As most know by now, William F. Buckley, passed away yesterday at the age of 82.
Along with founding The National Review and creating Firing Line, Buckley is widely credited with being the father of the modern conservative movement. He was clearly responsible for helping form the political philosophies of two other icons of modern conservatism, Barry Goldwater and Ronald Reagan.
Scott Johnson, writing in PowerLine, recalled a memory of quintessential Buckley:
"I joined Buckley for dinner when he arrived at Dartmouth to speak upon his return from Nixon’s trip to China in the spring of 1972...At Buckley’s speech following dinner, a drunken antiwar protester assailed Buckley during the question and answer period: 'Mr. Buckley, Mr. Buckley, Mr. Buckley,' he began. 'Do you really think the United States is in Vietnam to protect the freedom of the Vietnamese people, or rather to exploit their resources, take over their country, pursue imperial ambitions and wage a war of aggression?'
'The former,' Buckley responded."
Buckley's death comes at a time when the conservative movement seems to have run its course. Its ideas seem to have lost touch with the mood of the country. Many in the GOP have hoped for an heir to Reagan. I wonder if what we really need is an heir to Buckley.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
Repoman:
I too write to salute the public life of William F. Buckley. Beginning when I was a young adult, I worked at never missing an airing of "Firing Line". My friends would think , "How boring," while I would end the show refreshed as if I just came in from a run.
His appeal was his intellect encased within a unique style of speech and a piercing wit.
He was , like Barry Goldwater, a true conservative. As such many of his positions are in stark contrast to those who now claim the title. Example: He was not a supporter of the war in Iraq, and was very skeptical when "neo-cons" got on their high horse about spreading democracy to the middle east. Whatever the subject, his opinion was important - it mattered- if you disagreed with his position then one new the bar that had to be obtained in laying out the counter position.
He was a conservative with grace, who would "put down" an opponent with wit. ( this contrasts so sharply with the shrill and personnal attacks of what is foisted as conservative talk on the a.m. dials across this country today.
I have a friend of mine who is a lawyer in Chicago, and very much a real (as opposed to a Bush) conservative . Within minutes of the news of Buckley's death I received a call from him. Buckley was a hero to both of us. We both felt that a great light had just gone out.
Finally, let me add this- I have a hard copy of his book Windfall which I re-read about once every 3 years of so. It is his story about his final tran-Atlantic sailing following the course of Columbus. It is great reading for many reasons whether or not one is a sailor. The book shines a light not only on a great mind, but also a real man. We've lost a great citizen. What is sad- we've gone from Firing Line to Hannity.
Post a Comment