Little Memories Remembering Ronald Reagan. (William F. Buckley Jr.)

NRO ^ | June 8, 2004 | William F. Buckley Jr.

[Perdogg]

for a moment there I thought it was an obit.

[Jeff Chandler]

for a moment there I thought it was an obit.

LOL! How old is Buckley?

[Perdogg]

He will be 80 this year. Served in World war II

[SeeRushToldU_So]

Too bad the event at RFK couldn't come together. Three of my favorite people would have been there.

[Always Right]

For instance, he was opposed to ratifying the Panama Canal Treaty, and we debated the subject for two hours on television

They re-aired that several years back on TV, and I must say Reagan kicked Buckley's arse.

[wardaddy]

Brent Bozell, my nephew

I didn't know that.

I like the ambassador to Afghanistan joke.

what impresses me most about Buckley is his trip around the Horn in his 60s.

[wmileo]

"for a moment there I thought it was an obit"

So did I. I am pleased to find out otherwise. (Mr. Conservative) Bill Buckley was the one who brought Whittaker Chambers to my attention. It was his obituary (actually an Article in National Review) of Chambers in 1961 and the encouragement of a High School History teacher of mine, which caused me to read "Witness". This great literary work was an autobiography written by Chambers in 1952, after the 'Chambers - Hiss Controversy' resulted in Alger Hiss's conviction for 2 counts of perjury (back in the days when perjury still mattered) and then going to a Federal Prison for 44 months. It was good fortune for Hiss, both a traitor and spy for the Soviets, that the statute of limitations for espionage ran out. Otherwise he would have spent most of the remainder of his meaningless life behind bars where he richly deserved to be. Buckley's other great friend was not only Reagan but Barry Goldwater as well. Conservatives of today can still learn a great many things from William F. Buckley Jr., thanks be to GOD.

[Reagan Man]

No doubt the Rush Limbaugh hosted event would have been a great time for all. However, Ronald Reagan's head to head debate with the real RFK was an all time great event in US political history.

Town Meeting of the World: "The Image of America and the Youth of the World" With Sen. Robert F. Kennedy and Gov. Ronald Reagan As Broadcast over the CBS Television Network and the CBS Radio Network Monday, May 15, 1967, 10:00 - 11:00 pm. EDT Charles Collingwood, Host .

Some people, like me, think Reagan won hands down. It was overheard, RFK told his handlers, don't ever schedule another debate with Reagan. EVER! LOL

[wmileo]

I watched that debate live in 67. Reagan was so good in that debate, his credibility as a National Candidate just soared as a result. This debate also helped convince me that Robert Kennedy was just a fly on the ass of an elephant when compared to both Reagan and his brother, the late 35th President.

[saint]

It's amazing how, in every story that comes out about Ronald Reagan, his stature as a true man comes through. Such real men are rarer by the day.

No doubt future historians will attempt to pin him as a womanizer, pervert, or whatever.

[Reagan Man]

>>>>I watched that debate live in 67.

Ditto.

I was a member of my HS`s Young Republicans Club and we concluded early on that LBJ&Company had no intention of securing a final victory in VietNam. We supported Dick Nixon for POTUS. In hindsight, the GOP should have nominated Ronald Reagan instead of Nixon. IMO, RFK and JFK were both social liberals and not in the same class with Reagan. God does have a plan. Look who survived assassination.

[hosepipe]

Thanks.. good read...

[wmileo]

"Ditto"

It is good to hear from someone in my generation with my view of thing. I live in NJ which about as close to becoming a Communist Country as Massachusetts (or is it Taxa-teddy-kerry-shits).

[Reagan Man]

>>>>It is good to hear from someone in my generation with my view of thing.

Same here. I was born in Queens NY and spent 18 years growing up in Brooklyn NY. A great learning experience. In the 50`s and 60`s Brooklyn was the center of the world. Left after college and haven't looked back. Living the Rocky Mountain high and loving every minute.

[bobo1]

three of my favorites.

In college I read "Up From Liberalism" and "Quotes from Chairman Bill", and anxiously waited for each copy of National Review. Being from Arizona, I admired Barry Goldwater. How different the world would have been if he would have won the presidency in '64

As for President Reagan, he was the absolute "BEST" president of the twentieth century. He was a Man among men.

Blessings, bobo

[nickcarraway]

When did that happen? As far as I can tell RFK, in the 50's and early 60's was to the right of JFK. He was a protege of Republican Senator Joseph McCarthy.

[nickcarraway]

Why were they social liberals? Both were anticomminist, pro-life, etc.

[Colonel_Flagg]

And I would like to say to all of the young people as they pursue their way, and this has been very stimulating, I think you should weigh everything that is proposed to you, everything in the line of government and law and economic theory, everything of that kind and weigh it on this one scale--that it should at all times not offer you some kind of sanctuary or security in exchange for your right to fly as high and as far as your own strength and ability will take you as an individual, with no ceiling put on that effort. Plenty of room for a floor underneath so that no one in this world should live in degradation, beneath that floor, but you reserve the right for yourself to be free.

How I miss him. May God rest your soul, Mr. President.

[Reagan Man]

>>>>Why were they social liberals? Both were anticomminist, pro-life, etc.

That makes for a complicated explanation. Didn't we argue this once or twice before? Etcetera covers a multitude of issues. When we discuss the Kennedy brothers (all three) and life in America in the early 1960`s versus life after the decade ended, we must include caveats for political, societal and cultural changes.

For starters, social liberalism has nothing to do with being a supporter of a strong national defense. In that regard, both JFK and RFK showed support for the US military through their early life. JFK was war hero. Remember Senator Scoop Jackson? Conservative Democrat, but liberal on social issues. Never thought of whether John or Bobby were pro-lifers, or "anti-abortion" as people were called before Roe v Wade. From reports of JFK's personal private life, he got several women pregnant over the years and as far as I know, no one is stepping forward today to proclaim, "I'm the son of JFK!", or "I'm the daughter of JFK!". Know what I mean? RFK also wasn't the moral man he presented in public either.

Not only that, but by 1967-1968 RFK was definitely morphing into a liberal just like his brother FatTeddy Kennedy. I don't remember RFK opposing LBJ`s Great Society programs either. Many of which had their roots in the mindsets of Democratic President's from FDR, to Truman to JFK.

Frankly, a case can be made that John was the most conservative of the Kennedy brothers. Personally, I think if JFK and RFK had lived longer their politics would be very similiar to that of their brother Teddy's. In fact, a strong case can be made that FatTeddyK is a socialist.