Here are some excerpts from an apparently rare interview with Gore Vidal in last Sunday’s (25 May) issue of The Independent. The interview was done by Robert Chalmers:
“You would consider yourself to be living under a dishonourable regime?” “Absolutely.”
“With a corrupt president?” “Yes.”
“Who cheated his way to power?” “Oh, yes.”
“Is this the most pernicious US government you have ever experienced?” “Yes. It is inconceivably bad. There is nothing that one could ever have imagined to be so bad.”
“So what hope do you have for what you’ve described as the American Empire?” “None. It’s finished.”
“How do you see it ending?” “No more money.”
…
He has talked many times about his readiness to proceed – serenely – through what he terms “the exit door”. “What do you expect to find on the other side?” “Nothing.” …
“But you’re convinced that, to put it crudely, when you die, that’s it.” “No,” Vidal replies. “I wouldn’t say: ‘When you die, that’s it.’ I’d say: ‘When you’re born, that’s it.'”
The full interview can be read here .