Book Review
Title: William F. Buckley Jr.: The Maker of a Movement
Author: Lee Edwards
Publisher: Intercollegiate Studies Institute
Date: April 8, 2019
ISBN: 978-1610171557
The book’s subtitle, “The Maker of a Movement,” is perfectly à propos of Buckley’s life, and the emphasis of this book. The overarching themes of Buckley’s life—demonstrated in some detail—were industriousness, prolific output, and brilliance. These attributes would be essential to generate the energy needed to “make a movement.”
The movement was largely made via the two vehicles Buckley created and mastered: The National Review magazine and his TV show Firing Line. Through these outlets, he formed a coalition of moderate conservatism that grew from the 1950s to the 1980s, culminating in the election of Ronald Regan for president of the United States. Aside from politics or one’s opinion of President Reagan, it was an astounding thirty-year odyssey.
This Buckleyesque conservative movement succeeded as much by Buckley’s supercharged work ethic as by his innovative intelligence. Edwards illustrates the two rôles—different but equally important—played by the National Review and Firing Line. The way Buckley easily outdebated adversaries on Firing Line enhanced perception of his ideas, as he defended them with such alacrity. His persuasive writing in the National Review gave depth to his ideas, infusing his ideology with greater substance. Those two vehicles became huge forces of nature, and together formed the American Culture of the mid- to late-twentieth century.
Some interesting facts about Buckley:
- Buckley had Native fluency in English, French, and Spanish (having been raised in Mexico City, Paris, London, and New York)
- Buckley attended the National Autonomous University of Mexico (or UNAM) until 1943
- Graduated from the U.S. Army Officer Candidate School (OCS), commissioned as a second lieutenant in the United States Army
- At Yale, Led (and excelled on) the Yale Debate Team
- At Yale, Served as editor-in-chief of the Yale Daily News
- At Yale, Inducted into the Yale society of the Skull and Bones
- At Yale, worked for the FBI
- At Yale, Buckley studied political science, history, and economics and graduated with honors in 1950
- After graduation, worked for the CIA in Mexico City
- At the CIA, his manager was E. Howard Hunt
- Created the National Review magazine himself (fund raising, business and editorial ends), owned it and ran it for most of his adult life
- Led Firing Line most of his adult life
- Was an accomplished pianist and harpsichordist
- Sailed across the Atlantic in his own sailboat, then sailed across the Pacific.
In summary, Edwards does a good job tracing Buckley’s personal and professional life, following the rising trajectory of his cultural influence. The book offers brief but well-chosen episodes in the life of William F. Buckley Jr. Far from “the definitive biography,” it is more of a précis of a life, sprinkled with colorful highlights of achievement, ingenuity, and adventure: a life well lived.
Robert Rose-Coutré
Author of Screenformation 2.0