NPR: William F. Buckley Dead at 82

William F. Buckley Dead at 82

The New York Times website reports that leading conservative writer and commentator William F. Buckley has died at age 82.

More details as they come.

Update: The Corner at National Review Online, the web version of the magazine Buckley founded, is collecting readers' comments about Buckley.

More: Here is the YouTube version of the classic talking-duel from the Buckley versus Gore Vidal debate in 1968.

More: Here is an hour-long Charlie Rose show that features many clips of Buckley.

11:20 AM ET | 02-27-2008 | permalink

Comments (Send a comment)

He was a wordsmith. No arguing that. His debates with Gore Vidal and Norman Mailer are legend.

My favorite Buckley moment was when he came out against the War on Drugs. Buckley took the brave stand that the War on Drugs was not only a waste of taxpayer money, but the War on Drugs did more to promote drug use than stop drug use.

Brave move on Buckley's part. Boy, did he take a lambasting from his fellow conservative pundits.

It was a hoot to temporarily see Buckley on the same side of the argument with Vidal and the rest.

If only so brief a move.

fred camorra call

Sent by fred camorra call | 1:16 PM ET | 02-27-2008

I disagree. There's nothing "brave" about his opposing the War on Drugs. Frankly, fred, I would imagine that the only reason you would consider him brave is that he happened to agree with you.

Now, if Buckley stood on a street corner in the ghetto and handed out heroin in plain sight of policemen, all in the cause of opposing the War on Drugs, that make be brave. Fool-hardy, but brave nontheless.

Sent by Matthew Scallon | 3:56 PM ET | 02-28-2008

Sent by Matthew Scallon: There's nothing "brave" about his opposing the War on Drugs.

I was not complete on Bill Buckley's stand on the War on Drugs.

Buckley came out in support of legalizing marijuana, taxing the product like cigarettes and etcetera.

His fellow conservatives roundly roasted Bill Buckley on his efforts to legalize marijuana. There was a large hue and cry from his best friends who publicly worried that Bill Buckley was maybe 'overworked.'

As for standing on a ghetto street corner handing out heroin...I said brave. I did not say suicidely stupid. There's a big difference.

And Buckley did not suggest the legalization of heroin or morphine or opium.

Anyway, many years later, in California, times have changed far as the marijuana laws go. Some say that Bill Buckley's early efforts were a part of the changed laws governing medicinal marijuana.

By the by, if you have not had opportunity to watch the Showtime series 'Weeds,' starring Mary Louise Parker, I suggest you do so.

fred camorra call

Sent by fred camorra call | 5:18 PM ET | 02-28-2008

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