Gore Vidal was a prolific writer and critic of American society. He passed away on Tuesday, July 31st, 2012.

A one-time candidate for Senate, one of his most memorable quotes was on the topic of the two main modern political parties:

There is only one party in the United States, the Property Party ... and it has two right wings: Republican and Democrat. Republicans are a bit stupider, more rigid, more doctrinaire in their laissez-faire capitalism than the Democrats, who are cuter, prettier, a bit more corrupt — until recently ... and more willing than the Republicans to make small adjustments when the poor, the black, the anti-imperialists get out of hand. But, essentially, there is no difference between the two parties.

Read more about Mr. Vidal's legacy:

Remembering Gore Vidal - The Nation

Prolific, Elegant, Acerbic Writer - New York TimesGore Vidal: Among the last of the great, entitled writers - Associated PressThe A-Z of Gore Vidal - The Guardian