Thompson, Hunter S. (1937/39–)

HUNTER STOCKTON Thompson, the journalist, author, and unsuccessful politician, was born in Louisville, Kentucky, on July 18, 1937, or 1939; questions remain about his birth year due to Thompson's habit of writing about himself as being either younger or older in his work. Thompson represents America's counterculture by openly advocating marijuana use, guns, and civil liberties. His unique style of journalism has seen him progress from a cult legend to a more mainstream fan base. Thompson espouses far rightwing opinions (gun rights, for example), but more often left-wing liberalism. His rebellious journalism weighs him in on the left side of politics.

His path into journalism was far from normal. While studying journalism at Columbia, he was forced to enlist into the air force after a crime-filled youth in which he was arrested in June 1956 for robbery. While in the air force (1956–58), he began writing for the base newspaper as a sports writer. Thompson first gained fame in 1966 for his book Hell's Angels: A Strange and Terrible Saga, an account of the year he spent traveling with the notorious outlaw bikers. However, he received nearly instant fame for his 1971 book, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, which has become a cult classic. Through-out the 1960s and 1970s, he also gained attention as a journalist for Rolling Stone. Prior to his long stint with the magazine, he wrote for the New York Herald Tribune and the National Observer. In 1971, he almost won the election for sheriff of Aspen, Colorado.

Often featured in his writings is his open use of illegal drugs and alcohol abuse. Persistent in his writings is both the feeling of society's degradation as well as his own near collapses, as portrayed memorably in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. His writing, while always humorous, is also often dark, and Thompson has a tendency to be attracted to places of violence and drugs, as can be seen in his early interest the Hell's Angels. In addition, he often paints a scathing picture of American society and has always done his best to show the ridiculous side of national politics in his coverage of the presidential elections.

Thompson is also famous for being the innovator of Gonzo Journalism, a journalistic style that is characterized by its subjectivity and highly personal accounts. It is both sarcastic and witty, and Thompson is notorious for his use of satirical devices in his work. His unique writing style makes no attempt to keep himself out of his stories, thus creating a subjective, insightful account of events based on Thompson's feelings rather than facts. Thompson does not believe that objective journalism can exist, and that when journalists try to write objectively, their readers will nevertheless associate the writer with a certain perspective. Thompson has always felt it better to acknowledge his subjectivity and has never shied away from its use, as is seen in his famous depiction of Richard Nixon as “a walking embarrassment to the human race.”

Thompson's writing has covered many topics, but he is renowned for his social and political commentary, especially regarding presidential elections. His coverage of the 1972 election is depicted in his book Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail, and in 1992 he delved deep into the William Clinton and George H.W. Bush campaigns in his book Better Than Sex. His journalistic [Page 453]career and coverage of politics has both garnered the ire of his peers as well as brought him immense credibility as he is able to write the articles that other journalists see as wrong. His political affiliation is with the Democratic Party, as he abhors the politics of the conservative American right (though he shares many of their conservative views regarding gun control). In the 1992 election, he was in direct contact with the Clinton campaign officials, notably James Carville, and was always offering his perspectives and advice through the use of his famed fax machine.

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