William F. Buckley, Jr. Dead at 82

[PaloAltoCougar]

I loved the guy when I was in high school in the late '60s. His essays and Firing Line talk show inspired me, not so much because of his ideology but he taught me the power of words. I loved the way he dismantled Robert Vaughn (The Man from U.N.C.L.E.) in a televised debate about Vietnam.

In the mid-70's, before the Blacks/Priesthood revelation, Buckley visited BYU. A friend of mine, Clayton Christensen, got to be Buckley's chauffeur. Buckley's itinerary included a stop at the Church Office Building to meet with then-President Spencer W. Kimball, after which Clayton drove WFB to the airport. On the way, Buckley asked him, "So tell me why your Church denies the priesthood to blacks."

Clayton responded, "Gee, Mr. Buckley, why didn't you present that question to President Kimball?" Buckley thought for a moment and responded, "Ahhh, I didn't want to vex the old guy."

[SeattleUte]

Originally Posted by PaloAltoCougar

I loved the guy when I was in high school in the late '60s. His essays and Firing Line talk show inspired me, not so much because of his ideology but he taught me the power of words. I loved the way he dismantled Robert Vaughn (The Man from U.N.C.L.E.) in a televised debate about Vietnam.

In the mid-70's, before the Blacks/Priesthood revelation, Buckley visited BYU. A friend of mine, Clayton Christensen, got to be Buckley's chauffeur. Buckley's itinerary included a stop at the Church Office Building to meet with then-President Spencer W. Kimball, after which Clayton drove WFB to the airport. On the way, Buckley asked him, "So tell me why your Church denies the priesthood to blacks."

Clayton responded, "Gee, Mr. Buckley, why didn't you present that question to President Kimball?" Buckley thought for a moment and responded, "Ahhh, I didn't want to vex the old guy."

If Reagan is Jesus to the contemporary conservative movement, WFB is Paul. Buckley was a great man.

[Venkman]

Originally Posted by SeattleUte

If Reagan is Jesus to the contemporary conservative movement, WFB is Paul. Buckley was a great man.

Maybe a bit of John the Baptist as well. There really was no conservative movement when he started National Review. BAck in the 50's he was one of the few voices crying out in the wilderness.

[SeattleUte]

Originally Posted by Venkman

Maybe a bit of John the Baptist as well. There really was no conservative movement when he started National Review. BAck in the 50's he was one of the few voices crying out in the wilderness.

I agree. He's a conflation of Paul and JTB.

[MikeWaters]

Too bad the NR is an intellectual lightweight now.

[Requiem]

Originally Posted by SeattleUte

If Reagan is Jesus to the contemporary conservative movement, WFB is Paul. Buckley was a great man.

No one had a better command of the language than WFB. He loved to go to spring training - perhaps he is tossing back a few with Sidd Finch.

[SeattleUte]

Originally Posted by Requiem

No one had a better command of the language than WFB. He loved to go to spring training - perhaps he is tossing back a few with Sidd Finch.

I like that. He and George Will and finally Bart Giamatti made baseball okay as a passtime for intellectual heavyweights.

[SeattleUte]

Originally Posted by MikeWaters

Too bad the NR is an intellectual lightweight now.

The fate of the NR is a microcosm of sorts.

[MikeWaters]

Originally Posted by PaloAltoCougar

I loved the guy when I was in high school in the late '60s. His essays and Firing Line talk show inspired me, not so much because of his ideology but he taught me the power of words. I loved the way he dismantled Robert Vaughn (The Man from U.N.C.L.E.) in a televised debate about Vietnam.

In the mid-70's, before the Blacks/Priesthood revelation, Buckley visited BYU. A friend of mine, Clayton Christensen, got to be Buckley's chauffeur. Buckley's itinerary included a stop at the Church Office Building to meet with then-President Spencer W. Kimball, after which Clayton drove WFB to the airport. On the way, Buckley asked him, "So tell me why your Church denies the priesthood to blacks."

Clayton responded, "Gee, Mr. Buckley, why didn't you present that question to President Kimball?" Buckley thought for a moment and responded, "Ahhh, I didn't want to vex the old guy."

Hmm, maybe unlike the rest of us, Buckley now will get the answer to his question.

I hope his next question isn't, "What exactly is a fence sitter?"

[YOhio]

Originally Posted by MikeWaters

Too bad the NR is an intellectual lightweight now.

NRO definitely is. I think NR is a little heavier than you give it credit for.