William F. Buckley Jr.

William F. Buckley Jr.
Buckley in an undated handout photograph
Buckley in an undated handout photograph
BornWilliam Francis Buckley
(1925-11-24)November 24, 1925
New York City, U.S.
DiedFebruary 27, 2008(2008-02-27) (aged 82)
Stamford, Connecticut, U.S.
Occupation
  • Editor
  • author
  • political commentator
EducationYale University (BA)
Subject
Spouse
(m. 1950; died 2007)
ChildrenChristopher Buckley
ParentWilliam F. Buckley Sr.
Relatives
Military career
Service / branchUnited States Army
Years of service1944–1946
RankFirst lieutenant
Battles / warsWorld War II

William Frank Buckley Jr. (born William Francis Buckley;[a] November 24, 1925 – February 27, 2008) was an American conservative writer, public intellectual, and political commentator.[1]

Born in New York City, Buckley spoke Spanish as his first language before learning French and then English as a child.[2] He served stateside in the United States Army during World War II. Following the war, he attended Yale University, where he engaged in debate and conservative political commentary; he graduated from Yale with honors in 1950. Afterward, he worked at the Central Intelligence Agency for two years.

In 1955, Buckley founded National Review, a magazine that stimulated the growth and development of the conservative movement in the United States. In addition to editorials in National Review, Buckley wrote God and Man at Yale (1951) and more than 50 other books on diverse topics, including writing, speaking, history, politics, and sailing. His works include a series of novels featuring fictitious CIA officer Blackford Oakes and a nationally syndicated newspaper column.[3][4] Buckley ran unsuccessfully for mayor of New York City in 1965 on the Conservative Party line. From 1966 to 1999, Buckley hosted 1,429 episodes of the public affairs television show Firing Line, the longest-running public affairs show with a single host in American television history; through his work on the show, he became known for his distinctive Transatlantic accent and wide vocabulary.[5]

Buckley is widely considered to have been one of the most influential figures in the conservative movement in the United States.[6][7][8]


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  1. ^ Italie, Hillel (February 27, 2008). "Author, Conservative Commentator William F. Buckley Jr. Dies at 82". KVIA.com. Associated Press. Archived from the original on April 18, 2021. Retrieved November 21, 2020.
  2. ^ "The Spanish-Speaking William F. Buckley". Dissent Magazine. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
  3. ^ "Cumulus.hillsdale.edu". Archived from the original on May 25, 2010.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference NYTobit was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ The Wall Street Journal, February 28, 2008, p. A16
  6. ^ "William F. Buckley Jr. and the Conservative Movement". Bill of Rights Institute. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
  7. ^ "The Man Behind the Modern Conservative Movement, with Sam Tanenhaus". Niskanen Center. March 17, 2021. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
  8. ^ Boaz, David (February 28, 2008). "Bill Buckley Is Dead. Has Conservatism Died with Him?". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved March 25, 2023.

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