William F. Buckley, Jr., dead at 82
I can’t even believe this. William F. Buckley has died.
I’m devastated to report that our dear friend, mentor, leader, and founder William F. Buckley Jr., died this morning in his study in Stamford, Connecticut.
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.
Yes, thank you, “Bill.” (It seems weird calling the man Bill; “Sir” seems so much more appropriate.) I’ve been a fan for…forever. Even as a kid I read him and watched him on Sunday teevee. I guess at his age it shouldn’t be so shocking, but I guess it never even crossed my mind that he would ever be gone. I’m speechless.
UPDATE: Finally up on Drudge, with a link.
Buckley had for years been withdrawing from public life, starting in 1990 when he stepped down as top editor of the National Review. In December 1999, he closed down “Firing Line” after a 23-year run, when guests ranged from Richard Nixon to Allen Ginsberg. “You’ve got to end sometime and I’d just as soon not die onstage,” he told the audience.
“For people of my generation, Bill Buckley was pretty much the first intelligent, witty, well-educated conservative one saw on television,” fellow conservative William Kristol, editor of the Weekly Standard, said at the time the show ended. “He legitimized conservatism as an intellectual movement and therefore as a political movement.”
Precisely.
raz0r says:
Another giant has passed away.
Mr 270 says:
I saw this on my RSS reader and my heart just sank.
Bill Kristol was right. Buckley demonstrated that conservatism was the smartest and most moral choice.
Rest in Peace Mr. Buckley. You were the first courageous voice in standing up to a tremendous Liberal establishment. You did that before the Internet and alternative media made it possible to bypass the MSM. God bless you.
Beth says:
I feel like when Reagan died. WFB was easily as important, if not more so (if I dare say) than even Reagan was to conservatism. He’s practically a saint.
Lord Bitememan says:
Having written for a college offshoot of the Review, it does feel quite a bit like losing a someone close to home. *sigh* Hope the current staff at MRev give the man a good tribute.
Stix says:
Conservatism has lost an icon. He was I think even more important than Reagan,. He stood up to the Liberlism before it was cool. American has lost one of the greatest minds, he will be greatly missed
RIP Bill