Lover Him or Hate Him, William F. Buckley was Memorable

William F. Buckley, Jr. (1925-2008) passed away on February 27. The 82-year-old was blessed with a multitude of friends as his life came to an end, but he also had a whole lot of enemies. If the old adage is true, that "if you haven't made any enemies, you haven't lived", then Buckley lived far more than most men.

Buckley came to fame when he founded the conservative political magazine "National Review" in 1955. He also became the host of the television show "Firing Line", a job which he held for over 30 years. He was well renowned for his conservative and libertarian views on politics, and equally well known for his eccentric antics and rants. He was a super sharp thorn in the side of many liberals over the years. I admit that, as a Democrat, I cringed whenever I heard his name mentioned.

But there is no denying that William Buckley was an interesting character and an influential person. A look back at his life reveals not only the impact that he had on our country (including forming the basis of Ronald Reagan's political philosophy) but also on the memorable moments that he left behind.

In a 1957 article in his magazine "National Review", he defended the practice of segregation in the American South. He wrote that southern whites were "entitled to take such measures as are necessary to prevail, politically and culturally" in the South, because they were "the advanced race."

In 1965, Buckley ran for Mayor of New York City. As a member of the newly formed Conservative Party, he was a long shot at best. However, he appealed to many voters, partly due to his quick wit. At one point, he was asked what he would do if he won the election. He replied, "I would demand a recount!" Later, during a debate, he decided not to reply to one of his opponent's remarks, saying he was "satisfied (with) my former eloquence."

Perhaps his most remembered moment came in 1968, during a televised debate with author Gore Vidal. In the midst of a heated moment in the exchange, Vidal called Buckley a "pro-crypto Nazi." Buckley's famous response was, "Now listen, you queer, stop calling me a crypto-Nazi or I will sock you in your goddamned face...and you will stay plastered."

Even modern conservatives, who generally regard Buckley as a mentor and a father of their philosophy, have not escaped his witty criticisms. Regarding President George W. Bush, Buckley said, "Bush is conservative, but he is not a conservative." He claimed that "the American objective in Iraq has failed."

William Buckley is dead, but he will be remembered for a long time. His impact on American conservatism, and his unique ability to both inform and entertain made him a formidable figure throughout the late twentieth century.

note: all factual material taken from Wikipedia article about William F. Buckley (see link)