Today the inimitable William Frank Buckley, Jr. died, less than a year after his beloved wife, Patricia A. A. Taylor Buckley. The right’s premier philosopher laid the intellectual foundation for the Reagan Revolution which engendered the recrudescence of America economically, militarily, and morally. In 1951 the “Scull & Bones” Eli published his seminal work, “God and Man at Yale,” and served notice that he was more than ready to compete and prevail against the then reigning liberal intellectual elites. This extraordinary polymath founded the National Review, authored over 50 books, hosted Firing Line (from 1966-1999), ran for mayor of New York, served in the U.S. army, worked in the C.I.A., and received the Presidential Medal of Freedom. President George W. Bush praised Buckley today, saying that he “brought conservative thought into the political mainstream, and helped lay the intellectual foundation for America’s victory in the Cold War.” At his death, Buckley was working on a memoir of President Ronald Reagan. (Buckley’s book on Barry Goldwater is scheduled to come out this spring.) R.I.P. Great Philosoper/Warrior Bon Vivant!
Cf. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/27/business/media/27cnd-buckley.html?ref=arts
Tags: Bill Buckley, National Review, Ronald Reagan, Scull & Bones, Yale
Carpe Diem 
February 27, 2008 at 9:24 pm
James, would you say that WFB engendered in your youthful mind a love for prose and philosophy?
February 28, 2008 at 4:47 am
He certainly helped engender an appreciation of conservative thought which shunned the fringe elements and embraced an intellectual approach with fun, vigor, and integrity.
February 28, 2008 at 8:21 am
WFB was one of my intellectual ‘heroes’ and certainly engendered in my youthful mind a love of prose, philosophy, and conservative thought. I’ll never forget picking up a copy of National Review in the Belhaven Library when I was a sophomore, and reading it for the first time. When Buckley referred to Pol Pot as the “Pete Rose of Communism”, I knew that this was a magazine to which I should suscribe posthaste.
And the next 4-5 years of my NR suscription certainly did not disappoint as I became familiar with luminaries such as Russell Kirk, James Burnham, Erik von Kuenelt-Leddhin (spelling may be off), etc. etc..
NBC news referred to WFB as an “American Original” and I could not agree more.
RIP, WFB: your perambulations were well done.
February 28, 2008 at 8:55 am
James,
Thanks for the excellent tribute to WFB. I remember watching firing line with you and being in awe on someone (WFB) who could make the liberals speechless.
February 28, 2008 at 8:56 am
Excellent tribute, James!
February 28, 2008 at 11:53 am
Geo., I like your Pete Hustle reference.
Benj, thanks for the kind words.
November 22, 2012 at 8:40 pm
Whats up very nice website!! Guy .. Excellent ..
Amazing .. I will bookmark your blog and take the feeds additionally?
I’m satisfied to find numerous helpful information here within the put up, we’d
like work out extra techniques in this regard, thanks for sharing.
. . . . .