Gore Vidal humorously critiques the collective memory of the United States, describing it as a country that tends to forget its history and lessons learned. He initially labels the nation as the “United States of Amnesia,” a phrase suggesting widespread forgetfulness among the populace regarding significant events and their implications.

However, he acknowledges a correction from Studs Terkel, who suggests a more severe characterization: “United States of Alzheimer’s.” This shift emphasizes a deeper concern about an inability to retain important knowledge, reflecting on the dangers of a society that fails to remember its past adequately.