William F. Buckley
The Washington Post is reporting that William F. Buckley died this morning at the age of 82. Mr. Buckley was an intellectual giant who contributed much not only to the development of modern conservative thought but also to the tone of congeniality and civility that is all too often lacking in American politics today.
UPDATE:
Statement of the President:
America has lost one of its finest writers and thinkers. Bill Buckley was one of the great founders of the modern conservative movement. He brought conservative thought into the political mainstream, and helped lay the intellectual foundation for America’s victory in the Cold War and for the conservative movement that continues to this day. He will be remembered for his principled thought and beautiful writing — as well as his personal warmth, wit, and generous spirit. His legacy lives on in the ideas he championed and in the magazine he founded — National Review. Laura and I send our prayers to Chris Buckley, the Buckley family, and all who loved this good man.
Filed under: Conservatism
William F. Buckley was the most consequential American in the post-war era who was not a President. He made the modern conservative movement effective.
Witty, smart, gracious, and exciting to watch in debates. I once saw Buckley debate John Kenneth Galbraith in New Orleans - truly exciting to watch. Buckley walked up to the taller of the two podiums leaving the shorter podium to the 6′9″ Galbraith. The moderator informed Buckley that Galbraith’s podium was too short. Buckley replied, “That alright by the end of this debate that short podium will be plenty tall enough for Galbraith”.