American Man of Letters William F. Buckley, Jr., Dies at 82
source: http://disembedded.wordpress.com/2008/02/27/american-man-of-letters-william-f-buckley-jr-die...
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William F. Buckley, Jr., deployed his astute mind to raise classical conservatism to the center of American political discourse. In 1955, he founded the influential conservative magazine, The National Review, and later hosted Firing Line, one of the country's longest-running television programs.
He rose to prominence during a period in American history when there was a whole generation of talented writers who were fascinated by political themes, authors such as Norman Mailer, Truman Capote, Gore Vidal, William Styron and James Baldwin. Like them, he attracted controversy like a magnet.
People came to view his life and escapades as a kind of art form, from his racing through New York City streets on a motorcycle, to his then startling opinions like favoring the decriminalization of marijuana. In 1965, Mr. Buckley made an exceedingly unrealistic run for mayor of New York. When asked what he would do if he won, he answered, “Demand a recount.” He was often described as the liberals’ favorite conservative.
In 2006, he boldly condemned the Iraq war as a total failure.
He rose to prominence during a period in American history when there was a whole generation of talented writers who were fascinated by political themes, authors such as Norman Mailer, Truman Capote, Gore Vidal, William Styron and James Baldwin. Like them, he attracted controversy like a magnet.
People came to view his life and escapades as a kind of art form, from his racing through New York City streets on a motorcycle, to his then startling opinions like favoring the decriminalization of marijuana. In 1965, Mr. Buckley made an exceedingly unrealistic run for mayor of New York. When asked what he would do if he won, he answered, “Demand a recount.” He was often described as the liberals’ favorite conservative.
In 2006, he boldly condemned the Iraq war as a total failure.
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