Whittacker Chambers declined a partnership to start National Review with Buckley because he was an undercover spy for the Soviets that had 'unmasked' himself and revealed that Algier Hiss (FDR's Seretary of state) was a Soviet spy too.
I liked Buckley but I place him in a conservative 'light' group that includes William Kristol. I cancelled my National Review subscription when Buckley died.
BTW, The John Birch Society has been mostly correct over the years, Buckley opposed them.
The book, Witness written by Whitter Chambers is one of the best books ever.
Buckley was not much of a Conservative....matter of fact there is a good chance that Wm. Buckley was an infiltrator and damaging to the C brand. Buckley did purge the Nat Review of true Conservatives and replaced them with the Trotsky wing of the Repubs....the Neo-Con’s that have brought the US nothing but “war for democracy” and replacement citizens from the 3rd world. It is time to FINISH OFF the Republican Party!