Joshua Cohen on William F. Buckley and the Lost Art of Friendship Across Difference

William F. Buckley Jr.'s Legacy

• 💡 William F. Buckley Jr. was a pivotal figure, spearheading the new conservative movement and founding the National Review magazine.
• 🎯 He created and hosted "Firing Line" for over 30 years, a public broadcasting show renowned for its civil discussions with guests, often from liberal perspectives.
• 🔑 Buckley possessed an incredible gift for friendship with individuals holding differing political views, despite his own strong conservative agenda.

Faith and Civility

• ✝️ His Catholic faith was described as the "molten core" of his being, profoundly influencing his kindness, civility, and public engagement.
• 💬 Buckley emphasized that disagreement is not the problem, but "disagreeability" is, advocating for respectful and humane engagement across divides.
• ✨ He believed in the "universal utility of the Christian ideal" (including gratitude, kindness, and forgiveness) but opposed enforced Christianity or Christian nationalism, asserting that faith is a personal journey.

Navigating Political Divides

• 🎭 Unlike modern confrontational media, "Firing Line" maintained a polite tone even during debates on highly contentious issues.
• ⚠️ A notable exception was his intense personality clash with Gore Vidal, which led to a famous heated exchange and mutual animosity.
• 🚫 Buckley was a strong opponent of fanaticism and populism, actively working to define conservatism and keep extremist groups, such as the John Birch Society, in check.

Boundaries and Modern Relevance

• 🛑 He established "moral tripwires" against ideologies like Nazism and communism, refusing to platform those who promoted such views or engaged in antisemitic prose.
• 🧠 Buckley's approach suggests a distinction between engaging with differing opinions and legitimizing reprehensible ideologies.
• 🚀 The resurgence of long-form conversations in podcasts indicates a contemporary appetite for the kind of intellectual depth and civility Buckley championed.