Hitchens pulls names, dates and whole quotations out of his pockets like it's an ordinary feat. This man was the most important intellectual to walk the earth in the last 50 years. To deny it is only say that more time is needed for some to realise it.
I wish my brain worked like Hitchens. Able to recall what seems to be almost all of the information he reads and obtains through experiences. I already like debating but I want to be able to debate like Hitchens.
Hitchens, you are very sorely missed. I wish that we still had your voice in the public arena, you're a huge loss to all the free-thinkers of this world.
I learned more listening to these two gentleman regarding Terrorism, Terrorist Groups etc. Then I learned watching 200 hrs of News programs . For that matter 3 administrations have not described our so called war on terror as well as Mr. Gingrich & Mr. Hitchins. MAGNIFICENT...
Two giant intellectuals. Didn't care much for Newt as a politician, but as a professor and intellectual, he is superb. Wish Mr. Hitchens we're still around to provide his intellectual analysis on the world events.
It's really quite amazing that these two people could share an interview and remain so cordial and calm and rational. It would be hard to find two public figures in the political landscape with more different positions: Ginrich the conservative and Hitchens the Trotskyite. Yet the discussion was sensible, calm, in low tones, and fairly informative. Well done Hoover Institute. And well done Hitch and Newt.
2019 and the police state has gotten worse and worse, war on terror is without end, and American's attention span is even shorter...god we need a Hitchens now
It's true Hitchens had a conversion before his death. In the waning hours of his life, he called a priest to his bedside and after a short discussion had converted the priest to atheism.
17:40 Newt applauds the Administration for their job of "emotionally charging" the country. The attacks on 9/11 were enough to charge the country alone. To say the Administration did a remarkable job emotionally charging the country is a fawning diversion to the fact that they had done a very poor job informing the public of it's political objectives.
Peter M. Robinson is a research fellow at the Hoover Institution, where he writes about business and politics. Robinson spent six years in the White House, serving from 1982 to 1983 as chief speechwriter to Vice President George Bush and from 1983 to 1988 as special assistant and speechwriter to President Ronald Reagan. He wrote the historic Berlin Wall address in which President Reagan called on General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev to "tear down this wall!"
Very interesting watching this conversation unfold and realizing that we're a decade removed knowing just how endless a war on 'theocratic fascism' really is because crazy religious groups will never go away. It's a lot like my marijuana stash: it somehow keeps replenishing itself.
I agree it's a myth...having read his articles in Vanity Fair for years, it's very clear to me that this man of exceptional intelligence had chosen his positions carefully and honestly. What I do believe is that he served his readers and fans until the very end of his life...encouraging that we learn, question, discuss, and wake up to the world we live in. Conversion would be a betrayal of his life's path and work. I can't accept he would face death without acceptance, honor, and composure. RIP.
Ron Paul is the only person I know and seen who already changed the world no matter what the media wants - Thank you Ron Paul for bring light where there is darkness, no punt intended.
Because this was an intelligent discussion. Unfortunately, discussions like this never occur on Television. There is a way to improve the quality of discussions is to view discussions like this one, and ignore the debacles on TV. So as to show appreciation for quality.
Well, when people started using words like "war on poverty" and "war on drugs" that pretty much messed up keeping definitions simple, easy, or I would even say accuracy.
retitle it Christopher Hitchens has a conversation with fellow journalist and Newt Gingrich gets to sit in and learn something about how words are employed.
Gingrich is actually quite intelligent for a politician hahaha Peter Robinson wrote the 'Take down that wall' speech for Reagan. Hitch does end up being the most memorable regardless of who's next to him
Support Ron Paul. Google "Political positions of Ron Paul" And look at the Wiki links or ThePoliticalGuide Less government spending, less taxation to American Citizens, a budget plan that works. This man has been fighting for your personal freedom and the separation of congress from big business for years. He is a man who stands against the war on drugs, the foreign wars, and corporate bail outs. Vote for liberty this year. Vote for real change. Vote up and spread the message!
He died holding his beliefs to the end. The man had integrity and always stood up for what he thought was right. If there is a paradise at the end of life I have no doubt that he would be welcome to it.
Gingrich has always been considered very bright and very articulate by people who like and dislike him. Gingrich's problem is that people view him as being rude, dismissive and arrogant.
Some of the comments down below are typical of fanatical fanboys of Hitchens. Hitchens was a good journalist and I would not have voted for Newt Gingrich, but Gingrich was outstanding here. I thought that he actually had the most intelligent things to say in this discussion, he just didn't have the charming British accent. Good discussion by all though.
Yeah I think he made some very well articulated and accurate points too. I noticed Hitchens predicted America becoming more like a police state which appears to be true or at least it seems to be a popular opinion.
I never voted for a Democrat but always found Christopher Hitchens to be very fair minded. I hope he was wrong about there not being a God or afterlife I am glad to have been on this Earth at the same time as he either way.
For those criticizing Newt Gingrich, you are mistaken. He is an accomplished historian and most definitely an intellectual the likes of which you don't often see in American government these days. He is, however, a politician and thus he is more careful with his rhetoric. That being said he never won the office of the president because unfortunately American voters aren't attracted to logic and rational but rather emotion and bombast...thus Trump.
Hitchen's was an intellect of immeasurable knowledge, he may be controversial today but in the future, when man shuns all superstition and belief in false deities, Hitchen's will be revered!
I agree with stoopidfalo here. Gingrich is a very smart man and can be objective as he demonstrates here. His recent actions and his behavior on the public stage clearly demonstrates that he is willing to say whatever the people who pay him want to and cares about his career and power more than this country. It's sad truly that people listen to him more when he demonstrates brazen ignorance and spews hatred. He's a smart man. this is a great discussion, Hitchens is spectacular.
I did not always agree with Hitch, and rarely do I agree with Newt. It is very fun to see the two men together sharing ideas and seeing their civility and respect for each other.
"As a matter of how the United States functions on the planet, the top 5 American foreign policy leaders shouldn't say something unless they mean it." ... Ah, those were the days when the words of presidential administration officials actually meant a damn thing, and the international community actually took notice.
Gingrich begins with a glaring error. This issue did not begin with 3000 Americans dying. It didn't begin in 2001. Islamic Jihadists didn't announce themselves to the world in 2001.
mounty27 Potentially even further yes. Although pre the 1980s it seemed most Arabs in the Middle East subscribed to pan-Arabism rather than Islamism. Either way, this issue definitely did not begin in 2001.
I think he was thinking in terms of _world issues_. Before 9/11, the world interest in Islamic terrorism was rather low; rather, they were focused on terrorism from right wing, communist, or anarchistic factions...
Actually, as to the host who wrote Reagan's speech at the Berlin Wall. He did not pen "tear down this wall". Reagan added it to the speech and was immediately advised by everyone not to say it since it might antagonize the Russian's. Reagan ignored their advice and said it anyway, explaining it was the right thing to do.
yea newt has no equal, every sentence is clarifying and enlightening, he is a light cutting through our darkness, thank you. and that part of fumbling not being negative but being perceived as good, changing perception is the whole key to any kind of war, conflict, or unpleasant feeling. and i like newts way of thinking, of tracing things to their patterns.
Newt is a windbag who bends history to whatever argument he is trying to make. As has been established, he is a stupid person's idea of a smart person.
LISTEN, UNDERSTAND, DECIDE. RON PAUL 2012 A vote for Dr. Paul is a vote for yourself. He wants to limit gov intrusiveness in our lives & allow us to make our own choices. Stop politicians & the elites from thinking that they’re so smart that they know how to run our lives better than we do. He is one of the few politicians that will make difficult decisions, he will balance the budget by his 3rd year, while most politicians plan to balance the budget after their term is over VOTE RON PAUL 2012
Having not really heard of him until his recent death, within 2 months Ive come to love this intellect, and probably been more inspired to learn more than from anyone, and not just for his political side. His evocation of route 66 in Love, Poverty and War, is literaly the best englishman abroad writing I imagine I will ever read. Then the inconsiderate sod goes and dies.
I do not support Gingrich, nor do I agree with him. But watching this has given me a new-found respect in his ability to perform a concise and eloquent discussion of differentiating viewpoints. I only wish that he didn't try so hard to fit into a stereotype during his campaign. If this Gingrich was running for president, I would not have been so quick to dislike him.
What an incredible little discussion. I mean say what you will on both sides, I'm personally not a fan of either men, but fuck if they aren't both absurdly eloquent and intelligent.
From 11:00 mins on wards Hitch at his best. However, when it comes to the 'lessons to be learned'... The hypocrisy of some western leaders in this respect is glaring. Throughout our entire history, the western nations have had a knack of creating their own future enemies. Fighting WW2, led to the growth and expansion of communism. Support of the Rebels against the Russian invasion of Afghanistan in '79, led to the Taliban, Al Quida, etc. The invasion of Iraq, has led to the rise of ISIS. And so on, and so on. What next?
I am used to the more mature version of this host. Here he is so much more unnecessarily drawing attention, interventionist and dramatizing... Many thanks for his subsequent stellar work, as well as to the Institution.
@Hooverinstitution thanks for posting this. Was interesting, gave me some insight into what people might see in Gingrich. Too bad he's a chump. But, that said, thanks anyways! I enjoyed it. :D
last question is not a valid one, because in 20 years we will still be fighting this "war" just like, as he said, 30+ years later, we are still fighting drugs.
The Constitution does not specify the verbiage Congress is required to use to declare war. Authorization the use of force is tanamount to a declaration of war.
It is incredible to think that there are soldiers, marines, sailors and airmen entering the theater in the Middle East who do not remember the start of the war.
Hitchens pulls names, dates and whole quotations out of his pockets like it's an ordinary feat. This man was the most important intellectual to walk the earth in the last 50 years. To deny it is only say that more time is needed for some to realise it.
I wish my brain worked like Hitchens. Able to recall what seems to be almost all of the information he reads and obtains through experiences. I already like debating but I want to be able to debate like Hitchens.
Agree or disagree with either one, you have to admit it's a great discussion
Hitchens, you are very sorely missed. I wish that we still had your voice in the public arena, you're a huge loss to all the free-thinkers of this world.
I learned more listening to these two gentleman regarding Terrorism, Terrorist Groups etc.
Then I learned watching 200 hrs of News programs .
For that matter 3 administrations have not described our so called war on terror as well as Mr. Gingrich & Mr. Hitchins.
MAGNIFICENT...
Christopher Hitchens is a journalist and an author and all round legend,
Two giant intellectuals. Didn't care much for Newt as a politician, but as a professor and intellectual, he is superb. Wish Mr. Hitchens we're still around to provide his intellectual analysis on the world events.
It's really quite amazing that these two people could share an interview and remain so cordial and calm and rational. It would be hard to find two public figures in the political landscape with more different positions: Ginrich the conservative and Hitchens the Trotskyite. Yet the discussion was sensible, calm, in low tones, and fairly informative. Well done Hoover Institute. And well done Hitch and Newt.
2019 and the police state has gotten worse and worse, war on terror is without end, and American's attention span is even shorter...god we need a Hitchens now
It's true Hitchens had a conversion before his death. In the waning hours of his life, he called a priest to his bedside and after a short discussion had converted the priest to atheism.
17:40 Newt applauds the Administration for their job of "emotionally charging" the country. The attacks on 9/11 were enough to charge the country alone. To say the Administration did a remarkable job emotionally charging the country is a fawning diversion to the fact that they had done a very poor job informing the public of it's political objectives.
This was a far better discussion than I thought it would be.
Peter M. Robinson is a research fellow at the Hoover Institution, where he writes about business and politics. Robinson spent six years in the White House, serving from 1982 to 1983 as chief speechwriter to Vice President George Bush and from 1983 to 1988 as special assistant and speechwriter to President Ronald Reagan. He wrote the historic Berlin Wall address in which President Reagan called on General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev to "tear down this wall!"
Hitchens is Brilliant here...
Gingrich is holding his own...AND...
Christopher is ACTUALLY agreeing with him....
What an enjoyable clip.
Very interesting watching this conversation unfold and realizing that we're a decade removed knowing just how endless a war on 'theocratic fascism' really is because crazy religious groups will never go away.
It's a lot like my marijuana stash: it somehow keeps replenishing itself.
I think we need the extended version. The discussion is regularly cut off.
This was a good video. Espicially watching 14 years later.
I would be in love with me if I had Hitch's voice.
who, in say the 1990's, would have thought they would see an interview with Christopher Hitchens and Newt Gingrich where they were so in agreement?
I agree it's a myth...having read his articles in Vanity Fair for years, it's very clear to me that this man of exceptional intelligence had chosen his positions carefully and honestly. What I do believe is that he served his readers and fans until the very end of his life...encouraging that we learn, question, discuss, and wake up to the world we live in. Conversion would be a betrayal of his life's path and work. I can't accept he would face death without acceptance, honor, and composure. RIP.
Thanks for the clip.
Yes,Hitchens is truely great.Who can ever replace him?
Ron Paul is the only person I know and seen who already changed the world no matter what the media wants - Thank you Ron Paul for bring light where there is darkness, no punt intended.
Why couldn't Newt Gingrich be like this during the Presidential debates?
More like he was exposed as an asshole and wasn't a serious contender for his own party's nomination.
Because this was an intelligent discussion. Unfortunately, discussions like this never occur on Television. There is a way to improve the quality of discussions is to view discussions like this one, and ignore the debacles on TV. So as to show appreciation for quality.
Wow, this was recorded in 2002. Its so interesting to see the type of talks that was going on in the lead up to the Iraq war.
Well, when people started using words like "war on poverty" and "war on drugs" that pretty much messed up keeping definitions simple, easy, or I would even say accuracy.
Ten years from now, we look back on the war on terror as something we're still fucking doing.
Gingrich: "I don't know that there was a huge intelligence failure."
I hope he knows better by now.
retitle it Christopher Hitchens has a conversation with fellow journalist and Newt Gingrich gets to sit in and learn something about how words are employed.
It would be a more accurate but less catchy title.
Gingrich is actually quite intelligent for a politician hahaha
Peter Robinson wrote the 'Take down that wall' speech for Reagan.
Hitch does end up being the most memorable regardless of who's next to him
Support Ron Paul.
Google "Political positions of Ron Paul" And look at the Wiki links or ThePoliticalGuide
Less government spending, less taxation to American Citizens, a budget plan that works.
This man has been fighting for your personal freedom and the separation of congress from big business for years.
He is a man who stands against the war on drugs, the foreign wars, and corporate bail outs.
Vote for liberty this year. Vote for real change.
Vote up and spread the message!
Unfortunate this was edited
The more important question is why was it edited?
How refreshing to listen two an intellectual discussion where truth rather than politics
is the motive.
Hitchens. Proven right time and time again.
Dear Hoover Institution,
Thanks for uploading this fantastic discussion! Is there an unabridged edition of this discussion?
fascinating re-listening to this 10 years later. they make some excellent points
My heart goes out to your loved ones Christopher
If I saw more of this intelligence and openness out of Newt during the campaign, I might have supported him!
He sure did carry an air of elegance and refinement with him where ever he went.
I may not like Newt, but he's definitely highly intelligent.
He is extremely intelligent.
Stop the editing please
Hitches has a larger vocabulary than my dictionary... He is awesome.
What on earth could have happened to Newt Gingrich to change him from the balanced, rational personal he seems in this interview, to what he is now?
After ive heard all the politics intellectual people in the world. I can tell that hitchens is the most intelligent of them.
He died holding his beliefs to the end. The man had integrity and always stood up for what he thought was right. If there is a paradise at the end of life I have no doubt that he would be welcome to it.
Hitches it right. Lots of people should have been fired for the failure of 9-11.
I have a great deal of respect for both these men
Gingrich has always been considered very bright and very articulate by people who like and dislike him. Gingrich's problem is that people view him as being rude, dismissive and arrogant.
Great video and very professional! I enjoy the juxtaposition of different ideas and this did not disappoint.
Surprising how coherent Newt Gingrich is.
I've never heard him argue weakly or get caught out in any of the vids I've seen him in.
Some of the comments down below are typical of fanatical fanboys of Hitchens. Hitchens was a good journalist and I would not have voted for Newt Gingrich, but Gingrich was outstanding here. I thought that he actually had the most intelligent things to say in this discussion, he just didn't have the charming British accent. Good discussion by all though.
Well said, Holly.
Yeah I think he made some very well articulated and accurate points too. I noticed Hitchens predicted America becoming more like a police state which appears to be true or at least it seems to be a popular opinion.
@ Lance Watson: Actually Gingrich is the one with the accent. A typical crass American accent. There is no such thing as a "British" accent.
Well said.
Thorum13 You do realize that are are literally hundreds of British accents in England itself right?
I never voted for a Democrat but always found Christopher Hitchens to be very fair minded. I hope he was wrong about there not being a God or afterlife I am glad to have been on this Earth at the same time as he either way.
For those criticizing Newt Gingrich, you are mistaken. He is an accomplished historian and most definitely an intellectual the likes of which you don't often see in American government these days. He is, however, a politician and thus he is more careful with his rhetoric. That being said he never won the office of the president because unfortunately American voters aren't attracted to logic and rational but rather emotion and bombast...thus Trump.
And unfortunately he was so wrong on Iraq lol
Unfortunately this video was tarnished, for me, by the desire to punch the monitor whenever Newt Gingrich was onscreen.
Wow, here I am in 2020 kind of seeing where Newt Gingrich is coming from. 2002 was a very different time
Hitchen's was an intellect of immeasurable knowledge, he may be controversial today but in the future, when man shuns all superstition and belief in false deities, Hitchen's will be revered!
Hitchens was one interesting person. Some of things he said I completely agree with, and some of things he said I completely disagree with.
I agree with stoopidfalo here. Gingrich is a very smart man and can be objective as he demonstrates here. His recent actions and his behavior on the public stage clearly demonstrates that he is willing to say whatever the people who pay him want to and cares about his career and power more than this country. It's sad truly that people listen to him more when he demonstrates brazen ignorance and spews hatred. He's a smart man.
this is a great discussion, Hitchens is spectacular.
I did not always agree with Hitch, and rarely do I agree with Newt.
It is very fun to see the two men together sharing ideas and seeing their civility and respect for each other.
this is the best 360p video I've ever seen ! !
22:12 - "I don't know that there was a huge intelligence failure". - whamp whamp whaaammmp....
"As a matter of how the United States functions on the planet, the top 5 American foreign policy leaders shouldn't say something unless they mean it." ... Ah, those were the days when the words of presidential administration officials actually meant a damn thing, and the international community actually took notice.
I would love to get the unedited un over dubbed version
Hitchens was an intelligent man indeed, the best of men, i could listen to him talk all day.
Gingrich begins with a glaring error. This issue did not begin with 3000 Americans dying. It didn't begin in 2001. Islamic Jihadists didn't announce themselves to the world in 2001.
too true. Pre Cole one could argue. Pre support to the Mujahadeen?
mounty27 Potentially even further yes. Although pre the 1980s it seemed most Arabs in the Middle East subscribed to pan-Arabism rather than Islamism. Either way, this issue definitely did not begin in 2001.
The Barbary wars happened like a decade after the US was a country.
The Ottoman empire did declare WW1 a jihad.
In any case, the cut to Peter Robinson following Newt's answer is priceless.
I think he was thinking in terms of _world issues_. Before 9/11, the world interest in Islamic terrorism was rather low; rather, they were focused on terrorism from right wing, communist, or anarchistic factions...
I find myself using my dictionary a lot when listening to Christopher. He had such a strong command of the English language.
OH CHRISTOPHER I HARDLY KNEW YEE
Thankyou. A great response. You have put it as best as it can be put. Thank you.
Actually, as to the host who wrote Reagan's speech at the Berlin Wall. He did not pen "tear down this wall". Reagan added it to the speech and was immediately advised by everyone not to say it since it might antagonize the Russian's. Reagan ignored their advice and said it anyway, explaining it was the right thing to do.
yea newt has no equal, every sentence is clarifying and enlightening, he is a light cutting through our darkness, thank you. and that part of fumbling not being negative but being perceived as good, changing perception is the whole key to any kind of war, conflict, or unpleasant feeling. and i like newts way of thinking, of tracing things to their patterns.
Newt is a windbag who bends history to whatever argument he is trying to make. As has been established, he is a stupid person's idea of a smart person.
MicDoane usually these things boil down to only a few disagreements which you don't seem inclined to be open about, instead you ridicule.
LISTEN, UNDERSTAND, DECIDE. RON PAUL 2012
A vote for Dr. Paul is a vote for yourself. He wants to limit gov intrusiveness in our lives & allow us to make our own choices. Stop politicians & the elites from thinking that they’re so smart that they know how to run our lives better than we do. He is one of the few politicians that will make difficult decisions, he will balance the budget by his 3rd year, while most politicians plan to balance the budget after their term is over
VOTE RON PAUL 2012
Christopher Hitchens is dead + Newt Gingrich running for president = Instant refutation of Intelligent Design.
Having not really heard of him until his recent death, within 2 months Ive come to love this intellect, and probably been more inspired to learn more than from anyone, and not just for his political side. His evocation of route 66 in Love, Poverty and War, is literaly the best englishman abroad writing I imagine I will ever read.
Then the inconsiderate sod goes and dies.
I do not support Gingrich, nor do I agree with him. But watching this has given me a new-found respect in his ability to perform a concise and eloquent discussion of differentiating viewpoints. I only wish that he didn't try so hard to fit into a stereotype during his campaign. If this Gingrich was running for president, I would not have been so quick to dislike him.
What an incredible little discussion. I mean say what you will on both sides, I'm personally not a fan of either men, but fuck if they aren't both absurdly eloquent and intelligent.
From 11:00 mins on wards
Hitch at his best.
However, when it comes to the 'lessons to be learned'...
The hypocrisy of some western leaders in this respect is glaring.
Throughout our entire history, the western nations have had a knack of creating their own future enemies.
Fighting WW2, led to the growth and expansion of communism.
Support of the Rebels against the Russian invasion of Afghanistan in '79, led to the Taliban, Al Quida, etc.
The invasion of Iraq, has led to the rise of ISIS.
And so on, and so on.
What next?
I think you need to read more of his work because he was well aware of what a sheltered life he lived and wasn't afraid to admit it.
How did Newt get his head so much tanner than his hands? Pretty impressive, if you ask me.
he wears gloves on the sunbeds, strange man.
I would never vote for Gingrich, and I'm against statism in general, but at least one can listen to him without becoming stupider.
Oh man this didn’t age too well
I would've appreciated an unedited version to hear the continuation of each of these guests' thoughts. Anybody have a link?
I am used to the more mature version of this host. Here he is so much more unnecessarily drawing attention, interventionist and dramatizing...
Many thanks for his subsequent stellar work, as well as to the Institution.
Mr. Hitchens = great as usual
Mr. Gingrich = repect for you Sir
FFS, there is no need for the interruptions.
Gingrich is totally out of his league compared to Hitchens. Hitchens would NEVER even consider running with Gingrich
Is there an uncut version? the cuts are really weird
the war in iraq had nothing to do with terrorism
Mr. Hitchens you will be missed
Newt Gingrich doesnt think we will be a police state? Go to downtown DC and tell me what it looks like.
@Hooverinstitution thanks for posting this. Was interesting, gave me some insight into what people might see in Gingrich. Too bad he's a chump. But, that said, thanks anyways! I enjoyed it. :D
Politics aside, two of the smartest guys in the country debating - awesome.
The shaky USSR has been replaced by a permanent, growing force known as Moslem. There are two, instead of three, Orwellian states for now.
last question is not a valid one, because in 20 years we will still be fighting this "war" just like, as he said, 30+ years later, we are still fighting drugs.
I skipped the part where Gingrich was speaking and went straight to Hitchens.
These arguments haven’t aged well as we’ve seen the military actions have failed
Where was this Newt Gingrich during the election cycle? I prefer this version 100%
If he had to watch Fox News all day long, it truly would be hell.
Gingy's taking too much air time from the Hitch.
Halfway in and Newt Gingrich is being very sensible until now. What happened to him?
Sorry, we're not at war until congress officially declares it. Not legally anyway.
With that said... neither was Bosnia. Yet I'm sure even you would agree was a just cause.
The Constitution does not specify the verbiage Congress is required to use to declare war. Authorization the use of force is tanamount to a declaration of war.
+KnightOwl2006
I guess you've learnt this handy trick from Japan.
It is incredible to think that there are soldiers, marines, sailors and airmen entering the theater in the Middle East who do not remember the start of the war.