Fountain

Ben-Hur

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Gore Vidal hosted a documentary in which he investigated his ancestry, based on hearsay from relatives. To whom did he think he might be related?

Answer: the doges of Venice

Alas, he found no evidence he had such a pedigree.

2. To which famous personage did Gore Vidal claim to be related?

Answer: Al Gore

However, genealogists have been unable to establish any degree of relatedness.

3. Although he retained his American citizenship, where did Gore Vidal reside for years before moving back to California?

Answer: The Amalfi coast in Italy

Residing in a villa overlooking the sea, he had to move because he could no longer negotiate the steps in the multilevel building.

4. With which commentator did Gore Vidal have a long running feud, and on learning of his death, remarked, "rest in peace - in hell"?

Answer: William F. Buckley

Multiple legal battles and personal on-air insults characterized the relationship. They signed on to a series of debates, but the dislike for each other led to on-air expletives and off air repeated lawsuits.

5. Gore Vidal said there is only one political party in the United States. What did he call it?

Answer: the Property party

Gore Vidal has consistently been a critic of American big business and its holdings, particularly of their means of achieving their goals. This subject is addressed repeatedly in his books. He said the party had two wings, the Democratic and Republican.

6. Who was NOT a guest at Gore Vidal's Italian villa?

Answer: Barbra Streisand

Other long-time friends included Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward. Hillary Clinton visited as First Lady. The villa, directly on the cliff above the Mediterranean, was named La Rondinaia, and is located in Ravello.

7. Which of the following is NOT a Gore Vidal quote?

Answer: The longer the title, the less important the job.

The correct answer is a George McGovern quote. Another favorite quote of Vidal is in referring to Ronald Reagan as a "triumph of the embalmer's art".

8. How many times did Gore Vidal run for public office?

Answer: 2

He ran for public office twice, both times unsuccessfully. He was defeated as the Democratic candidate in New York's 29th congressional district, and ran as the People's Party candidate in the California governor's race losing to Jerry Brown.

9. In "The Nation", Gore Vidal once suggested that the white race of the U.S., Russia, Canada and Europe form a defensive alliance against which group?

Answer: Asiatics

His words were against "more than one billion grimly efficient Asiatics". "The Last Empire", 2001 references this topic. Vidal is known for many other controversial columns and essays, some of which he had trouble getting published.

10. Gore Vidal contributed to the screenplay of what movie?

Answer: Ben-Hur

He appeared in Fellini's "Roma" as well as "Bob Roberts". He contributed to many other screenplays including "Is Paris Burning?"

Source: Author jstagamtome

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor bloomsby before going online.
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