# The Great Shark Hunt — Index and Government-Antagonistic Highlights

**Author:** Hunter S. Thompson  
**Published:** 1979 (Gonzo Papers, Vol. 1); our copy: Simon & Schuster 2003  
**Full text:** `Great-Shark-Hunt.epub`

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## Overview

Collection of Thompson's journalism from 1968–1976: Nixon campaigns, Watergate, Vietnam, Muhammad Ali, the Kentucky Derby. **Gonzo journalism** as a method for exposing how power really works — not the press-release version.

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## Government-Antagonistic Themes

### Nixon and the Campaign Trail

- **1972 campaign** — Thompson on the trail; Muskie, McGovern, Nixon's machinery
- **"Fear and Loathing: On the Campaign Trail '72"** — Serialized in Rolling Stone; documented the rot before Watergate broke

### Watergate and the Cover-Up

- **Pre- and post-break** — Thompson's coverage of the scandal; who knew what, when
- **"The Watergate Story"** — Full gonzo treatment of the cover-up

### Vietnam and War Policy

- **War coverage** — Thompson on the war's conduct, body counts, the gap between official narrative and reality
- **Draft, veterans** — Who fought, who dodged, who profited

### Media and the Official Narrative

- **Press corps** — How journalists embed with power; Thompson's refusal to play the game
- **"gonzo"** — Method as antidote to access journalism; report the madness, not the talking points

*Specific piece/page refs to be added after reading.*

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## Structure

- Chronological; essays and reportage  
- Key pieces: Campaign Trail '72, Watergate, Kentucky Derby, Ali  

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## Cross-References

- [Main index](index-thompson-main.md)
- [Fear and Loathing](index-fear-and-loathing.md) — Same era; Vegas as Nixon's America
- [Playboy Interview](index-playboy-interview.md) — Thompson's direct statements on power

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Keywords: #Great #Shark #Hunt #Governmentantagonistic #Highlights