In 1951, 25-year-old William F. Buckley Jr. made waves with his book God and Man at Yale, a scathing critique of his alma mater that launched him onto the national stage. Over the next half-century, he became a towering figure in American politics and media—founding the magazine National Review, shaping political debate on television, and mentoring a new generation of conservative leaders, including Ronald Reagan.
Nearly a decade before his death in 2008, Buckley selected biographer Sam Tanenhaus to tell his definitive story, granting him extensive interviews and exclusive access to his private papers. This rare opportunity allowed Tanenhaus to explore Buckley’s life in all his facets and phases—both as an intellectual and political force and also as widely syndicated columnist, bestselling spy novelist, Emmy-winning debater, and game-changing candidate for mayor of New York City.
Tanenhaus uncovered lesser-known aspects of Buckley’s history, including secret CIA missions in Latin America, connections with Watergate figure Howard Hunt, and Buckley’s struggle in his later years to hold together a conservative movement fractured by the AIDS epidemic, culture wars, and the Iraq invasion.
Join Tanenhaus, in conversation with author and educator Rebecca Boggs Roberts, as he unpacks Buckley’s multifaceted legacy, exploring his influence on modern conservatism, his ideological battles, and the complex, often surprising life of a man who left an enduring mark on American public life. His book Buckley: The Life and Revolution that Changed America (Random House) is available for purchase.
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