How William F. Buckley Changed America

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How William F. Buckley Changed America

Posted Feb 27th 2008 1:11PM by Dinesh D'Souza
Filed under: Breaking News

William F. Buckley, Jr. is dead, and modern American conservatism has lost its chief intellectual spokesman and leader.

Buckley is one of the main reasons that I became a conservative. It wasn't just the influence of God and Man at Yale, Buckley's first and seminal book that made the case that Yale had abandoned its conservative Christian roots. Buckley had the novel idea that private colleges don't belong to their administration and faculty; these are the employees. Rather, colleges belong to the students who pay the tuition and who are there to learn. They along belong to the alumni, the living body of graduates who represent what the institution has produced; alumni also largely fund their alma mater and thus maintain their ties even when they have left.

I learned all this from Buckley, and our renegade newspaper The Dartmouth Review was patterned on Buckley's National Review. But there was more to Buckley than his books and writing. Interestingly Buckley never produced an important book after God and Man at Yale. His real influence was in who he was and what he represented. He was a suave, erudite and generous man, and he represented a conservatism that was witty, iconoclastic and fun. In my teens I had envisioned conservatives as stuffy and narrow-minded businessmen who upheld the status quo. Buckley showed me an irreverent conservatism that enjoyed life and fought to change the liberal status quo, especially on the college campus.

Before Buckley, there was no conservatism in America. The literary critic Lionel Trilling once famously remarked that America has a single political tradition and it is liberal. Conservatism, to the degree it exists, is only reaction. The conservative is not a man of ideas but simply twitches and barks in response to the inexorable march of liberal change. The conservative is against progress. Buckley himself played with this idea, and once described the mission of National Review as one of "standing athwart history, yelling Stop!" With this remark Buckley appeared to confirm the stereotype while in fact exploding it. An unthinking, unimaginative conservative would not have devised such a pithy, witty formulation.

Buckley may not have single-handedly invented modern intellectual conservatism, but he certainly made it respectable. He became the chief intellectual spokesman of the movement that culminated in Ronald Reagan. I never knew him well, although every few months I received an autographed Buckley book--typically about spies or sailing--in the mail. When Alan Wolfe launched his pompous and ignorant fusillade against my book The Enemy at Home, even suggesting that I was not a real conservative, Buckley rushed to my defense, noting that he was a far better authority on conservatism than Wolfe. In the end, it is these little kindnesses that you remember the most.

Today modern American conservatism is at the crossroads, and it's not clear what it's future will be. Oh, if only there were another young Buckley to gallantly lead the intellectual brigade. Still, what Buckley's movement accomplished, both through its intellectual and political successes, is nothing less than the transformation of American politics, even world politics. Buckley's life proves that ideas have consequences, and many of us continue to walk in the path that this far-seeing man cleared for us.

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Reader Comments ( Page 2 of 13)

Previous 15 Comments | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Most Recent | Next 15 Comments

16. Brian, it seems that you base your entire view of the liberal ideals on "morals." What would your opinion be, then, on issues of the economy? Because it seems to me that whether or not two guys down the street sleep together doesn't really matter nearly as much as if your grandmother has Social Security, or whether you can afford to pay your bills when you have an accident. Those sort of seem like "moral" issues to me. America likes to describe herself as the greatest country on earth. And I agree. Which might surprise you, considering I'm pretty liberal. Aren't we all supposed to hate America? But that's besides the point. I just think America should keep in mind that rising inflation, unemployment, lack of health care, and a decrepit educational system are NOT ways to go about making a good country. Judging on your two issues of abortion and homosexuality really don't do anything. So basically, I'm really wondering what your idea of morality is, and if you agree that it covers more than what is mentioned in a few lines of Bible. Because, I seem to remember Jesus talking a lot about poor people, and love, and all the good, happy, "liberal" stuff. A reply would be most appreciated.

whatif704 at 9:49PM on Feb 27th 2008

17. brian, perhaps two thousand years ago it was common sense to attribute events in the sky and phenomena such as wind, lightning, earthquakes to supernatural forces but today... not so much.

You superstitious fools are being boxed in, reduced to 'praising God' for unknowable events and 'chance mimicking' acts.

It is not common sense to imagine that your country is 'great' if there are people starving on the streets. etc. etc.

not-pboyfloyd at 4:22PM on Feb 27th 2008

18. FOR: Strados at 3:13PM on Feb 27th 2008

We are all waiting eagerly for you to move to Cuba. But,wait, Castro is smart enough to put liberals in jail or the nut house where they belong. Maybe you haven't about heard what happens to people over there who disagree with the party line and open thier mouths about it? You are truly, as Lenin said, a "useful idiot". Are are you another one like Alec Balwin and his cohorts who promised to leave the country if Bush won the election? Still waiting for that to happen. Guess the word of a liberal is really meaningless as has been proven countless times in the recent past.

Marlinj Brown at 4:37PM on Feb 27th 2008

19. Are Marlij and brian the same person?

Gwen at 5:06PM on Feb 27th 2008

20. Let's see, Buckley was wrong about his admiration for Adolf Hitler and Stalin, the outcome of the Korean War, the McCarthy Period, the Cold War, the Cuban Missle Crisis, the Civil Rights Movement, the Vietnam War, the honesty of Richard Nixon, the conservativism of Reagan, and on and on. Contrary to popular myth there is no such thing as conservative intellecturalism and there is very little gallantry in attempting to keep America and its people in the 19th century by spreading his bull manure from one end of the country to the other.

gshort3011 at 5:03PM on Feb 27th 2008

21. not-pboyfloyd at 4:22PM on Feb 27th 2008

What is really pitiful is the "people starving in the streets" are too ignorant to seek the more than abundant help given by the government and by religious groups. So much for the vaunted liberal education system in America....

Marlinj Brown at 5:08PM on Feb 27th 2008

22. There was conservatism in America prior to Buckley: it was typified by the America First movement prior to WWII led by, among others, Charles Lindbergh. Buckley can be more accurately called the founder of neoconservatism, which is to say, the deification of an unconstitutional, militaristic, totalitarian national security state under the guise of "conservatism". And the culmination of this movement wasn't Ronald Reagan; the culmination is the continuing catastrophe which is the George W. Bush administration.

emelpe at 5:13PM on Feb 27th 2008

23. FOR: Gwen at 5:06PM on Feb 27th 2008

Great minds think alike, but they do not occupy the same body.

Marlinj Brown at 5:15PM on Feb 27th 2008

24. What is really pitiful is the "people starving in the streets" are too ignorant to seek the more than abundant help given by the government and by religious groups. - Marlinj Brown at 5:08PM on Feb 27th 2008
___________________________________________

There you have it: "christian compassion" at work. I have never seen more hateful language on this blog than the total unadulterated hate spewing from the 'mouths' of Marlin and brian. How they can possibly think Jesus would agree with them is ridiculous. Jesus wants you to feed, clothe, and witness to the poor and unfortunate... you can only call them "ignorant" and blame your enemies for their condition. YOU are the ignorant one - you totally dismiss these people's plight.

Our moto should be: "Liberals - picking up where Christianity left off."

K at 5:33PM on Feb 27th 2008

25. reply to: 14

K,

If you wouldn't mind, could you please elaborate a little more on this:
"Funny you mention John Adams, who despised christianity and would probably never associate with the likes of......"
I'm no John Adams scholar but I have a tough time believing he "despised" Christianity. His beliefs may not fall into the strictly orthodox and he may have even "despised" organized religion and its leaders, but I highly doubt he despised Christian faith.

Monty at 5:42PM on Feb 27th 2008

26. Marlinj Brown says, "What is really pitiful is the "people starving in the streets" are too ignorant to seek the more than abundant help given by the government and by religious groups. So much for the vaunted liberal education system in America...."

Hundreds of thousands of schizophrenics wander the streets of America too ill to seek help... Marlinj's typical knee-jerk reaction is to blame everyone else but his 'kind'.

Typically conservatism is 'right' but seldom right and theirs is a 'kind' that is seldom kind.

I sincerely hope that you and your kind never have to see the HELL that these people have to try to cope with.. perhaps you imagine that if only they 'saw the light' that they'd be cured and become productive members of society.

Reminds me of an old man named John who exacted the ire of the Christian Community when he actually believed their horse-shit, then, crazy as he was, he could still see their hypocrisy.

Your hypocrisy is THAT BAD that certifiably insane people can see it. It is YOU who is ignorant Marlinj, but you are too ignorant to notice, that's all.

not-pboyfloyd at 5:35PM on Feb 27th 2008

27. Here are some suggestions that I can make for conservatives.

1. Responsibility and Accountability. This would be that so called moral highground that the right claims ownership of and then wonders why every one is laughing at them. When you have a president who commits war crimes, denounce him and reclaim both the virtue of the office. When you have a vice president who commits war fraud, you impeach him. In short, you hold your party to a higher standard rather than clutching to the office with a desperate grip. Loyalty to the presidency is greater than loyalty to the man currently holding the position.

2. Fiscal responsibility. We know you loved Reagan. The guy could really give a speach and he gets props for not setting off WW3 at the end of the cold war. But deficit spending is NOT a solution. The American credit card is not limitless, and it's dragging down the economy that you so wish to invigorate. Worse, its undermining our national soverignty via debts to foreign nationals! This means accepting that you're going to have to pay taxes, so aim to make them as fair and practical as possible and don't pretend like you can have your cake and eat it too. Aim for a balanced budget. You want to invade countries, pony up the taxes to pay for it. You want to not pay those taxes, then don't invade other countries.

3. Leave God at home and in the church. This is a big one, and it's one that's frustrating the bajebus out of both the fundies and your own party. Religion is a personal choice. Like belonging to the boy scouts. Some people love it. Can't get enough of it. But when people start demanding that every one recite the boy scout oath at the begining of school, there's going to be a problem. Because not every one wants to be boy scouts. Some might even find it hokey. So leave religion, faith, and moral intitatives at home. Let people choose to accept them or not, and focus laws on things that affect all citizens equally.

4. Support public education. This is a no-brainer. I have yet to meet a single politician or parent who is opposed to education. It is the axis upon which our society's prosperity turns. And note the word 'public'. This is education for every child. No exceptions. Rich. Poor. White. Black. Latino. Our society loses NOTHING by educating and providing for children to become effective tax paying adults and it loses so much when it wastes time and money on quibbling over tests, parochial vrs charter, and vouchers. This is something that the left will happily discuss with you because it's a win win when you support schools and those who teach in them.

5. Turn off Fox news. I can not emphasize this enough. Turn off Fox news. You have a reason for being a conservative? Fine. Turn off Fox news anyway. They are not your friend. They are telling you what you want to hear and it is getting you in trouble. There are many conservative outlets to persue that do not have Rupert Murdock's fingerprints on them. Make up your own mind and control your own reality rather than accepting what Fox tells you is true.

It shouldn't be hard to accept any one of these five proposals and help out the cause of conservatism.

Somber at 5:37PM on Feb 27th 2008

28. k,

you are entirely dead wrong concerning john adams. more of your revisionist propaganda cloaked in tolerance of coarse. john adams was a very devoted christian man who would go to 2-3 churhes every sunday because he enjoyed the sermons so much. in fact every thing he did was filtered through his christian world view. everything!! read his letters to his wife, read his letters to his children. read his letters to thomas jefferson. NO K your revision is a lie with not a shred of truth.

brian at 5:40PM on Feb 27th 2008

29. k,

once again concerning christians you are blind as a bat and in the dark. most hospital were founded by christians,orphan homes by christians,foster homes by christians, help for the homeless are typically on every churches plate in some form of giving. food for people. most churches have food banks. toys at christmas, most churches i know give to children on the community from which they serve. you are so poisened in your hatred and contempt that you have been blinded to the truth. come out of your darkness, come out of the pit which is atheism into the light of caring for your fellow man. churches do it better than your solution which is goverment wellfare. and you call yourself generous??? would you please. cloaked in tolerance of coarse

brian at 5:46PM on Feb 27th 2008

30. monty,

this statement by K is more of the bullshit lies that atheist want to indoctinate ignorant people with. they think they can make these claims and go un-challenged. read anything,anywhere,anytime about john adams and you will see that not only was he very religious, he was a devout christian. in your studies you will see that K is a liar, tolerant of coarse but none-the-less. thomas jefferson was a diest. he was suspicious of religion. not john adams. but it was adams who was the most influentual person who founded our constitution. by every account and by every witness there it was ADAMS, the man, the christian who was the most respected of all the founding fathers. don't listen to the lies of atheistic carp

brian at 5:51PM on Feb 27th 2008

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Mo Rocca appears on a bunch of shows, including CBS News Sunday Morning (with the indescribably wonderful Charles Osgood), The Tonight Show on NBC, and NPR's Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! He's a sometime judge on Iron Chef and was featured on Telemundo's Amore Descarado. Last year he starred on Broadway in the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. His expose "All the President's Pets" was published by Crown in 2004.