I resorted to synopsis instead of re-reading the relevant parts of Gibbon. Some other of my recollections are based on passages from books I may still have in my library, but the names of which will no longer come to mind and still others are from lectures more than 45 years ago.

I too am a sometime fan of Vidal.  He has a taste for the juicier historical subjects that most of those in his generation shunned. I always thought that Al Gore's relation to Gore Vidal plus his heritage from his father hinted that there might be depths to Al that were not on display.

"It is not necessary to have hope in order to persevere."