William F. Buckley, Jr., R.I.P.

National Review Online ^ | February 27, 2008 | the Editors

[Delacon]

Our revered founder, William F. Buckley Jr., died in his study this morning.

If ever an institution were the lengthened shadow of one man, this publication is his. So we hope it will not be thought immodest for us to say that Buckley has had more of an impact on the political life of this country — and a better one — than some of our presidents. He created modern conservatism as an intellectual and then a political movement. He kept it from drifting into the fever swamps. And he gave it a wit, style, and intelligence that earned the respect and friendship even of his adversaries. (To know Buckley was to be reminded that certain people have a talent for friendship.)

He inspired and incited three generations of conservatives, and counting. He retained his intellectual and literary vitality to the end; even in his final years he was capable of the arresting formulation, the unpredictable insight. He presided over NR even in his “retirement,” which was more active than most people’s careers. It has been said that great men are rarely good men. Even more rarely are they sweet and merry, as Buckley was.

When Buckley started National Review — in 1955, at the age of 29 — it was not at all obvious that anti-Communists, traditionalists, constitutionalists, and enthusiasts for free markets would all be able to take shelter under the same tent. Nor was it obvious that all of these groups, even gathered together, would be able to prevail over what seemed at the time to be an inexorable collectivist tide. When Buckley wrote that the magazine would “stand athwart history yelling, ‘Stop!’” his point was to challenge the idea that history, with a capital H, pointed left. Mounting that challenge was the first step toward changing history’s direction. Which would come in due course.

Before he was a conservative, Buckley was devoted to his family and his Church. He is survived by his son Christopher and brothers Reid and James and sisters Priscilla, Carol, and Patricia. Our sadness for them, and for us, at his passing is leavened by the hope that he is now with his beloved wife, Patricia, who died last year.

[Delacon]

Thoughts from the editors of the magazine this great man created.

[ASA Vet]

Did you look in “breaking news?”

[agere_contra]

Impressive economium, thanks for posting.

[sam_paine]

IBTRIP

[ThePythonicCow]

I think that this eulogy to Mr. Buckley is worthy of a separate post.

[ThePythonicCow]

economium

Google is getting scary ... I had wandered off to Google to learn the meaning of this word, and was rewarded with a link, back to your FR post above, using it.

[ASA Vet]

Do you think it’s also worthy of being placed in breaking news over and over and over? Kinda negates the purpose of having a breaking news area doesn’t it?

[ThePythonicCow]

Generally, I agree that news should not be reposted.

I too have patiently, politely, but persistently, called to mind previous posts of the same thing.

This was not simply a repost of the same news that has been posted, I'm sure, many times already today.

This was a specifically and uniquely relevant article pertaining to that news, unduplicated elsewhere in its message and authors.

[ThePythonicCow]

Granted -- it might not be breaking news.

Perhaps you are objecting to the breaking news category, and I am defending that it was worthy of separate posting at all.

If that's the case, my replies are not relevant to your concern, and I apologize for confusing your reasonable point.

[Paul Ross]

This is sad news.

And an interesting and pivotal challenge was recalled by this author, when he noted:

...it was not at all obvious that anti-Communists, traditionalists, constitutionalists, and enthusiasts for free markets would all be able to take shelter under the same tent....

Indeed, that appears to be the problem today as well, if not so much at National Review, but within the Republican Party which is tossing out anyone with a sense of history, anti-communist bent, and strong constitutional conservative beliefs.

[Delacon]

It was a newbie mistake. I am still learning the ettiquette involved with posting to FR. If by “breaking news” it has to be the first mention of a particular situation, then I stand corrected. I thought anything happening for the first time on a particual day could also qualify as “breaking news” even if it was not the first post to carry the particular info.

[ASA Vet]

You’re the first person on FR to refer to me as “reasonable.”

I don’t know if I should consider myself insulted or not. ;-)

[MSF BU]

Reagan, Rukeyser, Buckley...the good guys are going. RIP Mr. Buckley.

[Delacon]

One can be pedantic and reasonable at the same time.

[The_Media_never_lie]

This is a sad, sad day for me. Loved the man.

[BJungNan]

Why is there no tribute to this stalwart of the conservative movement here on FR?

In tribute to William F. Buckley, Jr. ...

Btt

[afraidfortherepublic]

Thank you for posting this article. It conveys accurately and succinctly all that needs to be know at this sad time. May the Perpetual Light shine upon him and may his family be comforted in their grief.

[ThePythonicCow]

Ah - it is not me whom you should thank - it was Delacon who posted this article.

I was just discussing with the most reasonable (<grin>) ASA Vet the merits of this posting.

[Albion Wilde]

From the National Review Online's tribute page:

NEWT GINGRICH
Before there was Goldwater or Reagan, there was Bill Buckley.

From writing books, to creating, leading, and sustaining National Review, to his 33-year run as the host of TV's Firing Line, Bill Buckley became the indispensable intellectual advocate from whose energy, intelligence, wit, and enthusiasm the best of modern conservatism drew its inspiration and encouragement.

It was not until William F. Buckley Jr., founded National Review in 1955 that the tide began to slowly turn for conservatives. National Review was a lonely voice of conservatism in an overwhelmingly liberal establishment. Buckley began what led to Senator Barry Goldwater and his Conscience of a Conservative, which led to the seizing of power by the conservatives from the moderate establishment within the Republican party. From that emerged Ronald Reagan. Bill stood up to defend freedom as a positive value of greater moral worth than either the state or the elite, and over time his work had a transformational impact on the quality of American politics that continues even today.

He was a wonderful friend, a great patriot, and a lively human being. Callista and I are praying for him and those who loved him. He will be missed.

— Newt Gingrich is former Speaker of the House of Representatives.

[Fred]

A link to archives of Buckley's show Firing Line...Priceless


Firing Line, July 15, 1971. California governor Ronald Reagan and William F. Buckley Jr. discuss the question "Is it possible to be a good governor?"


Firing Line, November 11, 1977. An interview with Nobel Prize winner Friedrich von Hayek. "Is there a case for private property?" William F. Buckley Jr., Friedrich von Hayek, and George Roche.