The Memory Palace – Episode 237: Vigil

Host: Nate DiMeo
Release Date: October 2, 2025

Overview

In "Vigil," Nate DiMeo narrates the story of the longest-running peace vigil in U.S. history, which stood outside the White House from 1981 until its dismantling in September 2025. DiMeo explores the origins, evolution, and endurance of the vigil and profiles its key participants, particularly William Thomas, Concepcion “Connie” Picciotto, and Ellen Benjamin Thomas. The episode contemplates the meaning and significance of visible protest, personal sacrifice, and the fine line between madness and moral clarity.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

The Vigil’s Beginnings and Setting

• Tourist Landmark: By 1991, the peace vigil was so established it was highlighted in the Berlitz Guide to Washington, D.C., equated alongside national monuments.
  “A traveler would find next to the White House by the wrought iron fence that surrounds it, a camping tent. And within it, they'd probably find a guy named William Thomas…” (03:03)
• Origins: William Thomas began the vigil in 1981 as a protest against U.S. nuclear weapons policy and perceived government hypocrisy.
  • Simple beginnings: a tent, handmade protest signs, and literature.

William Thomas: The Reluctant Prophet

• Background:
  • “A Christian wanderer, a baby boomer born after the war in Tarrytown, New York, in the Hudson, had been transformed by reading the Sermon on the Mount…” (06:16)
  • Lived a life of voluntary poverty and activism, influenced by Christian principles.
• Protest Life:
  • Attempted to renounce U.S. citizenship in protest; was deported from London back to the U.S.
  • Settled at the Community for Creative Nonviolence—a collective in D.C.—before starting the vigil.
• Persistence in Protest:
  • Experienced frequent arrests, particularly in the early years.
  • Traveled occasionally, for activism or personal necessity, but always returned.

Companionship in Vigil: Connie Picciotto and Ellen Benjamin

• Connie Picciotto:
  • Immigrant from Spain, met Thomas in 1979 by chance.
  • Battled personal struggles including searching for her lost daughter and, by some accounts, mental health challenges.
  • “But when she found Thomas there, between the White House and Lafayette park, she found purpose, and her life's work.” (08:35)
  • Maintained the vigil for more than 34 years.
• Ellen Benjamin Thomas:
  • Middle-class government worker drawn to the vigil by moral outrage over nuclear arms.
  • Gave up her previous life, married William Thomas after joining the vigil in 1984.
  • Became a permanent member and vital supporter of the cause.

Daily Life and Endurance

• Regulatory Workarounds: Figured out that if they didn’t sleep in the tent, authorities couldn’t force them to leave.
• Existence on the Margins:
  • Survived harsh D.C. weather, lack of shelter, and frequent official harassment.
  • They were both literally and figuratively outsiders.

The Meaning of the Vigil and Societal Reflections

• Visible Conscience:
  • The vigil stood as a constant moral reminder for passersby—federal staff, tourists, ordinary citizens—of nuclear threat and government policies.
  • “They were there to remind them, you, us passing by, that the world was imperiled right then, that it is right now by nuclear weapons.” (13:37)
• Ambiguity of Outsiders:
  • DiMeo ponders the necessity of people whom society might regard as “crazy,” serving as a benchmark against which others measure their own complacency or action.

The Vigil’s End and Legacy

• Dismantling:
  • In September 2025, after 44 years, the tent was removed by federal agents following President Trump's disparaging remarks.
  • “It had been there for 44 years.” (15:18)
• Ongoing Inspiration:
  • New activists continue the tradition at the fence, though their future is uncertain.
• American Rights:
  • Cites the 1991 Berlitz Guide: "It is the right of every American to take a stand and make a point.” (16:14)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On William Thomas’s Motivation:
  “Trying to follow what I once heard a Jesuit priest call the original program, which has always stuck with me—a rejection of material wealth, a dedication to helping the least among us.” (06:16)

• About Connie Picciotto:
  “She had bumped into Thomas. His friends just called him Thomas for the first time in 1979. Bumped into him, quite literally, it seems, on a bus. She stumbled. He caught her, helped her find her balance.” (04:29)

• On the Vigil’s Visibility:
  “They were there to be looked at, to be visible reminders as one went through one’s day...” (12:40)

• Reflecting on Societal ‘Madness’ and Outsiders:
  “Maybe there always has to be. Has to be people that other people say are crazy to measure ourselves against, measure our actions, our inaction. I don’t know.” (15:02)

• The Vigil’s End:
  “It stood until September of 2025, when a couple of weeks after President Donald Trump referred to the tent as an eyesore, it was dismantled by federal agents.” (15:23)

Important Segments with Timestamps

• Origins and Description of the Vigil: Begins at [03:03]
• William Thomas’s Life Story: [05:57] – [08:22]
• Connie Picciotto and Her Role: [08:23] – [10:08]
• Joining by Ellen Benjamin: [10:09] – [11:36]
• Daily Struggles and Community Building: [11:37] – [13:00]
• Contemplation on Protest and Sanity: [13:01] – [15:02]
• End of the Vigil/Legacy: [15:18] – [16:33]

Tone and Style Notes

• Reflective, Gentle, and Earnest: DiMeo’s signature narrative style blends gentle storytelling with brief, poignant philosophical asides.
• Empathetic, Nuanced Portrayal: He refuses to overstate or romanticize, offering a clear-eyed view of both the nobility and the complexities of protest.
• Sensory, Vivid Descriptions: Periodically immerses listeners in the heat, cold, thunder, exhaustion, and resolve of the vigil-keepers.

This episode presents a stirring meditation on outsider activism, sacrifice, and the impermanence—and power—of reminders in our public squares. It testifies to the impact of those willing to “sit, and not leave,” both for their own sake and for ours.