William F. Buckley, Jr. Has Died

From National Review Online:

I’m devastated to report that our dear friend, mentor, leader, and founder William F. Buckley Jr., died overnight in his study in Stamford, Connecticut.

After year of illness, he died while at work; if he had been given a choice on how to depart this world, I suspect that would have been exactly it. At home, still devoted to the war of ideas.

As you might expect, we’ll have much more to say here and in NR in the coming days and weeks and months. For now: Thank you, Bill. God bless you, now with your dear Pat. Our deepest condolences to Christopher and the rest of the Buckley family. And our fervent prayer that we continue to do WFB’s life’s work justice.

Vine, vide, vice.

Comments

RIP

I have to say though that it pleases me that Gore Vidal was able to outlive him.

Posted by Felix | February 27, 2008 11:24 AM

At work, in his study; there couldn't be a more appropriate setting.

Posted by annulla | February 27, 2008 11:31 AM

The world has one less honest intellectual conservative. Mr. Buckley, requiescat in pacem. I hope you were listening to Beethoven when you left.

Posted by Michael Simpson | February 27, 2008 11:33 AM

Rest in Peace WFB. I may not have always agreed with your opinions but you brought them forth with honesty, passion, intellect, conviction and eloquence. Traits that are very rare in our world today. Your works added greatly to the ongoing dialogue that is America. You will be greatly missed. Godspeed.

Posted by Jorge | February 27, 2008 11:34 AM

It's veni, vidi, vici, btw.

Posted by BT | February 27, 2008 11:35 AM

Actually, veni, vidi, vinci.

Posted by DEB | February 27, 2008 11:40 AM

Godspeed WFB.

The founding father of the conservative movement has left us.

Liberal polemics will accuse him of their own sins, but few will have the influence on ideas, politics, economics and civil rights like Bill did.

MJY

Posted by MJY | February 27, 2008 11:43 AM

Actually, DEB, it's not. BT is correct.

Posted by Felix | February 27, 2008 11:43 AM

Founding father of the conservative movement? It should be noted that this title is not reserved for Mr. Buckley, but for Mr. Russell Kirk. Buckley himself acknowledged this fact many times throughout his life. I'm not trying to downplay Buckley's influence on modern conservatism (his influence was huge), but the facts are the facts.

Posted by Felix | February 27, 2008 11:46 AM

I think Marc's saying that Buckley's GOP has sadly become the party of vine and vice.

(And vide...o? Porn? Perhaps.)

Posted by Joe Drymala | February 27, 2008 11:51 AM

VENI VIDI VICI

Posted by lampwick | February 27, 2008 11:51 AM

This is a sad moment. The contrast between Buckley and the "leaders" of the conservative movement that we are reading about even today -- the radio talk guys like Cunningham and Hannity -- could not be greater.

Buckley, wrong though he often may have been, actually believed that liberals deserved to be heard -- at length -- rather than shouted down. His "Firing Line" show was, in its heyday in the late 60's through early 70's, one of the most civil and worthwhile Television programs.

He was often glib and resorted at times to less-than-fair debate tactics, but he resisted ad hominem attacks and maintained a nice understated sense of humor.

My favorite one-liner of his: After doing surprisingly well in some polls in the course of his protest candidacy for New York mayor against John Lindsay, he was asked what he would do if he won. Answer: "I'll immediately demand a recount."

Posted by RaymondA | February 27, 2008 11:59 AM

I am 50. I am a lifelong conservative who subscribed to National Review and read and watched Buckley when I was a teenager. Conservatism today must be more than just a crystal clear reaction to ideas that have, for better or worse, become imbeded in American life and a broad swath of the American consciousness. Without conceding ideals, conservatives must productively engage this culture, not merely fade into irrelevance to a people who simply don't comprehend it, as dor example, many talk-radio hosts have, even in a much more unrefined manner than Buckley and company offered in the 60's and 70's.

All of that said, I had a very sentimental reaction to word of Buckley's death. He was a giant of a presence in my young mind. And not even the National Review of today is a shadow of the scholarly repository that it once was.

Posted by Larry Perrault | February 27, 2008 12:08 PM

Mr. Buckley’s death, while only marginally affecting events has a tremendous symbolic effect. End of an Era sort of thing.

The team brandishing the label “conservative” nowadays (NRO, WND, RedState, Rush, etc. etc. etc.) need to come up with a new word for their philosophy.

And I would love to know what was on his desk when he died. Was it Liberal Fascism?

Posted by sashal | February 27, 2008 12:10 PM

RaymondA is right on.

Go back on youtube and watch Buckley and Chomsky debate American involvement in Vietnam on his show Firing Line and compare the level of intellectual engagement on display there to any of the recent rightest Hacks like Hannity, Limbaugh, Coulter, etc.

I have heard from many that in private Buckley ridiculed these people for their anti-intellectualism and crass faux populism.

His longstanding combat with Vidal was more amusing and rigorous than anything we have today.

He will be missed.

Posted by wj | February 27, 2008 1:08 PM

Actually veni vidi vici isn't correct either unless Marc is talking about himself. If he means that William Buckley came, saw, and conquered, it's

Venit, vidit, vicit.

There's nothing more tragic than correcting Latin verb conjugations on a blog post, but I'm sure Mr Buckley would approve.

Posted by T-Rock | February 27, 2008 2:11 PM

I am a Progressive and an unforgiving liberal. I am also a huge fan of Mr. Buckley. It is my sincerest belief that he was true Conservative. I hated his views on AIDS, Race, and economics. However he was a true intellect that could be educated, informed and often changed his position once he investigated all the facts and visited with the people involved with those issues. {Hence his position on the legalization of marijuana}.

Mr. Buckley challenged me to research my vehement disagreement with him on so many positions. This made me a more educated person. And a stronger liberal. It wasn't just enough for me to disagree with him, but he inspired me to have facts to support my opposition. Who could ask for a better teacher than him? Certainly no liberal.

As a Liberal, I believe there is room for all to be heard, and no one belief or ideology should dominate; Not even Liberal ideology.

I do believe that America has lost a Great Mind! I pray for the comfort and strength for all Mr. Buclkey's friends, family and fans.

Teeo Williams
Philadelphia, PA

Posted by T. Williams | February 28, 2008 11:54 AM