“Walter Lippmann suggests that the United States behaves like a society which thinks it is complete with no more to accomplish; that, for better or worse, we are what we are, and the only danger to our comfort is external.”

American novelist, playwright, and essayist of the mid-20th century, Vidal was a sharp critic of American politics and culture, blending wit and biting satire in his work. His novels and plays, like *Julian* and *Myra Breckinridge*, often explored power, sexuality, and the decline of traditional values. He also left a lasting mark as a public intellectual, known for his polemical essays and television appearances.