“A benevolence and affection without peer”
Writing by treason on Monday, 3 of March , 2008 at 4:15 pm
“For years I have thought that one could have no finer honor than to have WFB, Jr. write one’s obituary. He offered such wonderful tributes to his many friends and associates as they passed.
I wonder, today, who can write his; who is up to offering the tribute that he deserves.”
– Stephen Goldstein, Grosse Pointe Park, Michigan
“We will remember our dear friend who so generously and consistently and willingly, over many years, gave us a foretaste of heaven by his fun, his witticisms, his seriousness about serious things, his patriotism, his verve, his . . . the list is endless. Above all, he gave his love and friendship, a perfect agreement of wills, tastes, and thoughts accompanied by a benevolence and affection without peer. He was a great man motivated by great ideas. His passing from the American scene, upon which his impact was huge, is historic. Freedom has lost a luminous friend in the death of the most important journalist of the last 75 years, William F. Buckley Jr.”
– Tim Goeglein, the (former) Director of the White House Office of Public Liaison
(Eeeek! I certainly hope that tribute wasn’t lifted…)
Senator Lieberman’s statement, as e-mailed to NRO:
“America has lost a great patriot with the passing of William F. Buckley Jr. and I have lost a dear and cherished friend who I have known for more than 40 years. Bill was a man of considerable wit, charm, and grace who contributed so much to the intellectual debate and discussion in our country for many decades. He was truly an intellectual giant of the past century.
Bill Buckley was not only a national treasure but one of the most distinguished longtime residents of Connecticut. He was a man of principle who recognized that civility in our political life was a virtue. Regardless of where you stood in the political spectrum, you marveled at Bill’s ability to make a point with humor and aplomb. Indeed, all of our vocabularies were bolstered by his erudite analysis!
Although Bill is no longer with us, his legacy will continue to enrich our great land for many years to come. Hadassah and I send our condolences and prayers to Chris Buckley and the entire Buckley family.”
(For a glimpse of why so many on the “other side of the aisle” like Joe, click here for a lovely tribute to WFB, adapted from remarks he delivered on the U.S. Senate floor.)
Mario Cuomo’s office e-mails:
“I was privileged to know William Buckley for more than 20 years and was in fact his opponent in his last public debate.
He may not have been unique. But I have never encountered his match. He was a brilliant, gentle, charming philosopher, seer and advocate.
William Buckley died… but his complicated brilliance in thought and script will survive him for as long as words are read. And words are heard.”
(And for transcript excerpts from a WVOX Radio interview with the former governor, click here.)
“What a great and consequential man was William F. Buckley.”
– Cliff May
Q Any thoughts on Buckley?
THE PRESIDENT: I just had the — I just hung up with Christopher Buckley, the son of William F. Buckley. I expressed Laura and my sadness over the passage of this very important figure in American political thought. He was a great author, a great wit and a leader. And Chris said that his dad died at his desk. And I asked whether it had been a — I know it’s a painful experience for Chris’s heart, but he said that his dad died a peaceful death, and we got to thank God for that and thank God for his life.
Q You once said Buckley moved conservatism into the Oval office — that he moved conservatism from the margins of American society into the Oval Office.
THE PRESIDENT: No question, he was a — one of the great political thinkers. He influenced a lot of people, including me. And he was — I can remember those debates they had on TV, and he was so articulate and he captured the imagination of a lot of folks because he was — he had a great way of defining the issues. It was erudite and yet a lot of folks from different walks of life could understand it. And he’s a big figure in our history, and he’ll be missed. And we ask for God’s blessings on his soul. Thank you.
“William F. Buckley was a giant of conservative thought and action throughout his life. He taught, challenged, and inspired three generations of conservative thinkers. Mr. Buckley demonstrated that ideas are powerful things and have the capacity to change the world. The conservative ideas he so forcefully and eloquently championed certainly changed America for the better, and for that we are eternally grateful. William F. Buckley and his family are in our prayers today.”
– Mitt Romney
“I am very profoundly saddened to hear of the passing of William F. Buckley Jr. and offer my deepest condolences to the Buckley family. Bill had many friends, including my parents, who he even took time to visit when they were stationed at the U.S. Pacific Command in Hawaii. My father and mother very much admired him and so did their son. With Bill’s passing, freedom has lost one of its greatest defenders. Bill was a great American who helped change the course of history. When conservatism was a lonely cause, he bravely raised the standard of liberty and led the charge to renew the principles and values that are the foundation of our great country. A man of tremendous vision and big ideas, he founded the National Review in 1955 and through its pages and his other endeavors, as a lecturer, commentator, debater and author of dozens of books, inspired many and advanced an intellectual rigor that transformed American politics. Bill was an American giant who shall be missed.”
– John McCain
“As we all know, Bill was one of the most consequential figures of he age, let alone in our lives as conservatives. He defined us, to wit: when I went for my first White House personnel office interview to be vetted as an Assistant Secretary of State candidate, the young intern doing the initial paperwork noted that I was not a registered Republican in many public records and dutifully asked, ‘you are a Republican aren’t you?’ I said, ‘well, I’m a conservative.’ His pen hesitated over the yes box, then the no box, then the other box. I said, ‘look, I’m a Buckley man, a Buckley conservative – was on the masthead at National Review for a decade.’ He nodded with some recognition, but the party affiliation box was left unchecked. I felt as though I said everything about my political philosophy and reliability that would ever need to be said. It worked out.”
– John Hillen
“Please accept convey my deepest sympathy and condolences to you and the family of National Review.
Mr. Buckley was one of those rare individuals whose actions in life will continue to echo throughout eternity. His ‘echo’ has always been and will remain music of the highest quality - he was a precious antidote for a world that too often seems to reward individuals who choose avarice over charity, malice over justice, pride over modesty and vapidity over thought.
He will be greatly missed - I’m sure my father’s part of the (huge) reception committee greeting him at the Pearly Gates.”
– Henry Hyde’s son, Bob
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