Tribute: William Frank Buckley, Jr. (November 24, 1925 – February 27, 2008)
William F. Buckley, Jr. 27 Feb 2008 20:46 Africa/Lagos Newt Gingrich Statement on the Passing of William F. Buckley, Jr . WASHINGTON, Feb. 27 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Before there was Goldwater or Reagan, there was Bill Buckley. From writing books, to creating, leading and sustaining National Review Magazine, to his 33-year run as the host of Firing Line on television, Bill Buckley became the indispensable intellectual advocate from whose energy, intelligence, wit, and enthusiasm the best of modern conservatism drew its inspiration and encouragement. It was not until William F. Buckley, Jr., founded National Review Magazine in 1955 that the tide began to slowly turn for conservatives. National Review was a lonely voice of conservatism in an overwhelmingly liberal establishment. Buckley began what led to Senator Barry Goldwater and his Conscience of a Conservative that led to the seizing of power by the conservatives from the moderate establishment within the Republican Party. From t...